Amoxicillin chewable tablets intended for pediatric use: formulation development, stability evaluation and taste assessment.

To cover the unpleasant taste of amoxicillin (250 mg), maize starch (baby food) and milk chocolate were co-formulated. The raw materials and the final formulations were characterized by means of Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. To evaluate the taste masking two different groups of volunteers were used, according to the Ethical Research Committee of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The optimization of excipients' content in the tablet was determined by experimental design methodology (crossed D-optimal). Due to the matrix complexity, amoxicillin was extracted using liquid extraction and analyzed isocratically by HPLC. The developed chromatographic method was validated (%Recovery 98.7-101.3, %RSD = 1.3, LOD and LOQ 0.15 and 0.45 µg mL-1 respectively) according to the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. The physicochemical properties of the tablets were also examined demonstrating satisfactory quality characteristics (diameter: 15 mm, thickness: 6 mm, hardness <98 Newton, loss of mass <1.0%, disintegration time ∼25min). Additionally, dissolution (%Recovery >90) and in vitro digestion tests (%Recovery >95) were carried out. Stability experiments indicated that amoxicillin is stable in the prepared formulations for at least one year (%Recovery <91).

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of the hybrid molecules between amoxicillin and derivatives of benzoic acid.

Due to the increasing problem of bacterial resistance worldwide, the demand for new antibiotics is becoming increasingly urgent. We wished to: (a) prepare hybrid molecules by linking different pharmacophores by chemical bonds; (b) investigate the antib acterial activity of these hybrids using drug-sensitive and drug-resistant pathogens in vitro and vivo. A series of hybrid molecules with a diester structure were designed and synthesized that linked amoxicillin and derivatives of benzoic acid via a methylene bridge. Synthesized compounds were evaluated for activities against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus American Type Culture Collection [ATCC] 29213, ATCC 11632; methicillin-resistant S. aureus [MRSA] 11; Escherichia coli ATCC 25922) and Gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella LS677, GD836, GD828, GD3625) by microdilution of broth. Synthesized compounds showed good activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in vitro. In particular, amoxicillin-p-nitrobenzoic acid (6d) showed good activity against Salmonella species and had better activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] = 64 µg/ml) than the reference drug, amoxicillin (MIC = 128 µg/ml). Amoxicillin-p-methoxybenzoic acid (6b) had the best antibacterial activity in vivo (ED50 = 13.2496 µg/ml). The hybrid molecules of amoxicillin and derivatives of benzoic acid synthesized based on a diester structure can improve the activity of amoxicillin against Salmonella species and even improve the activity against MRSA.

Design of Magnetic Polymeric Particles as a Stimulus-Responsive System for Gastric Antimicrobial Therapy.

The treatment of peptic ulcers induced by H. pylori remains challenging due to the deep mucous layer location of bacteria preventing antimicrobial drug access. The present work aimed to design and evaluate in vitro dual responsive (both pH and magnetic field-sensitive) polymeric magnetic particles loaded with amoxicillin as a smart drug carrier for deep mucous layer penetration and in situ drug release. Magnetite particles were produced by the co-precipitation method and subsequently coated with the Eudragit®S100 and amoxicillin by using the spray-drying technique. The physicochemical characterization of the obtained particles was carried out by optical and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, and vibrating sample magnetometry. Additionally, drug release tests and antibacterial activity tests were evaluated in vitro. Microparticles presented 17.2 ± 0.4 µm in size and their final composition was 4.3 ± 1.5% of amoxicillin, 87.0 ± 2.3% of Eudragit, and 9.0 ± 0.3% of magnetite. They were both pH and magnetic field responsive while presenting antimicrobial activity. On one side, magnetic field responsiveness of particles is expected to prompt them to reach bacterium niche in deep mucous layer by means of magnetic forces. On the other side, pH responsiveness is expected to enable drug release in the neutral pH of the deep mucous layer, preventing undesired delivery in the acidic gastric lumen. Smart microparticles were designed presenting both pH and magnetic field responsiveness as well as antimicrobial activity. These may be promising assets for peptic ulcer treatment.

