Volume 59 (2009): Issue 2 (June 2009)

The purpose of this study was to improve the solubility and dissolution rate of carvedilol by forming a ternary complex with β-cyclodextrin and citric acid and to formulate its mouth-dissolving tablets. The rationale for preparing mouth-dissolving tablet of carvedilol was to make the drug available in a soluble form in the mouth, which would facilitate its absorption from the buccal cavity. This would help to overcome its first-pass metabolism and thereby improve bioavailability. Phase solubility studies revealed the ability of β-cyclodextrin and citric acid to complex with carvedilol and significantly increase its solubility. Ternary complexation of carvedilol was carried out with β-cyclodextrin and citric acid by physical mixing, kneading and spray drying methods and the prepared complexes were characterized by Fourier transform infra red spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, powder X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy and complexation efficiency. The complex obtained by the spray drying method resulted in highest complexation efficiency and a 110-fold increase in the solubility of carvedilol. The mouth-dissolving tablets formulated using the spray dried complex with suitable excipients showed 100 % dissolution within five minutes. Accelerated stability studies of mouth-dissolving tablets carried out as per ICH guidelines revealed that the tablets were stable.

7-Ethyl-10-hydroxy-camptothecin (SN-38), a metabolite of irinotecan x HCl, is poorly soluble in aqueous solutions and practically insoluble in most physiologically compatible and pharmaceutically acceptable solvents. Formulation of SN-38 in concentrated pharmaceutical delivery systems for parenteral administration is thus very difficult. Due to their biocompatibility and low toxicity, liposomes were considered for the delivery of SN-38. In this study, pegylated liposomes with distearoylphosphatidylcholine, distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine containing SN-38 were prepared and their characteristics, such as particle size, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro drug release and biodistribution, were investigated. The particle size of liposomes was in the range of 150--200 nm. The encapsulation efficiency and in vitro release rate of pegylated liposomes was higher than those of non-pegylated liposomes. As expected, the distribution of pegylated liposomes in body organs such as liver, kidney, spleen and lung was considerably lower than that of non-pegylated liposomes. Also, their blood concentration was at least 50 % higher than that of non-pegylated liposomes.

In an effort to establish new pyrroles and pyrrolo[2,3-d] pyrimidines with improved antimicrobial activity we report here the synthesis and in vitro microbiological evaluation of a series of pyrrole derivatives. A series of new 2-aminopyrrole-3-carbonitriles (1a-d) were synthesized from the reaction of benzoin, primary aromatic amines and malononitrile, from which a number of pyrrole derivatives (2a-d to 5a-d) and pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines (6a-d to 10a, d) were synthesized. The in vitro antimicrobial testing of the synthesized compounds was carried out against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. Some of the prepared compounds, [2-amino-1-(2-methylphenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitriles (1b), 2-amino-3-carbamoyl-1-(3-methylphenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrroles (2b), N-(3-cyano-1-(2-methylphenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-acetamides (3b), N-(3-cyano-1-(3-methylphenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-acetamides (3c), 2-amino-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-3-tetrazolo-1H-pyrroles (5d), 7-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5,6-diphenyl-7H-pyrrolo [2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones (7d), 7-(3-methylphenyl)-5,6-diphenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-thione (9b) and N-(7-(2-methylphenyl)-5,6-diphenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d] pyrimidine)-N-aryl amines (10a)] showed potent antimicrobial activity.

The aim of the present work was to synthesise coumarinyl heterocycles and to elucidate the potential role of these compounds as antioxidants and cytotoxic agents against Dalton's lymphoma ascites tumour cells (DLA) and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells (EAC). The synthesis of coumarin derivatives containing pyrazole, pyrazolone, thiazolidin-4-one, 5-carboxymethyl-4-thiazolidinone and 3-acetyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole ring is reported. 4-Methylcoumarinyl-7-oxyacetic acid hydrazide (1) reacted with arylazopropanes or hydrazono-3-oxobutyrate derivatives to form pyrazole (3a-c) and pyrazolone derivatives (5a-c). Heterocyclisation of Schiff's bases of 1 with thioglycolic acid, thiomalic acid or acetic anhydride afforded novel heterocyclic derivatives 4-thiazolidinones (7a-c), 5-carboxymethyl-4-thiazolidinones (8a-c) and oxadiazoles (9a-c), respectively. Some of the compounds showed promising antioxidant activity in vitro and cytotoxic activity against DLA cells and EAC cells.

The present study aimed to develop hydroxypropyl methylcellulose based transdermal delivery of pentazocine. In formulations containing lower proportions of polymer, the drug released followed the Higuchi kinetics while, with an increase in polymer content, it followed the zero-order release kinetics. Release exponent (n) values imply that the release of pentazocine from matrices was non-Fickian. FT-IR, DSC and XRD studies indicated no interaction between drug and polymer.

The in vitro dissolution rate constant, dissolution half-life and pharmacokinetic parameters (C_max, t_max, AUC_(s), t_1/2, K_el, and MRT) were evaluated statistically by two-way ANOVA. A significant difference was observed between but not within the tested products. Statistically, a good correlation was found between per cent of drug absorbed from patches vs. C_max and AUC_(s). A good correlation was also observed when per cent drug released was correlated with the blood drug concentration obtained at the same time point. The results of this study indicate that the polymeric matrix films of pentazocine hold potential for transdermal drug delivery.

