Quality improvement of melt extruded laminar systems using mixture design.

This study investigates the application of melt extrusion for the development of an oral retard formulation with a precise drug release over time. Since adjusting the formulation appears to be of the utmost importance in achieving the desired drug release patterns, different formulations of laminar extrudates were prepared according to the principles of Experimental Design, using a design for mixtures to assess the influence of formulation composition on the in vitro drug release from the extrudates after 1h and after 8h. The effect of each component on the two response variables was also studied. Ternary mixtures of theophylline (model drug), monohydrate lactose and microcrystalline wax (as thermoplastic binder) were extruded in a lab scale vertical ram extruder in absence of solvents at a temperature below the melting point of the binder (so that the crystalline state of the drug could be maintained), through a rectangular die to obtain suitable laminar systems. Thanks to the desirability approach and a reliability study for ensuring the quality of the formulation, a very restricted optimal zone was defined within the experimental domain. Among the mixture components, the variation of microcrystalline wax content played the most significant role in overall influence on the in vitro drug release. The formulation theophylline:lactose:wax, 57:14:29 (by weight), selected based on the desirability zone, was subsequently used for in vivo studies. The plasma profile, obtained after oral administration of the laminar extruded system in hard gelatine capsules, revealed the typical trend of an oral retard formulation. The application of the mixture experimental design associated to a desirability function permitted to optimize the extruded system and to determine the composition space that ensures final product quality.

Plasma pharmacokinetics of abamectin in fallow deer (Cervus dama dama) following subcutaneous administration.

The pharmacokinetics of abamectin (ABM) following a single subcutaneous administration of 200 µg/kg was evaluated in adult fallow deer by following ABM concentration in blood plasma. A nonlinear mixed effects modelling procedure was used for pharmacokinetic analysis. The time course of ABM concentration was described by a two-compartment model with first-order absorption. Abamectin absorption in fallow deer was rapid with a peak plasma concentration of 120.7 ± 33.2 ng/mL observed at 19.1 ± 7.7 h (mean ± SD). Half-lives of the distribution and terminal phase were 17.2 and 119.3 h, respectively. Typical apparent clearance of the bioavailable fraction (CL/F) was 0.795 L/h and was independent of animal weight. Considering the obtained pharmacokinetic parameters in our study, we may assume that effective parasite control in fallow deer is obtained using the usual recommended dose of 200 µg/kg.

Oral bioavailability of silymarin phytocomplex formulated as self-emulsifying pellets.

The objective of this study was to develop new solid self-emulsifying pellets to deliver milk thistle extract (silymarin). These pellets were prepared via extrusion/spheronisation procedure, using a self-emulsifying system or SES (Akoline MCM®, Miglyol®, Tween 80®, soy lecithin and propylene glycol), microcrystalline cellulose and lactose monohydrate. To select the most suitable formulations for extrusion and spheronisation, an experimental design of experiences was adopted. The screening amongst formulations (13 different blends) was performed preparing pellets and evaluating extrusion profiles and quality of the spheronised extrudates. The pellets were characterised for size and shape, density, force required to crush them. Although more than one type of pellets demonstrated adequate morphological and technological characteristics, pellets prepared from formulation 7 revealed the best properties and were selected for further biopharmaceutical investigations, including in vitro dissolution and in vivo trials on rats to study serum and lymph levels after oral administration of the pellets. These preliminary technological and pharmacokinetic data demonstrated that extrusion/spheronisation is a viable technology to produce self-emulsifying pellets of good quality and able to improve in vivo oral bioavailability of main components of a phytotherapeutic extract of more than 100 times by enhancing the lymphatic route of absorption.

Pharmacokinetics and immunomodulatory effects of phytotherapeutic lozenges (bonbons) with Echinacea purpurea extract.