Covalent Immobilization of Penicillin G Acylase onto Fe3O4@Chitosan Magnetic Nanoparticles.

Penicillin G acylase (PGA) was immobilized on magnetic Fe3O4@chitosan nanoparticles through the Schiff base reaction. The immobilization conditions were optimized as follows: enzyme/support 8.8 mg/g, pH 6.0, time 40 min, and temperature 25°C. Under these conditions, a high immobilization efficiency of 75% and a protein loading of 6.2 mg/g-support were obtained. Broader working pH and higher thermostability were achieved by the immobilization. In addition, the immobilized PGA retained 75% initial activity after ten cycles. Kinetic parameters Vmax and Km of the free and immobilized PGAs were determined as 0.91 mmol/min and 0.53 mmol/min, and 0.68 mM and 1.19 mM, respectively. Synthesis of amoxicillin with the immobilized PGA was carried out in 40% ethylene glycol at 25°C and a conversion of 72% was obtained. These results showed that the immobilization of PGA onto magnetic chitosan nanoparticles is an efficient and simple way for preparation of stable PGA.

Synthesis, thermal and spectroscopic behaviors of metal-drug complexes: La(III), Ce(III), Sm(III) and Y(III) amoxicillin trihydrate antibiotic drug complexes.

The metal complexes of Amoxicillin trihydrate with La(III), Ce(III), Sm(III) and Y(III) are synthesized with 1:1 (metal:Amox) molar ratio. The suggested formula structures of the complexes are based on the results of the elemental analyses, molar conductivity, (infrared, UV-visible and fluorescence) spectra, effective magnetic moment in Bohr magnetons, as well as the thermal analysis (TG), and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results obtained suggested that Amoxicillin reacted with metal ions as tridentate ligands, coordinating the metal ion through its amino, imino, and ß-lactamic carbonyl. The kinetic thermodynamic parameters such as: Ea, ΔH(*), ΔS(*) and ΔG(*) were estimated from the DTG curves.

Synthesis of 2-oxoquinoline-3-carboxamide of ampicillin and amoxicillin as inhibitors of penicillin binding protein 1A of pseudomonas aeruginosa.

A series of ampicillin and amoxicillin derivatives were prepared by N-acylation with N1-substituted 1, 2-dihydro-2-oxoquinoline carboxylic acids by Schotten-Baumann procedure and evaluated as inhibitors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa using molecular docking study. Most of the derivatives showed remarkableactivity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria in vitro.

Iron transport-mediated drug delivery: practical syntheses and in vitro antibacterial studies of tris-catecholate siderophore-aminopenicillin conjugates reveals selectively potent antipseudomonal activity.

An artificial tris-catecolate siderophore with a tripodal backbone and its conjugates with ampicillin and amoxicillin were synthesized. Both conjugates exhibited significantly enhanced in vitro antibacterial activities against Gram-negative species compared to the parent drugs, especially against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The conjugates appeared to be assimilated by an induced bacterial iron transport process as their activities were inversely related to iron concentration. The easily synthesized tris-catecolate siderophore has great potential for future development of various drug conjugates to target antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.

Facile one-pot synthesis of gold nanoparticles and their sensing protocol.

This communication reports facile one pot synthesis of amoxicillin and sodium salt of amoxicillin stabilized gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs). Primarily the cyclic thioether linkage i.e. the thiozolidine ring of amoxicillin is utilized for sequestering Au(III). Fluorescence quenching of these clusters makes it an efficient protocol for sensing Cu(2+) at nano scale levels.

Preparation and physicochemical characterization of amoxicillin beta-cyclodextrin complexes.

