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.     

Elimination of beta-blockers in sewage treatment plants

beta-Blockers are used to treat high blood pressure as well as patients recovering from heart attacks. In several studies, they were detected in surface water, thus indicating incomplete degradability of these substances in sewage treatment plants (STPs). In this study, we determined the sorption coefficients (K(D)) and degradation rates of the four beta-blockers sotalol, atenolol, metoprolol and propranolol in sludge from an STP operating with municipal wastewater. The sorption coefficients (K(D), standard deviations in brackets) were determined as 0.04(+/-0.035), 0.04(+/-0.033), 0.00(+/-0.023) and 0.32(+/-0.058) Lg(-1)(COD), and the pseudo-first-order degradation rate constants were estimated to be 0.29(+/-0.02), 0.69(+/-0.05), 0.58(+/-0.05) and 0.39(+/-0.07) Ld(-1)g(-1)(COD) for sotalol, atenolol, metoprolol and propranolol, respectively. These values translate into a typical elimination in STPs (sludge concentrations of 4g(COD)L(-1) and a hydraulic retention time of 6h) of 25%, 37%, 44% and 50% for sotalol, propranolol, metoprolol and atenolol, respectively. These results are also confirmed by measurements in two municipal STPs for atenolol, sotalol and propranolol. The estimated eliminations are slightly too high for metoprolol.     

Degradation of pharmaceutical beta-blockers by electrochemical advanced oxidation processes using a flow plant with a solar compound parabolic collector

The degradation of the beta-blockers atenolol, metoprolol tartrate and propranolol hydrochloride was studied by electro-Fenton (EF) and solar photoelectro-Fenton (SPEF). Solutions of 10 L of 100 mg L⁻¹ of total organic carbon of each drug in 0.1 M Na₂SO₄ with 0.5 mM Fe²⁺ of pH 3.0 were treated in a recirculation flow plant with an electrochemical reactor coupled with a solar compound parabolic collector. Single Pt/carbon felt (CF) and boron-doped diamond (BDD)/air-diffusion electrode (ADE) cells and combined Pt/ADE-Pt/CF and BDD/ADE-Pt/CF cells were used. SPEF treatments were more potent with the latter cell, yielding 95-97% mineralization with 100% of maximum current efficiency and energy consumptions of about 0.250 kWh g TOC⁻¹. However, the Pt/ADE-Pt/CF cell gave much lower energy consumptions of about 0.080 kWh g TOC⁻¹ with slightly lower mineralization of 88-93%, then being more useful for its possible application at industrial level. The EF method led to a poorer mineralization and was more potent using the combined cells by the additional production of hydroxyl radicals (^•OH) from Fenton’s reaction from the fast Fe²⁺ regeneration at the CF cathode. Organics were also more rapidly destroyed at BDD than at Pt anode. The decay kinetics of beta-blockers always followed a pseudo first-order reaction, although in SPEF, it was accelerated by the additional production of ^•OH from the action of UV light of solar irradiation. Aromatic intermediates were also destroyed by hydroxyl radicals. Ultimate carboxylic acids like oxalic and oxamic remained in the treated solutions by EF, but their Fe(III) complexes were photolyzed by solar irradiation in SPEF, thus explaining its higher oxidation power. NO₃⁻ was the predominant inorganic ion lost in EF, whereas the SPEF process favored the production of NH₄⁺ ion and volatile N-derivatives.     

Enantiomeric Separation and Quantitative Determination of Propranolol in Tablets by Chiral High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

This work reports an application of chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the separation and quantitative determination of propranolol isomers in tablets. The isomers were separated using a Chiralcel OD® column (250 × 4.6 mm, 10 μm) with a mobile phase of hexane:ethanol (75:25 v/v) at a flow rate of 0.7 ml/min and ultraviolet detection at 280 nm. The coefficient of variation and average recovery of (R)-isomer for samples A, B, C, and D were 0.72% and 100.30%, 0.67% and 99.40%, 0.62% and 99.76%, and 0.70% and 99.68%, respectively. The coefficient of variation and average recovery of (S)-isomer for samples A, B, C, and D were 0.74% and 99.62%, 0.64% and 100.27%, 0.71% and 99.99%, and 0.70% and 99.72%, respectively.     

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

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.     

Resolution of Racemic Propranolol in Liquid Membranes Containing TA‐β‐cyclodextrin

Abstract

The pharmacological properties of propranolol enantiomers are quite different, the β‐adrenergic blocking activity resides in the (S)‐(?) isomer, while the (R)‐(+)‐enantiomer has only a membrane stabilizing effect. The inherent chirality of cyclodextrins (CDs) allows them to form diastereomeric complexes. In this work, a peracetylated β‐CD (TA‐β‐CD) that preferentially interacts with the (S)‐(?) isomer of propranolol was used. Two liquid membranes, bulk liquid membrane (BLM) and supported liquid membrane (SLM) were tested. A recovery of 30% and a enantiomeric excess of 12% were obtained, using a SLM with 10 mM of propranolol and a pH gradient between feed and stripping phases.     

Molecular Properties of Propranolol Hydrochloride Prepared as Drug-Resin Complexes

Drug-resin complexes, as well as physical dispersions, containing varying contents of propranolol were prepared. The molecular properties of samples were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. In addition, the USP paddle method was used to determine the release behavior of drug from various formulations prepared from the samples. The data from DSC and XRPD indicated that the molecular state of drug in the complexes was amorphous, whereas that in the physical dispersions exhibited the crystalline state of pure drug. These results suggested that the molecule of drug prepared as drug-resin complexes was monomolecularly dispersed in the resin bead. The IR study provided evidence that demonstrated the interaction between the drug and resin in the complexes. The release behavior of drug from the complexes was governed by the cross-linkage structure and equilibrium treatment of drug exchange of resin.     

Enantiomeric Separation and Quantitative Determination of Propranolol in Tablets by Chiral High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

This work reports an application of chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the separation and quantitative determination of propranolol isomers in tablets. The isomers were separated using a Chiralcel OD® column (250 × 4.6 mm, 10 μm) with a mobile phase of hexane:ethanol (75:25 v/v) at a flow rate of 0.7 ml/min and ultraviolet detection at 280 nm. The coefficient of variation and average recovery of (R)-isomer for samples A, B, C, and D were 0.72% and 100.30%, 0.67% and 99.40%, 0.62% and 99.76%, and 0.70% and 99.68%, respectively. The coefficient of variation and average recovery of (S)-isomer for samples A, B, C, and D were 0.74% and 99.62%, 0.64% and 100.27%, 0.71% and 99.99%, and 0.70% and 99.72%, respectively.     

Molecular Properties of Propranolol Hydrochloride Prepared as Drug-Resin Complexes

Drug-resin complexes, as well as physical dispersions, containing varying contents of propranolol were prepared. The molecular properties of samples were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. In addition, the USP paddle method was used to determine the release behavior of drug from various formulations prepared from the samples. The data from DSC and XRPD indicated that the molecular state of drug in the complexes was amorphous, whereas that in the physical dispersions exhibited the crystalline state of pure drug. These results suggested that the molecule of drug prepared as drug-resin complexes was monomolecularly dispersed in the resin bead. The IR study provided evidence that demonstrated the interaction between the drug and resin in the complexes. The release behavior of drug from the complexes was governed by the cross-linkage structure and equilibrium treatment of drug exchange of resin.