The effects of technical and compositional variables on the size and release profile of bovine serum albumin from PLGA based particulate systems.

Double emulsion solvent evaporation technique is one of the most attractive methods used to prepare micro and nanoparticles in pharmaceutical areas of interest, but because of the effects of many formulation factors on the size and release behavior of the fabricated particles, optimization of the formulation factors is needed. In this study various parameters including technical and compositional variables were considered to achieve an optimized formulation with desire characteristics especially size and the release profiles, using high shear homogenizer. In this regard, bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as the model protein and double emulsion was formed with the addition of Tween 80 and Span 80 as surfactants for inner aqueous phase and oil phase, respectively. Hydroxypropyl beta cyclodextrin was used as protein stabilizer. After optimization steps, composite nanoparticles (core-shell) were made based on optimized formulation by hyaluronic acid as shell and poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) as core material. Formulation of the BSA loaded PLGA nanoparticles using core shell strategy improved the release pattern of the BSA and diminished burst release. The final composite nanoparticles had the particle size of about 160 nm and 70 % of the loaded BSA was released during 14 days and the release data was better fitted to zero order release kinetics.

The strength of bilayered tablets.

The tensile strength of model materials (dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, microcrystalline cellulose and pregelatinised starch) compacted to form tablets in the form of beams consisting of two layers of equal thickness has been determined by three-point loading. The values of the tensile strength of the materials were sometimes higher and sometimes lower than the tensile strength of beams of the same thickness composed of a single material. Correction of the values for the tensile strength of the layered beams for the differences in the elasticity of the materials in the layered tablets failed to correct for these differences, as did considering the layered beams as beams of half thickness. For a layered tablet with pregelatinised starch at the bottom and microcrystalline cellulose at the top, the value of the tensile strength recorded appeared to be that of the microcrystalline cellulose as the fracture propagated across the boundary between the layers and into microcrystalline cellulose. What appeared to be the important factor was the way the failure of the beam crossed the interface between the two layers.

A stability-indicating high performance liquid chromatographic assay for the determination of orlistat in capsules.

A stability-indicating HPLC method was developed and validated for the quantitative determination of orlistat in capsule dosage forms. An isocratic separation was achieved using a Perfectsil target ODS-3, 250 mm x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 microm particle size column with a flow rate of 0.7 ml/min and using a UV detector to monitor the eluate at 210 nm. The mobile phase consisted of methanol:acetonitrile:trifluoroacetic acid (82.5:17.5:0.01, v/v/v). The drug was subjected oxidation, hydrolysis, photolysis and heat to apply stress conditions. Complete separation was achieved for the parent compound and all degradation products in an overall analytical run time of approximately 15 min with the parent compound orlistat eluting at approximately 9 min. The method was linear over the concentration range of 0.02-0.75 mg/ml (r = 0.9998) with a limit of detection and quantitation 0.006 and 0.02 mg/ml, respectively. The method has the requisite accuracy, selectivity, sensitivity and precision to assay orlistat in capsules. Degradation products resulting from the stress studies did not interfere with the detection of orlistat and the assay is thus stability-indicating.

The determination of the mechanical properties of elongated tablets of varying cross section.

The mechanical properties of elongated tablets of different thickness prepared at a range of pressures with surfaces that are flat or curved, have been determined by application of a flexure test. The strength of the tablets in terms of breaking load increases with an increase in the cross-sectional area of the tablets. To provide an improved method of comparing the strength of the tablets, the tensile strength of the specimens has been calculated from equations based on stress analysis. While an allowance for a change in thickness was provided by such a system there was a clear indication that the specimens tensile strength was still dependent on their dimensions. For equivalent central core thickness strength increased with the face curvature. This could be due to changes of the structure within the specimen during the formation process and there were clear indications that tablet porosities for equivalent compaction pressures were not equal. The differences could, however, be utilised to provide optimum conditions of curvature and central core thickness to give maximum tablet strength.