Mixing of low-dose cohesive drug and overcoming of pre-blending step using a new gentle-wing high-shear mixer granulator

The objective of this study was to examine the influence of drug amount and mixing time on the homogeneity and content uniformity of a low-dose drug formulation during the dry mixing step using a new gentle-wing high-shear mixer. Moreover, the study investigated the influence of drug incorporation mode on the content uniformity of tablets manufactured by different methods. Albuterol sulfate was selected as a model drug and was blended with the other excipients at two different levels, 1% w/w and 5% w/w at impeller speed of 300?rpm and chopper speed of 3000?rpm for 30?min. Utilizing a 1?ml unit side-sampling thief probe, triplicate samples were taken from nine different positions in the mixer bowl at selected time points. Two methods were used for manufacturing of tablets, direct compression and wet granulation. The produced tablets were sampled at the beginning, middle, and end of the compression cycle. An analysis of variance analysis indicated the significant effect (p?tablets. For 1% w/w and 5% w/w formulations, incorporation of the drug in the granulating fluid provided tablets with excellent content uniformity and very low relative standard deviation (～0.61%) during the whole tableting cycle compared to direct compression and granulation method with dry incorporation mode of the drug. Overall, gentle-wing mixer is a good candidate for mixing of low-dose cohesive drug and provides tablets with acceptable content uniformity with no need for pre-blending step.     

Effect of Kollidon VA®64 particle size and morphology as directly compressible excipient on tablet compression properties

The study evaluates use of Kollidon VA^®64 and a combination of Kollidon VA^®64 with Kollidon VA^®64 Fine as excipient in direct compression process of tablets. The combination of the two grades of material is evaluated for capping, lamination and excessive friability. Inter particulate void space is higher for such excipient due to the hollow structure of the Kollidon VA^®64 particles. During tablet compression air remains trapped in the blend exhibiting poor compression with compromised physical properties of the tablets. Composition of Kollidon VA^®64 and Kollidon VA^®64 Fine is evaluated by design of experiment (DoE). A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of two grades of Kollidon VA^®64 exhibits morphological differences between coarse and fine grade. The tablet compression process is evaluated with a mix consisting of entirely Kollidon VA^®64 and two mixes containing Kollidon VA^®64 and Kollidon VA^®64 Fine in ratio of 77:23 and 65:35. A statistical modeling on the results from the DoE trials resulted in the optimum composition for direct tablet compression as combination of Kollidon VA^®64 and Kollidon VA^®64 Fine in ratio of 77:23. This combination compressed with the predicted parameters based on the statistical modeling and applying main compression force between 5 and 15?kN, pre-compression force between 2 and 3?kN, feeder speed fixed at 25?rpm and compression range of 45–49?rpm produced tablets with hardness ranging between 19 and 21?kp, with no friability, capping, or lamination issue.     

基于机器视觉的平板式数粒机检测方法

以现代药品包装为应用背景,以新型平板式数粒机为研究平台,以机器视觉技术为研究重点,提出了一种基于机器视觉的平板式数粒机的检测方法。该检测方法可用于药品颗粒的缺陷检测和计数算法的研究。实验结果表明,基于机器视觉的平板式数粒机检测方法可达到用户的要求,实现高速度、高效率、高精度的在线检测计数。     

复方七芍降压片对自发性高血压大鼠肠系膜动脉中Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原蛋白表达及血压的影响

目的:探究复方七芍降压片对自发性高血压大鼠（SHR）血压及血管重塑的作用机制。方法:SHR大鼠随机分为模型组、厄贝沙坦片组、复方七芍降压片组,每组10只,另设10只WKY大鼠为正常对照组,给药6周,无创血压仪测量各周大鼠血压变化;HE染色观察大鼠肠系膜动脉病理变化并测量管壁厚度、血管中膜厚度及相同位置的管腔直径,比值记为WT;免疫组化法检测肠系膜动脉中基质金属蛋白酶-2（MMP-2）及Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原蛋白（COⅠ、COⅢ）表达情况。结果:给药6周后,与正常对照组比较,模型组大鼠各周血压均明显升高（P<0.01）,管壁厚度及WT值增高（P<0.01或P<0.05）,肠系膜动脉中MMP-2及Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原蛋白表达均明显升高（P<0.01）;与模型组比较,复方七芍降压片组大鼠各周血压均明显降低（P<0.01）,管壁厚度及WT值降低（P<0.05）,肠系膜动脉中MMP-2及Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原蛋白表达均明显降低（P<0.05）,且病理变化得到改善。结论:复方七芍降压片具有降低SHR大鼠血压,改善血管重塑的作用,其机制可能与降低MMP-2表达及Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原蛋白沉积有关。     

Inhibition of proteases activity in intestine needs a sustainable acidic environment rather than a transient