The morphology of crystals has an appreciable impact role on the physicochemical properties of drugs. Drug properties such as flowability, dissolution, hardness and bioavailability may be affected by crystallinity behaviours of drugs. The objective of this study was to achieve an improved physicomechanical property of carbamazepine powder through recrystallization from aqueous solutions at different pH values. For this purpose, carbamazapine was recrystallized from aqueous solutions at different pH values (1, 7, 11). The morphology of crystals was investigated using scanning electron microscopy; X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) was used to identify polymorphism; thermodynamic properties were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetery (DSC). Dissolution rate was determined using USP dissolution apparatus. Mechanical behavior of recrystallized carbamazepine powders was investigated by making tablets under different compaction pressure and measuring their hardness. SEM studies showed that the carbamazepine crystallization in different media affected the morphology and size of carbamazepine crystals. The shape of carbamazepine crystals changed from flaky or thin plate-like to needle shape. XRPD and DSC results ruled out any crystallinity changes occurring due to the temperature during recrystallization procedure or pH of crystallization media. The crushing strength of tablets indicated that all of the recrystallized carbamazepine samples had better compactiblity than the original carbamazepine powder. In vitro dissolution studies of carbamazepine samples showed a higher dissolution rate for carbamazepine crystals obtained from media with pH 11 and 1. Carbamazepine particles recrystallized from aqueous solutions of different pH values (all media) appeared to have superior mechanical properties to those of the original carbamazepine sample.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the suitability of laboratory scale spheronizer for the production of spherical pellets loaded with diltiazem hydrochloride by wax combination. The 1:1 combination of cetyl alcohol and hydrogenated castor oil, as low and high melting point waxes, were used. The various production variables affecting the different characteristics of pellets and the process efficiency were evaluated. Drug loaded pellets were evaluated for drug release in distilled water. Bowl temperature primarily affects the sphericity and adhesion of pellets to the bowl. Mass temperature has a pronounced effect on size, size distribution and sphericity of pellets. Wax concentration affects all characteristics of pellets but adhesion was least affected. The effect of these three variables can be compensated by optimizing the friction plate speed. It has been found that the highest yield of pellets (850--1400 μm) with maximum sphericity can be produced by using 45 °C bowl temperature, 52 °C mass temperature and 1400 rpm friction plate speed.

Floating matrix tablets of norfloxacin were developed to prolong gastric residence time, leading to an increase in drug bioavailability. Tablets were prepared by the wet granulation technique, using polymers such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC K4M, HPMC K100M) and xanthan gum. Tablets were evaluated for their physical characteristics, viz., hardness, thickness, friability, and mass variation, drug content and floating properties. Further, tablets were studied for in vitro drug release characteristics for 9 hours. The tablets exhibited controlled and prolonged drug release profiles while floating over the dissolution medium. Non-Fickian diffusion was confirmed as the drug release mechanism from these tablets, indicating that water diffusion and polymer rearrangement played an essential role in drug release. The best formulation (F4) was selected based on in vitro characteristics and was used in vivo radiographic studies by incorporating BaSO₄. These studies revealed that the tablets remained in the stomach for 180 ± 30 min in fasting human volunteers and indicated that gastric retention time was increased by the floating principle, which was considered desirable for the absorption window drugs.

A novel series of 2-[3-(4-bromophenyl)propan-3-one]-5-(substituted phenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles (4a-n) have been synthesized from 3-(4-bromobenzoyl)propionic acid (3) with the aim to get better anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents with minimum or without side effects (ulcerogenicity). Compound 3 was reacted with several aryl acid hydrazides (2a-n) in phosphorous oxychloride to obtain the title compounds. Structures of the synthesized compounds were supported by means of IR, ¹H NMR and mass spectroscopy. Title compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory, analgesic, ulcerogenic and antibacterial activities. Antibacterial activity was expressed as the corresponding minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). A fair number of compounds were found to have significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities, while a few compounds showed appreciable antibacterial activity. The newly synthesized compounds showed very low ulcerogenic action. The findings of the present study indicate that cyclization of the carboxylic group of 3 into novel 1,3,4-oxadiazole nucleus resulted in increased anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities with a significant decrease of ulcerogenic activity.

In the present study, seven hydroxamic acid derivatives of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (ibuprofen, fenoprofen, ketoprofen, indomethacin and diclofenac) were found to possess significant antioxidant, radical scavenging and metal chelating activities. The most active antioxidant and radical scavenger was N-methylhydroxamic acid of diclofenac (ANT = 88.0% and EC₅₀ = 60.1 μg mL^-1). The activity of the standard substance, butylated hydroxyanisole, in the two assays was ANT = 86.9% and EC₅₀ = 18.8 μg mL^-1, respectively. Ibuproxam was the strongest iron chelator among investigated hydroxamic acids (EC₅₀ = 255.6 μg mL^-1), yet significantly weaker than the standard substance, EDTA (EC₅₀ = 29.1 μg mL^-1). It seems that different mechanism is involved in metal chelating activity than in antioxidant and radical scavenging activity. Antioxidant and radical scavenging activities may be connected with conjugation of the nitrogen lone electron pair with the carbonyl group. On the other hand, more hydrophilic substances tend to be better iron chelators.