The relative bioavailability of the major alkamides, dodeca-2E,4E,8Z,10E/Z-tetraenoic acid isobutylamides, from Echinacea purpurea phytotherapeutic lozenges at three different dose levels (0.07, 0.21 and 0.9 mg) was evaluated in a pharmacokinetic study in humans and the possible effects on the immunological system were measured. Alkamides were found to be rapidly absorbed and measurable in plasma 10 min after administration of 0.21 and 0.9 mg lozenges and remained detectable for 3h for the 0.21 mg lozenges and for more then 3h for the 0.9 mg lozenges; 0.07 mg lozenges were measurable 20 min after administration and remained detectable for only 2h after the administration. A significant dose-independent down-regulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-12p70, IL-8, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF was observed 24h after oral administration. The results of non-compartmental pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that a C(max) of (0.65+/-0.41 ng/ml) was reached at 32 min with the 0.07 mg lozenges, (1.00+/-0.21ng/ml) at 25 min with the 0.21 mg lozenges and (8.88+/-5.89 ng/ml) at 19 with the 0.9mg lozenges. As evidenced by the dose-exposure relationship, no significant departure from dose proportionality was observed, indicating linearity in pharmacokinetics. To get a further insight in pharmacokinetics of dodeca-2E,4E,8Z,10E/Z-tetraenoic isobutylamides a compartmental population pharmacokinetic model was developed applying mixed effect modelling procedure. The results demonstrate that within the dose range studied pharmacokinetics of dodeca-2E,4E,8Z,10E/Z-tetraenoic isobutylamides are linear and that absorption is very rapid (t(1/2)=6 min) with apparently no lag time, thus indicating the possibility that a fraction of the drug is absorbed through the oral mucosa.

Kinetic model of drug distribution in the urinary bladder wall following intravesical instillation.

Intravesical administration of cytotoxic agents is commonly used in urological practice for treatment of superficial bladder cancer. The leading motive is optimisation of drug delivery near the site of action and reduction of systemic toxicity. Bladder pharmacokinetics is complicated by several mechanisms. The objectives of this work were to develop a kinetic model of drug distribution in the bladder wall following intravesical instillation and to study the effect of various parameters on tissue and systemic drug exposure and explore the potential benefits of permeability enhancing effects of chitosan (CH) and polycarbophil (PC) through simulation. Key elements of the model are variable urinary drug concentration due to urine formation and voiding, biphasic diffusion in the bladder tissue and systemic absorption. Model parameters were estimated from bladder-tissue concentration profiles obtained in previous in vitro experiments with pipemidic acid (PPA) as a model drug. The results support further investigations on application of CH and PC in intravesical drug delivery. Both polymers increase permeability of the bladder wall by diffusion enhancement in the urothelium and presumably by improving the contact with the bladder surface. The developed mathematical model could serve for optimisation of intravesical drug delivery and future development of intravesical drug delivery systems.

Predicting the anti-hypertensive effect of nitrendipine from plasma concentration profiles using artificial neural networks.

Nitrendipine is an effective and safe calcium-channel blocker for the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension. The aim of this study is to show that an artificial neural network (ANN) model of the relationship between nitrendipine plasma levels and pharmacodynamic effects can be built and used for pressure-drop prediction after oral administration of the drug in spite of the poor correlation between plasma concentrations and the effect. To achieve the goal, the following steps were taken: evaluation of the quality of the database for training the ANN, definition of the optimal input set for the ANN, and prediction of the diastolic pressure drop using the ANN. The possible consequences of successful ANN modelling are an optimisation of the drug administration regimen, to achieve the best possible effect, as well as optimal drug formulation for drugs with complicated pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationships.

Influence of CYP2C9 polymorphisms, demographic factors and concomitant drug therapy on warfarin metabolism and maintenance dose.

Warfarin is an anticoagulant drug with narrow therapeutic index and high interindividual variability in dose requirement. S-warfarin is metabolized mainly by polymorphic cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9. We systematically quantified the influence of CYP2C9 genotype, demographic factors and concomitant drug treatment on warfarin metabolism and maintenance dose. The mean warfarin doses were lower in carriers of one (2.71 mg/day, 59 patients) and two polymorphic alleles (1.64 mg/day, 11 patients) than in carriers of two wild-type alleles (4.88 mg/day, 118 patients). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that CYP2C9 genotype, age, concomitant treatment with warfarin metabolism inducers and lean body weight contributed significantly to interindividual variability in warfarin dose requirement (adjusted R(2)=0.37). The same factors, except for age, significantly influenced S-warfarin clearance (adjusted R(2)=0.42). These results can serve as a starting point for designing prospective studies in patients in the initiation phase of genotype-based warfarin therapy.