Amoxicillin (AMOX), a penicillin A, belongs to the beta-lactam family It is usually the drug of choice within the class because it is better absorbed, following oral administration, than other beta-lactam antibiotics. Its beta-lactamase degradation might be prevented by using a molecular [AMOX:beta-CD] complex. The aim of this work was to prepare complexes using two methods and then characterize interactions between AMOX and the native beta-CD. The extent of complexation in solution has been evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and 2D rotating-frame Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (2D ROESY). Mass changes (TG), calorimetric effects (DSC), and mass spectrometry (MS) were determined on the same sample under identical conditions using the Skimmer coupling system. Skimmer and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used to characterize the solid state of the binary system. Complexation of AMOX with beta-CD was proven by FT-IR, NMR, DSC, and HPLC. The 2D ROESY spectra did not show any dipolar proton interaction of the AMOX with cyclodextrin. The 1:1 stoichiometry of the complex was obtained by HPLC. The stability constant for AMOX with beta-CD was determined to be 1,878 M(-1). In the [AMOX:beta-CD] complex, the phenyl group is included inside the beta-CD, and the ionized carboxyl group on the penam ring forms hydrogen bonds with the secondary hydroxyl groups of another beta-CD to keep the complex stable. Preparation methods allowed exactly the same complex.

Enzymatic synthesis of amoxicillin via a one-pot enzymatic hydrolysis and condensation cascade process in the presence of organic co-solvents.

A cascade reaction combining the enzymatic hydrolysis of Penicillin G potassium salt (PGK) with the kinetically controlled enzymatic coupling of in situ formed 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA) with p-hydroxyphenylglycine methyl ester (D-HPGM) to give amoxicillin as the final product by using a single enzyme has been demonstrated successfully. Ethylene glycol (EG) was employed as a component of reaction buffer to improve the synthesis yield. Reaction parameters, including different cosolvents, EG content, the loading of immobilized penicillin G acylase (IPA), and reaction temperature and time were studied to evaluate their effects on the reaction. The best result of 55.2% yield was obtained from the reaction which was carried out in the mixed media containing 40% sodium dihydrogen phosphate buffer (apparent pH 6.0) and 60% EG (v/v), with the initial concentration 150 mM and 450 mM of PGK and D-HPGM, respectively, catalyzed by 50 IU/mL IPA at 25 degrees C for 10 h. The IPA could be recycled for nine batches without obviously losing of catalytic activity. The important strategy will have potential application in the beta-lactam antibiotics industry due to the advantages of saving the effort of isolating 6-APA, reducing usual enzymatic steps and the industrial cost of amoxicillin synthesis.

A simple method for simultaneous determination of some organic liquids in in-process materials and effluents produced in the manufacture of amoxicillin and ampicillin.

A simple GC method for simultaneous determination of pivaloylchloride, methylacetoacetate, ethylacetoacetate and 2-ethylhexanoic acid in the presence of each other has been developed using glass column packed with 1% Silicone OV-17 on Gaschrom Q 100-120 mesh with temperature programming. Various performance parameters including precision, linearity and limit of detection have been evaluated. The method was found to be suitable for the analysis of these chemicals in in-process materials and effluents associated with the manufacture of amoxicillin and ampicillin. The run time was less than 15 min. The method has been successfully applied to determine the level of these hazardous organic liquids in real time samples.

Influence of mass transfer limitations on the enzymatic synthesis of beta-lactam antibiotics catalyzed by penicillin G acylase immobilized on glioxil-agarose.

Mass transfer effects were investigated for the synthesis of ampicillin and amoxicillin, at pH 6.5 and 25 degrees C, catalyzed by penicillin G acylase immobilized on agarose. The influence of external mass transfer was analysed using different stirring rates, ranging form 200 to 800 rpm. Above 400 rpm, the film resistance may be neglected. Intra-particle diffusion limitation was investigated using biocatalysts prepared with different enzyme loads and agarose with different mean pore diameters. When agarose with 6, 8 and 10% of crosslinking were used, for the same enzyme load, substrates and products concentration profiles presented no expressive differences, suggesting pore diameter is not important parameter. An increase on enzyme load showed that when more than 90 IU of enzyme activity were used per mL of support, the system was influenced by intra-particle mass transfer. A reactive-diffusive model was used to estimate effective diffusivities of substrates and products.

