Particle Size Effect of Cyetpyrafen Formulation in the Pesticide Transmission Process and Its Impact on Biological Activity.

Cyetpyrafen is a compound that lacks inherent uptake and systemic translocation activity. If mites do not come into direct contact with the pesticide solution on leaves, the efficacy cannot be achieved. Controlling the particle size can potentially play a crucial role in the manifestation of efficacy. In this study, high-throughput formulation technology was used to systematically screen a large number of adjuvants to obtain cyetpyrafen formulations. The particle size of the active ingredient in the formulation was measured. By examining the dynamic light scattering and contact angle, we simulated the actual process of the efficacy transmission of cyetpyrafen formulations against Tetranychus cinnabarinus. Our results showed that the activity of cyetpyrafen increases as the particle size decreases, suggesting that reducing the particle size can enhance the coverage and deposition on crop leaves, and further improve the dispersion efficiency and enhance spreading capabilities. Furthermore, controlling the particle size at 160 nm resulted in an LC50 value of 0.2026, which is approximately double than that of the commercial product. As a novel pesticide for mites, our study presents the most effective cyetpyrafen formulation in practice. Our findings provide valuable insights into controlling other mite species that pose a threat to agricultural products.

Topical treatment of diabetic macular edema using dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension: A randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate topical dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension OCS-01 (Oculis SA, Lausanne, Switzerland) in diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: This was a multicenter, double-masked, parallel-group, randomized, Phase 2 study. Patients aged 18-85 years with DME of <3 years duration, ETDRS central subfield thickness ≥ 310 µm by SD-OCT, and ETDRS letter score ≤ 73 and ≥ 24 in the study eye were randomized 2:1 to OCS-01 or matching vehicle, 1 drop 3 times/day for 12 weeks. Efficacy was evaluated as change from baseline to Week 12 of ETDRS letter score and central macular thickness (CMT). The primary analysis used a linear model with baseline ETDRS letters as a covariate, and missing data imputed using multiple imputation pattern mixture model techniques. Active treatment was considered superior to vehicle if the one-sided p-value was <0.15 and the difference in mean change from baseline in ETDRS letters was >0. RESULTS: Mean CMT showed a greater decrease from baseline with OCS-01 (N = 99) than vehicle (N = 45) at Week 12 (-53.6 vs -16.8 µm, p = 0.0115), with significant differences favouring OCS-01 from Weeks 2 to 12. OCS-01 was well-tolerated, and increased intraocular pressure was the most common adverse event. Mean change in ETDRS letter score from baseline to Week 12 met the p was +2.6 letters with topical OCS-01 and 1 letter with vehicle (p = 0.125). In a post-hoc analysis, there was a greater difference in patients with baseline BCVA ≤65 letters, the OCS-01 group improved 3.8 letters compared with 0.9 letters with vehicle. CONCLUSION: Topical OCS-01 was significantly more effective than vehicle in improving central macular thickness in patients with DME. Visual improvement was better in eyes with lower baseline vision.

Processing of Lipid Nanodispersions into Solid Powders by Spray Drying.

Spray drying is a promising technology for drying lipid nanodispersions. These formulations can serve as carrier systems for poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) that are loaded into the lipid matrix to improve their bioavailability. Once the API-loaded nanocarriers have been further processed into solid dosage forms, they could be administered orally, which is usually preferred by patients. Various solid lipids as well as oils were used in this study to prepare lipid nanodispersions, and it was shown that their nanoparticulate properties could be maintained when lactose in combination with SDS was used as matrix material in the spray-drying process. In addition, for lipid nanoemulsions loaded with fenofibrate, a good redispersibility with particle sizes below 300 nm at a lipid content of 26.8 wt.% in the powders was observed. More detailed investigations on the influence of the drying temperature yielded good results when the inlet temperature of the drying air was set at 110 °C or above, enabling the lactose to form an amorphous matrix around the embedded lipid particles. A tristearin suspension was developed as a probe to measure the temperature exposure of the lipid particles during the drying process. The results with this approach indicate that the actual temperature the particles were exposed to during the drying process could be higher than the outlet temperature.

Enhanced Oral Bioavailability of ß-Caryophyllene in Healthy Subjects Using the VESIsorb® Formulation Technology, a Novel Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System (SEDDS).