Pathways of paracetamol absorption from layered excipient suppositories: artificial intelligence approach.

When studying paracetamol availability after rectal administration, the differences between slower and faster release suppositories were discovered. Approach with modelling and simulation of compartment-based models was used to explore the differences. A study of paracetamol from layered excipient suppositories shows that many different mechanisms are involved in the drug pharmacokinetics. There is also a large number of articles, each dealing with only one or with a few of the mechanisms. However, there is little information available on how the mechanisms interact in the organism and thus govern the pharmacokinetics of the drug, which means that systemic view in the expert knowledge is missing. In the case of paracetamol rectal availability the use of partially fuzzyfied model allowed systemic combination of all described mechanisms found in the literature and measured data. In spite of non-identifiability, the model showed that patterns that explained differences in bioavailabilities of the two formulations of suppositories could be found. Results of modelling and simulation show that "in vivo" there is practically no difference in cumulative release profiles between the two formulations. However, due to higher content of mono-di-glycerides in a slower release formulation, the extent of absorption is augmented both by absorption-enhancing effect of mono-di-glycerides and the liver bypass mechanism via diminished viscosity.

Influence of chitosan and polycarbophil on permeation of a model hydrophilic drug into the urinary bladder wall.

Influence of dispersions of mucoadhesive polymers chitosan and polycarbophil on permeability properties of urinary bladder was investigated in vitro on isolated porcine urinary bladder. Pipemidic acid as a model hydrophilic drug was used. Its distribution in the bladder wall was determined from actual tissue concentrations by a method based on sectioning of frozen tissue and extraction of tissue slices. Pipemidic acid tissue concentration versus tissue depth profiles were evaluated by a diffusion model assuming constant diffusion coefficient. Increase in bladder wall permeability was observed in the presence of both polymers. Apparent permeability (mean+/-S.D.) of urinary bladder wall was increased 2.7+/-2.9 and 2.8+/-2.0 times for chitosan, and 2.3+/-2.0 and 4.3+/-4.2 times for polycarbophil at 0.5 and 1.0%, w/v polymer concentration, respectively. This increase is a consequence of the increased permeability of urothelium. These findings support investigations on application of chitosan and polycarbophil in development of mucoadhesive intravesical drug delivery systems. Experimental model may be applied to evaluate the results of experiments with drugs used in intravesical therapy.

Ivermectin pharmacokinetics in lactating sheep.

Ivermectin (IVM) concentrations in plasma and milk were studied in six Istrian Pramenka dairy sheep after a single subcutaneous dose of 0.2 mg/kg b.w. of IVM in the early lactation period to describe IVM disposition in milk and to evaluate the transfer of IVM residues via milk to suckling lambs. Large inter-animal in concentration variability of IVM in both matrices was observed. The highest overall concentration was found in the same animal: 21.7 microg/l of H(2)B(1a) in plasma on the second day and 44.9 microg/kg of H(2)B(1a) in milk on the first day after the drug was administered. The mean time in which IVM concentrations fell below the limit of detection for the whole ewe group was 22 and 23 days for plasma and milk, respectively. Time course of IVM concentration in milk was following the time course of IVM concentration in plasma, with an overall mean+/-S.D. of milk/plasma ratio of 1.67+/-0.50 for the first 7 days of the experiment. A mean of 0.7% of the dose was excreted through milk. Individual pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by fitting a one-compartment model to the milk and plasma concentration-time profiles. Mean t(max), c(max), t(1/2k(e)) and AUC values for plasma data were: 1.70+/-0.65 days, 11.88+/-6.96 microg/l, 2.85+/-1.97 days and 63.99+/-28.34 microg day/l, respectively, and for milk: 1.28+/-1.07 days, 22.67+/-18.27 microg/l, 3.56+/-2.01 days and 114.60+/-60.41 microg day/l, respectively. The highest level of concentration in suckling lamb plasma, 0.36 microg/l of H(2)B(1a), was slightly above the limit of determination. The mean lamb to ewe ratio of areas under the plasma concentration-time curve for the first 5 days was 0.02. On the basis of obtained results, it can therefore be claimed that indirect IVM exposure of the suckling lambs via milk was negligible.