Preparation of amoxicillin intragastric buoyant sustained-release tablets and the dissolution characteristics.

An intragastric buoyant sustained-release tablet (IGB-T) containing 100 mg of amoxicillin (AMX) was prepared to eradicate gastric Helicobacter pylori. A tablet prepared by compressing the mixture of hydroxypropylcellulose-H (HPC-H), citric acid (17.2 mg), sodium hydrogen carbonate (22.8 mg) and AMX was employed as the basic system for preparing IGB-T. The weight and diameter of the tablets were designed to be about 300 mg and 10 mm, respectively. IGB-T containing 5 mg of AMX and HPC-H (255 mg) was buoyant and showed a sustained-release pattern in water. However, when AMX was increased and HPC-H decreased to maintain the tablet weight (300 mg), there was no apparent sustained-release pattern. To prepare IGB-T containing 50 mg of AMX, the surface of the tablet was coated with HPC-H after a tablet was prepared from the mixture of AMX (50 mg), HPC-H (210 mg), citric acid (17.2 mg), and sodium hydrogen carbonate (22.8 mg). This tablet (IGB-T50-Coating) was buoyant and showed a sustained-release pattern in water. However, to complete IGB-T with 100 mg of AMX, it was necessary not only to coat the surface of the tablet but also to use granulated AMX with a particle size of 300-500 microm (IGB-T100-Coating-300-500G). IGB-T100-Coating-300-500G was confirmed to be buoyant for 24 h while maintaining a tablet shape and showed a sustained-release pattern in water and buffer solutions of pH 1.2 and 6.8.

Synthesis and structure investigation of the antibiotic amoxicillin complexes of d-block elements.

The study of some transition metals (M) and amoxicillin trihydrate (ACT) ligand complexes (M-ACT) that formed in solution involved the spectrophotometric determination of stoichiometric ratios and their stability constants and these ratios were found to be M:ACT = 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1 in some instances. The calculated stability constants of these chelates, under selected optimum conditions, using molar ratio method have values ranging from K(f) = 10(7) to 10(14). These data were confirmed by calculations of their free energy of formation deltaG, which corresponded to their high stabilities. The separated solid complexes were studied using elemental analyses, IR, reflectance spectra, magnetic measurements, mass spectra and thermal analyses (TGA and DTA). The proposed general formulae of these complexes were found to be ML(H2O)w(H2O)x(OH)y(Cl)2, where M = Fe(II), Co(III), w = 0, x = 2, y = 1, z = 0; M = Co(II), w = 0, x = 1, y = 0, z = 1; M = Fe(III), w = 0, x = 1, y = 2, z = 0; M = Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II), w = 2, x = 0, y = 1, z = 0, where w = water of crystallization, x = coordinated water, y = coordinated OH(-) and z = Cl- in the outer sphere of the complex. The IR spectra show a shift of nu(NH) (2968 cm(-1)) to 2984-2999 cm(-1) of imino group of the ligand ACT and the absence of nu(CO) (beta-lactame) band at 1774 cm(-1) and the appearance of the band at 1605-1523 cm(-1) in all complexes suggest that 6,7-enolization takes place before coordination of the ligand to the metal ions. The bands of M-N (at 625-520 cm(-1)) and of M-O (at 889-7550 cm(-1)) proved the bond of N (of amino and imino groups) and O of C-O group of the ligand to the metal ions. The reflectance spectra and room temperature magnetic measurements refer to octahedral complexes of Fe(II) and Fe(III); square planner form of Co(II), reduced Co(III), Ni(II) and Cu(II)-ACT complexes but tetrahedral form of Zn-ACT complex. The thermal degradation of these complexes is confirmed by their mass spectral fragmentation. These data confirmed the proposed structural and general formulae of these complexes.

Penicillin acylase-catalyzed synthesis of beta-lactam antibiotics in highly condensed aqueous systems: beneficial impact of kinetic substrate supersaturation.