ß-Caryophyllene (BCP), a common constituent of many spice and food plants, is gaining increased attention due to recent research identifying numerous potential health benefits. Due to limited oral bioavailability observed in preclinical models, the described benefits of BCP may be maximized by using a suitable delivery system. Additionally, human pharmacokinetics (PK) remain unknown. This study evaluates the relative oral bioavailability of BCP formulated in a self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) based on VESIsorb® formulation technology (BCP-SEDDS) compared to BCP neat oil. Hence, a randomized, double-blind, cross-over design, single oral dose study (100 mg BCP) in 24 healthy subjects (12 men/12 women) was performed under fasting conditions. Pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed from individual concentration-time curves. The data show that BCP-SEDDS resulted in a 2.2/2.0-fold increase in AUC0-12h/AUC0-24h and a 3.6-fold increase in Cmax compared to BCP neat oil. Moreover, BCP was absorbed faster from BCP-SEDDS (Tmax: 1.43 h) compared to BCP neat oil (Tmax: 3.07 h). Gender analysis revealed that there is no significant difference between men and women for both the investigated formulations and all investigated PK endpoints. In conclusion, BCP-SEDDS offers a well-tolerated and effective oral delivery system to significantly enhance the oral bioavailability of BCP in humans.

Aqueous eye drops containing drug/cyclodextrin nanoparticles deliver therapeutic drug concentrations to both anterior and posterior segment.

Using topical application to deliver therapeutic concentrations of drugs to the posterior segment of the eye remains very challenging. As a result, posterior segment diseases are usually treated by intravitreal injection or implant. While topical treatments are commonly used for anterior segment conditions, they sometimes require frequent applications. Eye drop formulations based on γ-cyclodextrin (γCD)-based nanoparticle aggregates were developed, which in animal models and clinical studies deliver therapeutic concentrations of drugs (dorzolamide and dexamethasone) to both anterior and posterior segments of the eye. An early study in humans showed dorzolamide/γCD eye drops could achieve comparable intraocular pressure decreases to commercial dorzolamide eye drops, but with less frequent application. Pilot studies with dexamethasone/γCD eye drops suggested that they could be effective in a range of conditions, including diabetic macular oedema, cystoid macular oedema and vitritis secondary to uveitis, postcataract surgery inflammation and postoperative treatment in trabeculectomy. Phase II studies with similar dexamethasone/γCD nanoparticle eye drops in diabetic macular oedema and postcataract surgery inflammation have recently been completed. This technology has the potential to be used with other classes of drug molecules and to replace or complement invasive treatments, providing safer, non-invasive therapies, particularly for posterior segment conditions, that can be self-administered as eye drops by patients.

Biopesticides in India: technology and sustainability linkages.

Despite enhancing the crop yields, the so called green revolution (GR) has proven unsuccessful in assuring long term agricultural sustainability. The methods used for productivity enhancement during GR have not only proven to be problematic but have also resulted in deterioration of soil quality and several other issues related to ecosystems and health issues. The damage was mainly caused by the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and insecticides. Various types of pesticides, are now known to be causing huge problems in the agro-ecosystems. In such a situation, where chemicals have caused or are causing irreversible impacts on agroecosystems, the use of biopesticides has emerged as a sustainable alternative leading to safe organic farming. At the global level, environmentally benign nature and target-specificity of biopesticides are gaining wide popularity. However, in developing countries like India usage of biopesticides is still minuscule in comparison to conventional chemical pesticides. Although the Indian government has encouraged the use of biopesticides by placing them into many of the agricultural schemes, at the grassroots level, biopesticides are facing many challenges. The lower adaptability and declining interest of farmers towards biopesticides have become a matter of concern. However, technological challenges related to production, manufacture and application in agroecosystems have also raised a question on their long-term sustainability. The main objective of this review is to highlight the developing trend in the field of biocontrol products in India. Apart from this, the review also focuses on the technological perspectives that are required for the long-term sustainability of biological control products in Indian agriculture and market.

Novel Methods on Improving Drugs Across the Blood-brain Tumor Barrier into the Tumor / 中国药学杂志

The treatment of brain tumors is greatly limited due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier/blood-brain tumor barrier. In recent years, the application of some new technologies has improved the permeability of the blood-brain barrier and improved the curative effect. However, malignant tumors cause the gap between the tight connections to be larger, and capillary leakage appears. Another barrier to glioma chemotherapy, the blood-brain tumor barrier, is formed among the leaky blood-brain barrier, the neovascular and malignant brain tumor tissues, which greatly limits the penetration and accumulation of drugs into the tumor. The author has reviewed relevant information at home and abroad in recent years, and then analyzed and summarized. This article not only analyzed the structural characteristics of the blood-brain tumor barrier, but also reviewed the technologies and methods which had been proved to improve the drug across the blood-brain tumor barrier such as drug combination, novel formulation technology, physical technology and biotechnology, aiming to explore the comprehensive treatment of brain tumors.

Study of the influence of cellulose derivatives on physical and analytical attributes of a drug product belonging to BCS class II.