α-Chymotrypsin (α-CT) and trypsin are important components of the enzymatic barrier. They could degrade the therapeutic proteins and peptides, inhibit their activity consequently, and thereby reduce their oral bioavailability. Acidic agents, as one type of indirect protease inhibitors, have shown proof of concept in clinical trials. We report here the inactivated proteases due to acid influence can be reactivated immediately by environmental pH recovery regardless of how long the inactivation last. To keep the inactivation time of proteases for 4–5?h, we designed and prepared a sustained-release tablet containing citric acid (CA) which can effectively reduce the pH below 5.0 and maintain it for 5?h in the dissolution-reaction medium. The activity of α-CT and trypsin was quantified by analyzing the residual amount of their respective substrates BTEE and TAME. More than 80% of the substrates were survived in 5.0?h of incubation, whereas the common tablet inhibited the proteases activity for only two hours in the same experimental medium. It indicates that the sustained-release tablet loaded with CA can efficiently inhibit the α-CT and trypsin activity longer than the common tablet. The results will be beneficial for designing and formulating the peroral administration of peptide and protein drugs.     

Channeling Agent and Drug Release from a Central Core Matrix Tablet

A new oral dosage form for controlled and complete release of drug after a predetermined lag time is described. The system, designed to exploit the relatively constant small intestine transit time, consists of a drug-containing core coated with a polymeric matrix formed by a channeling agent (NaCl, mannitol, and Emdex) and an inert polymer (Eudragit RS100). The lag time was found to be dependent on type and particle size of the channeling substances used. Also, rheological properties of the binary mixtures (channeling substance–polymer) can affect the lag time periods. On the other hand, the release kinetics were found to be influenced significantly by excipient type and particle size. Results obtained from in vitro dissolution testing demonstrated that this device potentially could be used to deliver drugs orally for up to once-a-day dosing at controllable rates.     

Using an Experimental Design to Identify and Quantify the Effects of Environment Related Test Parameters on the In Vitro Mucoadhesivity Testing of a Propanolol Buccal Tablet

ABSTRACT

This study sought to identify and quantify the effects of environmental test parameters on the mucoadhesivity of a propranolol tablet. Their effects on Maximum Detachment Force (MDF) measurements were evaluated using a Box-Behnken design matrix. Prehydration time (PT) had a statistically significant negative main effect while contact force (CF) had no significant effect on in vitro MDF measurements. While contact time (CT) had no significant main or quadratic effects, it had a positive interaction effect with PT. The mathematical model was statistically validated and a PT of 3.5 min and a CT of 5 min was proposed for mucoadhesion testing by the tensile method during formulation optimization.     

Evaluation of dibutyrylchitin as new excipient for sustained drug release

Dibutyrylchitin (DBC), a lipophilic chitin diester, has been synthesized from chitin and butyric anhydride with methanesulfonic acid as catalyst. Exhaustive esterification of free alcoholic groups of chitin was assessed by FT-IR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. High degree of alkyl substitution allowed DBC to acquire an almost completely lipophilic character. Tablets of paracetamol and metformin employing DBC as major excipient, in comparison with starch, microcrystalline cellulose, lactose and polyvinylpyrrolidone, were prepared and rates of drug release were checked by dissolution test assays. DBC released drug at a lower rate than that of the other tested materials. A comparison study of rate release of metformin from DBC tablets and from metformin-hydroxypropyl methylcellulose prolonged release oral formulation available on the market has been also curried out. Under the same conditions and in the presence of the same amount of loaded drug, DBC released 64% of metformin whereas hypromellose-based tablets released 87%.     

Fast relief from migraine attacks using fast-disintegrating sublingual zolmitriptan tablets

Zolmitriptan is a potent molecule for treatment of migraine. Its current oral therapies present drawbacks such as slow onset of action, low bioavailability and large inter-subject variability. Fast disintegrating sublingual zolmitriptan tablet (FDST) using freeze-drying technique has been developed to enhance tablet disintegration and dissolution with the intention of speeding drug absorption and onset of effect, hence mitigating the effects on the gastrointestinal dysmotility that typically accompanies the migraine attack. The FDSTs were prepared using different concentrations of gelatin as binder and mannitol or L-alanine as matrix supporting/disintegration enhancing agents. The effect of formulation variables on the physicochemical and solid-state properties, as well as the dissolution behaviour of the tablets, was studied. The formulated FDSTs disintegrated within 30 s and showed significantly faster dissolution rate of zolmitriptan compared to the zolmitriptan oral tablet. Tablet containing 2% gelatin and mannitol showed acceptable weight variation, drug content and friability values. Furthermore, it had a low in-vitro and in-vivo disintegration time (11 s) and it reached 100% of drug release within 30 s. This sublingual formulation gave faster and higher zolmitriptan plasma concentration in rabbits compared to the oral zolmetriptan market product. Zolmitriptan FDST may therefore constitute an advance in the management of acute migraine attacks.