Advantages of performing penicillin acylase-catalyzed synthesis of new penicillins and cephalosporins by enzymatic acyl transfer to the beta-lactam antibiotic nuclei in the supersaturated solutions of substrates have been demonstrated. It has been shown that the effective nucleophile reactivity of 6-aminopenicillanic (6-APA) and 7-aminodesacetoxycephalosporanic (7-ADCA) acids in their supersaturated solutions continue to grow proportionally to the nucleophile concentration. As a result, synthesis/hydrolysis ratio in the enzymatic synthesis can be significantly (up to three times) increased due to the nucleophile supersaturation. In the antibiotic nuclei conversion to the target antibiotic the remarkable improvement (up to 14%) has been gained. Methods of obtaining relatively stable supersaturated solutions of 6-APA, 7-ADCA, and D-p-hydroxyphenylglycine amide (D-HPGA) have been developed and syntheses of ampicillin, amoxicillin, and cephalexin starting from the supersaturated homogeneous solutions of substrates were performed. Higher synthetic efficiency and increased productivity of these reactions compared to the heterogeneous "aqueous solution-precipitate" systems were observed. The suggested approach seems to be an effective solution for the aqueous synthesis of the most widely requested beta-lactam antibiotics (i.e., amoxicillin, cephalexin, cephadroxil, cephaclor, etc.).

Inhibitory effects in the side reactions occurring during the enzymic synthesis of amoxicillin: p-hydroxyphenylglycine methyl ester and amoxicillin hydrolysis.

Penicillin G acylase immobilized on glyoxyl-agarose is used to catalyse the reaction between p -hydroxyphenylglycine methyl ester (POHPGME) and 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA). Inhibitory effects affecting the side reactions that occur during the synthesis of amoxicillin have been reported and need to be considered when proposing a kinetic model for the enzymic synthesis. In this work, we present a semi-empirical kinetic model that successively includes different inhibitory effects in the rate equations. The model performance was always compared with experimental data on amoxicillin synthesis. Enzyme load and stirring rate were chosen to prevent diffusional effects. Our results indicate that POHPGME and amoxicillin were competitive inhibitors of the hydrolysis of amoxicillin and POHPGME, respectively. 6-APA was a competitive inhibitor of the hydrolysis of amoxicillin. POHPG was a competitive inhibitor and methanol a non-competitive inhibitor of the hydrolysis of both ester and antibiotic, but the action of methanol was only noticeable at very high concentrations. Adding inhibitory effects to the kinetic model led to a significant increase in the accuracy of the simulations of the overall process of synthesis.

Enzymatic synthesis of beta-lactam antibiotics via direct condensation.

In this paper, the feasibility of precipitation driven synthesis of acidic and zwitterionic beta-lactam antibiotics is studied. As an example of the first type, penicillin G was produced in good yield (160 mmol kg(-1)) directly from the free acid and amine aqueous substrate suspension, where the synthesis product precipitated. Such a precipitation driven synthesis via direct reversal of the hydrolytic reaction is thermodynamically unfavourable for zwitterionic beta-lactam antibiotics, such as amoxicillin. In this paper, a novel method is suggested to help favour precipitation of (poorly soluble) product salts by deliberate addition of certain counter-ions. After screening a number of different counter-ions, it was found that the amoxicillin anion forms a poorly soluble salt with Zn(2+). Despite increased beta-lactam degradation due to the presence of zinc ions, in a synthetic reaction with 0.1 M ZnSO(4) present the synthetic yield could be increased at least 30-fold.

Enzymatic synthesis of amoxicillin: avoiding limitations of the mechanistic approach for reaction kinetics.