The study of drug release from microspheres adhered on pig vesical mucosa.

The object of our work is the preparation of a mucoadhesive drug delivery system intended for intravesical application. In the present work, microspheres with Eudragit RS matrix polymer and different mucoadhesive polymers, i.e. chitosan hydrochloride (Ch), sodium salt of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polycarbophil (PC) were prepared to evaluate their influence on the mucoadhesive properties of microspheres. Different parameters were determined and their influence on pipemidic acid release from microspheres adhered on intact and damaged pig vesical mucosa was evaluated: swelling of polymers, mucoadhesion strength of polymeric films and drug dissolution according to USP XXIV method. The dissolution rate from microspheres containing different mucoadhesive polymers decreases as follows: PC>Ch>CMC. PC swelled to the largest volume among all polymers and as a result the fastest release of the drug from PC microspheres was obtained. The release rate of pipemidic acid from microspheres adhered on intact mucosa followed the order PC>CMC>Ch. These results show that both drug dissolution and mucoadhesion strength strongly influence drug release from adhered microspheres. The slowest release from Ch microspheres could be interpreted by the largest mucoadhesion strength of Ch polymeric films. The release rate of pipemidic acid from microspheres adhered on damaged mucosa followed the order PC=Ch>CMC. The results obtained on pathologically changed mucosa model support the indication of the role of glycosaminoglycans and polymer charge in the mucoadhesion process on vesical mucosa. Analysis of release data shows that the drug dissolution profiles follow the Higuchi kinetics better than the release profiles from adhered microspheres and different kinetics might be a consequence of different release mechanisms.

Effects of ondansetron on portal hemodynamics in liver cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: The double-blind randomized pilot study was undertaken to compare the effects of a 10-day course of ondansetron 8 mg/day and propranolol 80 mg/day perorally in treating portal hypertension. SUBIECTS AND METHODS: 16 patients with liver disease were enrolled in the study. Measurements of portal vein diameter, portal blood flow velocity and portal blood flow volume were done at days 1, 5 and 10 of treatment using duplex Doppler sonography. RESULTS: The propranolol group demonstrated a decrease in portal venous diameter, while patients treated with ondansetron exhibited reduced portal blood flow velocity values. A decreased portal blood flow volume was found in both groups after 10 days of therapy. CONCLUSION: No statistically significant differences were found between the groups with the exception of portal venous diameter which is significantly lower at the end of the treatment in the case of propranolol.

Preparation in high-shear mixer of sustained-release pellets by melt pelletisation.

The preparation of sustained-release pellets by melt pelletisation was investigated in a 10-l high shear mixer and ternary mixtures containing stearic acid as a melting binder, anhydrous lactose as a filler and theophylline as a model drug. A translated Doehlert matrix was applied for the optimisation of process variables and quality control of pellets characteristics. After determination of size distribution, the pellets were characterised with scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and porosimetric analysis. Finally, the in vitro release from every single size fraction was evaluated and the release mechanism was analysed. Since the drug release rate decreased when enhancing the pellet size fraction, the 2000-microm fraction, exhibiting a substantially zero-order release, was selected for further in vivo biovailability studies. These data demonstrated that pellets based on the combination of stearic acid and lactose can be used to formulate sustained release pellets for theophylline.

The influence of magnesium stearate on the characteristics of mucoadhesive microspheres.

