Acrylic resins as rate-controlling membranes in novel formulation of a nine-day 17beta-estradiol transdermal delivery system: in vitro and release modifier effect evaluation.

The feasibility of transdermal controlled delivery system of 17beta-estradiol was investigated by conducting in vitro release studies. Several new 17beta-estradiol unilaminate adhesive devices capable of releasing 17beta-estradiol in a controlled fashion over a 24-h, 36-h, 96-h, 104-h, 168-h, and 216-h period have been developed using acrylic resins (Eudragits E100, RSPO, and RLPO) as adhesive and rate-controlling polymers. The in vitro release profiles of 17beta-estradiol from various TDS unilaminate devices were characterized in a new developed dissolution tester vessel (total volume 200 ml), using a new paddle. The release of drug from different formulations was measured by a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. The release of drug from all prepared adhesive devices seems to obey zero-order kinetics (r > 0.98). The effect of two different plasticizers (acetyltriburyl citrate [ATBC] and triethyl citrate [TEC]) on the release patterns of 17beta-estradiol from TDS formulations was studied, and they were almost identical. The effect of two different release modifiers, propylene glycol (PG) and myristic acid (MA), on the release pattern of 17beta-estradiol from prepared unilaminate devices was evaluated. It was shown that the use of these release modifiers significantly increased the release of 17beta-estradiol from a TDS unilaminate patch. Furthermore, these data clearly demonstrated that the acrylic resins are suitable polymers for the preparation of 17beta-estradiol TDS adhesive devices.

A new 5-aminosalicylic acid multi-unit dosage form for the therapy of ulcerative colitis.

The aim of the present study was to develop a multi-unit dosage form containing 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC), optimised on the basis of recent studies indicating that UC patients have higher intestinal pH than was previously thought to be the case. Pellets with a drug content of 77.4% were prepared by a granulation and spheronization process and then coated with a new pH sensitive poly(meth)acrylate copolymer (Eudragit((R)) FS 30D) to achieve site specific drug release close to the ileocecal valve. Dissolution tests were carried out in a paddle dissolution apparatus in media simulating pH conditions at various locations in the gastrointestinal tract. The pellets released rapidly at pH values above 7.5. Between 6.8 and 7.2 drug release was found to be zero order, while at pH 6.5 and below no release occurred. In a biorelevant medium which simulates the fasting proximal small intestine fluid it was shown that neither surfactants (sodium taurocholate and lecithin) nor changes in ionic strength trigger drug release. Compared to 5-ASA pellets coated with the well established Eudragit((R)) S, and to currently marketed products licensed for the treatment of UC, the multi-unit dosage form coated with the new polymer exhibited an in vitro dissolution profile more appropriate to the pH profile of the ileum and the colon observed in UC patients.

A novel pH- and time-based multi-unit potential colonic drug delivery system. II. Optimization of multiple response variables.

The objective of this work was to optimize a novel potential colonic drug delivery system by using a statistical procedure. Pellets were prepared by powder layering of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) on nonpareils (0.5--0.6 mm) in a coating pan. Drug-layered pellets were coated with an inner layer of a combination of Eudragit RL and RS and an outer layer of Eudragit FS in a fluidized-bed apparatus. Central composite design was used to study the effect of three independent variables. The proportion of the more hydrophilic polymer Eudragit RL had the most significant effect on drug release--higher proportion gave faster release; the amount of inner and outer coat did not have a significant effect on the rate of drug release at either 6 or 12 h in the range studied. A second order polynomial equation was fitted to the data, and the resulting equation was used to predict the responses in the optimal region. An optimized formulation was prepared and evaluated for individual responses. The experimental values of the response variables highly agreed with the predicted values. The results demonstrated the reliability of the model in the preparation of coated pellets having predictable drug release for colonic delivery of 5-ASA.

A novel pH- and time-based multi-unit potential colonic drug delivery system. I. Development.

A novel delivery system was developed for delivering drugs to the colon by selecting polymethacrylates with appropriate pH dissolution characteristics for the distal end of the small intestine and relying upon the relatively constant transit time of the small intestine. Pellets were prepared by powder layering of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) on nonpareils (0.5-0.6 mm) in a conventional coating pan. Drug-layered pellets were coated with an inner layer of a combination of two pH-independent polymers Eudragit RL and RS (2:8), and an outer layer of a pH-dependent polymer, Eudragit FS. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) pictures of the coated pellets showed the uniformity of both the coatings. The release profile of 5-ASA was studied in three phosphate buffers after a simulated gastric pre-soak for 2 h in pH 1.2 media. There was no drug release for 12 h at pH 6.5. There was a sustained release of 5-ASA for over 12 h both at pH 7.0 and 7.5 after a lag time at pH 7.0 and no lag time at pH 7.5. The release rate was faster at pH 7.5 than at pH 7.0. The delivery system demonstrated its potential for colonic delivery by resisting drug release until pH 6.5 and the combination of Eudragit RL and RS proved successful for the sustained delivery of 5-ASA at the expected pH of the colon.

African-American fathers: perceptions of two generations.

The purpose of this study was to determine how African-American fathers of 10-14-years-olds viewed their assets and limitations as parents, and to find out how children from this age group saw the parent performance of their fathers. The Parent Success Indicator was administered to 102 fathers and to 104 adolescents. Significant differences were found between generations on five of six subscales. The independent variables entering the greatest effect on how both generations perceived parental success were amount of time father and child spent together, having an adult at home when a child returns from school, and gender of child.

Development of disintegrating multiple-unit tablets on a high-speed rotary tablet press.

Enteric coated bisacodyl pellets were compressed into divisible disintegrating tablets on a high speed rotary tablet press and investigated for pellet damages. The degree of pellet damages was examined via the bisacodyl dissolution during the acid treatment of' the drug release test for enteric coated articles according to USP 23. The damages depended on the type of filler-binder used and settings of the tablet press. Avicel PH 101 proved to be the most suitable filler-binder, effecting homogeneous distribution of the pellets within the tablets, as could be shown by image analysis of coloured pellets. The speed of the tablet press had noo influence on the pellet damages using Avicel PH 101 as a filler-binder, however, tablets containing 70% (w/w) of coated pellets did not fulfil the requirements of USP 23, despite optimum elasticity and coating thickness of a new Eudragit FS 30 D coating. Reducing the proportion of pellets to 60% per tablet, less than 10% of bisacodyl were released within 2 h during acid treatment thus fulfilling the requirements of the USP 23.