A recurrent doubt that occurs to the enzyme-kinetics modeler is, When should I stop adding parameters to my mechanistic model in order to fit a non-conventional behavior? This problem becomes more and more involving when the complexity of the reaction network increases. This work intends to show how the use of artificial neural networks may circumvent the need of including an overwhelming number of parameters in the rate equations obtained through the classical, mechanistic approach. We focus on the synthesis of amoxicillin by the reaction of p-OH-phenylglycine methyl ester and 6-aminopenicillanic acid, catalyzed by penicillin G acylase immobilized on glyoxyl-agarose, at 25 degrees C and pH 6.5. The reaction was carried on a batch reactor. Three kinetic models of this system were compared: a mechanistic, a semi-empiric, and a hybrid-neural network (NN). A semi-empiric, simplified model with a reasonable number of parameters was initially built-up. It was able to portray many typical process conditions. However, it either underestimated or overestimated the rate of synthesis of amoxicillin when substrates' concentrations were low. A more complex, full-scale mechanistic model that could span all operational conditions was intractable for all practical purposes. Finally, a hybrid model, that coupled artificial neural networks (NN) to mass-balance equations was established, that succeeded in representing all situations of interest. Particularly, the NN could predict with accuracy reaction rates for conditions where the semi-empiric model failed, namely, at low substrate concentrations, a situation that would occur, for instance, at the end of a fed-batch industrial process.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a series of beta-lactam-based prodrugs.

By use of pro-dual-drug concept the synthesis of 6-beta-[(R)-2-(clavaminio-9-N-yl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenylacetamido)]penicillanic acid (10), 6-beta-[(R)-2-(amino)-2-(4-(clavulano-9-O-yl)phenylacetamido)]penicillanic acid (13), (Z)-4-[2-(amoxycillin-4-O-yl)ethylidene]-2-(clavulano-9-O-yl)-3-methoxy-Delta(alpha,beta)-butenolide (19), and 3-[(amoxicillin-4-O-yl)methyl]-7-(phenoxyacetamido)-(1-oxo)-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid (23) was accomplished. Unlike penicillin G, ampicillin, or amoxicillin, these four heretofore undescribed compounds 10, 13, 19, and 23 showed notable activity against beta-lactamase (betaL) producing microorganisms, Staphylococcus aureus A9606, S. aureus A15091, S. aureus A20309, S. aureus 95, Escherichia coli A9675, E. coli A21223, E. coli 27C7, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 18S-H, and Klebsiella pneumoniae A20634 TEM. In comparison with amoxicillin (9), alpha-amino-substituted compound 10 and butenolide derivative 19 showed a broadened spectrum of antibacterial activity; yet they were found to be less active than 13 and 23. Like clavulanic acid (7) or cephalosporin-1-oxide (21), the newly synthesized compounds 10, 13, 15, 16, 19, or 23 functioned as potent inhibitors of various bacterial betaLs.

Equal allergenic potency of beta-lactam antibiotics produced by chemical or enzymatic manufacturing--mouse IgE test.

BACKGROUND: Cephalexin and amoxicillin are semisynthetic beta-lactam antibiotics with a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms. Both antibiotics are produced by a new 'green' process in which enzyme technology is used to combine the intermediate structure and the side chain in an aqueous medium to yield cephalexin or amoxicillin, thus avoiding the use of several chemical reagents and volatile organic solvents. As a result of the enzyme technology a new residual protein impurity has been identified. To check for the sensitizing capacity of the residual protein, a mouse IgE test was used to detect differences in the production of specific IgE by chemical or enzymatic preparations of the antibiotics. METHODS: Balb/c female mice were immunized intraperitoneally with alum and conjugates of different amoxicillins or cephalexins with ovalbumin (OVA). After 16 days, the amoxicillin mice were injected with one half the original amount of antigen. After 19-23 days, the sera were tested for specific IgE by the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis assay in Sprague-Dawley rats. The greatest dilution of sera which resulted in a positive response was the titer of specific IgE. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the titers of specific IgE caused by the chemically and enzymatically produced beta-lactam antibiotics, indicating that the antibiotics are equal in allergenicity. CONCLUSIONS: The data show that a residual level of 35 ppm protein did not affect the allergenic potency of these beta-lactam antibiotics as determined by the mouse allergenicity model.