Microspheres containing the mucoadhesive polymer chitosan hydrochloride, with matrix polymer Eudragit RS, pipemidic acid as a model drug and agglomeration preventing agent magnesium stearate were prepared by the solvent evaporation method. The amount of magnesium stearate was varied and the following methods were used for microsphere evaluation: sieve analysis, drug content and dissolution determination, scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffractometry, DSC and FTIR spectroscopy. The results showed that average particle size decreased with increasing amount of magnesium stearate used for microsphere preparation. This is probably a consequence of stabilization of the emulsion droplets with magnesium stearate. Higher pipemidic acid content in the microspheres was observed in larger particle size fractions and when higher amounts of magnesium stearate were used. It was also found that these two parameters significantly influenced the dissolution rate. The important reason for the differences in drug content in microspheres of different particle sizes is the diffusion of pipemidic acid from the acetone droplets in liquid paraffin during the preparation procedure. The physical state of pipemidic acid changed from crystalline to mostly amorphous with its incorporation in microspheres, as shown by x-ray diffractometry and differential scanning calorimetry. No differences were observed in the physical state of pipemidic acid and in microsphere shape and surface between different size fractions of microspheres, prepared with different amounts of magnesium stearate. Additionally, no correlation between the physical state of the drug in different microspheres and their biopharmaceutical properties was found.

Decreased cortisol secretion by adrenal glands perfused with the P-glycoprotein inhibitor valspodar and mitotane or doxorubicin.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in the adrenal gland. It has been presumed that P-gp, rather than being involved in physiological cortisol secretion, plays a role in protecting the adrenacortical cells from xenobiotics. To explore this a study was performed on perfused bovine adrenal glands. Individual experimental groups were perfused with either a selective P-gp blocker (valspodar) alone, with a xenobiotic (mitotane or doxorubicin) alone or with both valspodar and a xenobiotic. The cumulative amounts of cortisol secreted in each individual group were calculated and the two-sample t-test was used to compare the mean values of cumulative amounts. The mean value of cortisol secreted from the group of adrenals perfused with the P-gp blocker was not significantly different from that of the control group. Treatment with either mitotane or doxorubicin decreased the amount of cortisol secreted but not significantly when compared to the amount of cortisol secreted in basal conditions. However, treatment with the P-gp blocker valspodar in addition to either mitotane or doxorubicin significantly decreased cortisol secreted compared to the amount of cortisol secreted by the glands treated with either mitotane (p=0.009) or doxorubicin (p=0.017) alone. The regressive changes discovered in all experimental groups were most prominent when valspodar was used with either mitotane or doxorubicin. We found that P-gp blockade increases by xenobiotic (mitotane and doxorubicin)-induced damage of adrenocortical cells, which points to a role of P-gp in the protection of adrenal gland from xenobiotics.

Interdependence of histamine and methylhistamine kinetics: modelling and simulation approach.

In the article a model of histamine kinetics is described. A motivation of this project was to investigate the hypothesis that methylhistamine may be a marker of histamine appearance in plasma. A model has been made to support the hypothesis. Since metabolic and transport pathways of histamine and methylhistamine are complex and not very well known, the relationship between histamine and methylhistamine should be elucidated by mathematical modelling. From experimental data and the information in the literature, a nonlinear and time-varying four-compartment model is proposed. Extensive release of histamine from mast cells when methylhistamine is injected, is modelled as histamine to methylhistamine ratio control loop.

Correlation of in vitro and in vivo paracetamol availability from layered excipient suppositories.

An in vivo investigation of paracetamol availability was carried out on eight healthy volunteers, comparing two paracetamol suppository formulations prepared using two different gliceride bases, a fast drug-releasing one and a slow drug-releasing one, i.e. Witepsol H15 and W35, respectively. The formulations were selected on the basis of a previous in vitro drug release study, which showed that, by superimposing the excipients in two layers within the same suppository, the drug release kinetics could be modulated using different ratios between the two layers. The comparison between the two different formulations in terms of plasma profiles and total amounts of drug excreted in urine revealed an increase in the extent of drug absorption from the layered excipient suppository. As the W35 has a higher monoglyceride content than the H15, this improved paracetamol availability could be ascribed to the absorption-enhancing effect of the monoglycerides. Moreover, the W35 has also a higher viscosity, which could possibly cause the suppository to be retained for a longer time in the lower part of the rectum, where the blood is drained directly to the systemic circulation. It was therefore hypothesized that the enhanced paracetamol availability could be also due to a liver bypass mechanism. For a further examination of the paracetamol absorption kinetics after rectal administration, a one-compartment model was fitted to the drug plasma concentration data. This approach allowed to draw absorption versus time profiles, which showed that a retardation actually occurred in paracetamol absorption when using suppositories containing the slow drug releasing excipient W35. These absorption data were then employed for an A level in vitro-in vivo correlation testing, and a linear relationship was found between in vitro release rate and in vivo absorption rate, both for fast releasing and for the layered excipient suppositories.