BACKGROUND: Cellulose microcrystalline (MCC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and croscarmellose sodium are cellulose derivatives which are widely used in pharmaceutical technology. Although they are inert pharmaceutical ingredients, they can influence the release profile of an active substance from the dosage form depending on their distribution, type and quantity used in the formulation. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present investigation was to examine the effect of chosen cellulose derivatives on the physical and analytical attributes of a drug product containing an active substance of Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) class II. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The tablets were prepared using the wet granulation technology. The batches differed in the amount and grade of HPMC, the type of MCC and the distribution of croscarmellose sodium. The granule properties as well as physical (tablet hardness, disintegration time, friability) and analytical (dissolution profile in different media) attributes of the tablets were examined. RESULTS: The flow characteristics were satisfying in the case of all prepared batches. However, the differences in flow properties were visible, especially in the cases where MCC of coarser particles was replaced with MCC of finer particles. The type of MCC used in the product formula also had a significant influence on the drug product dissolution profile. The batches in which MCC of finer particles was used had substantially better results, regardless of HPMC viscosity type and the distribution of croscarmellose sodium between the inner and outer phase. What is more, the differences in the results between batches of different MCC types were especially visible in dissolution conditions, i.e., 0.1N hydrochloric acid (HCl). CONCLUSIONS: By choosing the right type, quantity and distribution of cellulose derivatives, it was possible to obtain the optimal formula of the drug product similar to in-vitro conditions to the reference drug. Out of all the tested excipients, the type of cellulose microcrystalline was found to have the most critical influence on both physical and analytical properties of the pharmaceutical formulation.

Preparation Process of Xuangui Zhitong Dispersible Tablets / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To prepare Xuangui zhitong dispersible tablets and optimize its formulation technology. METHODS:Using disintegration time as index,single factor test was conducted for filler,disintegrating agent,the types and amount of adhe-sives and compression pressure. The amount of mixed disintegrating agent,avicel and gum arabic were optimized by orthogonal test. The tablet quality by optimized formulation was detected,and disintegration time,the content and dissolution rate of tetrahy-dropalmatine were determined;the similarity of in vitro dissolution rate of dispersible tablets and dropping pills were evaluated by similarity factor test. RESULTS:The optimized formulation was composed of 25% MCC as fillers,9% PVPP and 9% L-HPC as mixed disintegrants,85% ethanol solution as adhesives,micro-silica gel 2%,compression pressure of 3.0 kg/cm2. The average dis-integration time was 1.22 min,and the content of tetrahydropalmatine was 1.097 mg/g. The accumulative dissolution rate was more than 80% at 10 min and more than 90% at 15 min. The similarity factor f2 of dissolution curve was 62,using dropping pills as ref-erence preparation. CONCLUSIONS:Xuangui zhitong dispersible tablet had a rapid disintegration and the behavior of dissolution is similar to Xuangui zhitong dropping pills.

Optimization on the Formulation Technology of Paeonol-?-cyclodextrin Inclusion Compound / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To optimize the formulation technology of paeonol-?-cyclodextrin inclusion compound. METHODS: The formulation technology of paeonol-?-cyclodextrin inclusion compound was optimized by performing orthogonal experiment with the amount of ?-cyclodextrin,the solid-liquid ratio (ratio of ?-cyclodextrin to paeonol alcohol solution),the concentration of the envelop liquid (alcohol) as factors and the ultrasonic time was studied by single factor test and with the utilization ratio and entrapment efficiency of paeonol as indexes for evaluation. Meanwhile,a verification test was performed. RESULTS: The optimal formulation technology was as follows: the amount of ?-cyclodextrin was 8 g;the solid-liquid ratio was 1∶3;the concentration of the alcohol was 40% and the ultrasounding time was 40 min. The verification test revealed that the labeled contents were about 90% for all samples (4 batches). CONCLUSION: The optimized formulation technology is simple and reasonable,and it is applicable for the preparation of paeonol-?-cyclodextrin inclusion compound.

Formula and Preparation Technology of Gel Matrix Sustained Release Tablet of Nicotinic Acid / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the formula and preparation technology of gel-matrix sustained release tablet of nicotinic acid(GSTNA).METHODS: The formula of GSTNA was optimized by orthogonal experiment with the amount of hydrophilic gel-matrix material HPMC(K15M,E15-LV) and that of adjuvant calcium hydrogen phosphate(CHP) as factors and with the in vitro release rates as index.Meanwhile,the verification test on the intra-and inter-batch release rates of the samples was performed.RESULTS: The optimum formula could be seen as follows: the ratios of HPMC(K15M,E15-LV) and CHP were 4%,40% and 25% respectively.The GSTNA prepared in this formula achieved a sustained drug release of up to 12 h,and both the intra-batch homogenicity and the inter-batch reproducibility were satisfactory.CONCLUSION: The GSTNA is reasonable in formula and simple in preparation technology.