Kinetics of 4-fluoroquinolones permeation into saliva.

Following a single oral administration of ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, pefloxacin and ofloxacin preparations to healthy volunteers simultaneously collected, saliva and plasma 4-fluoroquinolone concentrations were assayed by HPLC. Pharmacokinetic properties were determined by ordinary least squares fitting of the two compartment pharmacokinetic model to the experimental data. A good correlation between plasma and saliva data has been demonstrated. The saliva to venous plasma drug concentration ratio S/P appeared to be time-dependent in the case of norfloxacin and pefloxacin. It was demonstrated that S/P is a function of the quotient of the rate of absorption and venous plasma drug concentration. The calculated S/P ratios with the influence of absorption eliminated, (S/P)(corr) are: ciprofloxacin 0.53+/-0.02, norfloxacin 0.34+/-0.04, ofloxacin 0. 43+/-0.02 and pefloxacin 0.39+/-0.02 (mean+/-S.E.). These values are apparently independent of log D thus making it impossible to predict S/P on the basis of partition principles. The corresponding (S/P)(dif) ratios were calculated on the basis of the assumption that an equilibrium is established across the blood-saliva barrier, which is permeable only for nonionized and nonprotein bound drug fraction. Comparing (S/P)(corr) with the calculated (S/P)(dif) ratios it is evident that 4-fluoroquinolone permeation in saliva cannot be described by passive diffusion based on pH-partition theory.

Formulation of controlled release microspheres containing nicardipine: the role of pharmacokinetic modeling and computer simulation.

Nicardipine is an antihypertensive drug of the dihydropyridine series. It has high solubility in an acidic and low solubility in an alkaline medium. It is rapidly absorbed, extensively presystemically metabolized and excreted in the urine and faeces, mainly as inactive metabolites. Since the duration of its action can be extended by prolonging the absorption interval, the design of controlled release formulation is reasonable. The aim of the present study was to prepare microspheres which would release nicardipine at a decreased rate in gastric and increased rate in intestinal juice during a 12 h interval. Pharmacokinetic modeling based on compartment analysis and supported by analog computer and digital simulation technique showed that the target steady state peak plasma concentrations of 32 microg/l and trough plasma concentration of 7 microg/l would be maintained if nicardipine were incorporated in a formulation releasing the drug as follows: 25% after 1 h, 40% after 2 h, 65% after 4 h, 80% after 6 h, 90% after 8 h and 100% by 12 h. Microspheres have been prepared from hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate polymer using the solvent evaporation method. Drug content, scanning electron micrographs, particle size distribution and dissolution profile were determined. In vitro nicardipine release was described by a biphasic square root of time kinetics and was in accordance with the above values relating to the dissolution. Furthermore, a composed first-pass pharmacokinetic model with derived release function as an input was developed to predict nicardipine plasma concentrations after single- and 12 h multiple-dosage-regimen scheme administration of controlled release microspheres.

Influence of fever on the pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin.

The influence of fever on the pharmacokinetics of ciprofloxacin was investigated in seven patients with acute febrile diseases. Antibiotic serum concentrations were determined using high-performance liquid chromatograpy (HPLC). The analog computer and the Simulink software package were used to identify the pharmacokinetic model and Penoclin software package to obtain the secondary parameters. During fever, higher maximum serum concentrations (Cmax) of ciprofloxacin were observed in six out of seven patients. The result suggests that the influence of fever on the pharmacodynamics of ciprofloxacin is favorable.