Rizatriptan-Loaded Oral Fast Dissolving Films: Design and Characterizations.

Rizatriptan (RZT) is an efficient anti-migraine drug which belongs to the class of selective 5 HT (1B/1D) serotonin receptor agonists. Nevertheless, RZT elicits several adverse effects and RZT nasal sprays have a limited half-life, requiring repeated doses that could cause patient noncompliance or harm to the nasopharynx and cilia. The current research aimed to develop orally disintegrating films (ODFs) of RZT employing maltodextrin (MTX) and pullulan (PUL) as film-forming polymers, as well as propylene glycol (PG) as a plasticizer. The ODFs were prepared by solvent casting method (SCM). The technique was optimized using Box-Behnken design (BBD), contemplating the ratios of PUL: MTX and different levels of PG (%) as factor variables. The influence of these factors was systematically analyzed on the selected dependent variables, including film thickness, disintegration time (D-time), folding endurance (FE), tensile strength (TS), percent elongation (%E), moisture content (%), and water uptake (%). In addition, the surface morphology, solid state analysis, drug content uniformity (%), drug release (%), and pH of the RZT-ODFs were also studied. The results demonstrated a satisfactory stable RZT-ODFs formulation that exhibited surface homogeneity and amorphous RZT in films with no discernible interactions between the model drug and polymeric materials. The optimized film showed a rapid D-time of 16 s and remarkable mechanical features. The in vitro dissolution kinetics showed that 100% RZT was released from optimized film compared to 61% RZT released from conventional RZT formulation in the initial 5 min. An animal pharmacokinetic (PK) investigation revealed that RZT-ODFs had a shorter time to achieve peak plasma concentration (Tmax), a higher maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), and area under the curve (AUC0-t) than traditional oral mini capsules. These findings proposed a progressive approach for developing anti-migraine drugs that could be useful in reducing the complications of dysphagia in geriatric and pediatric sufferers.

Development and Characterizations of Pullulan and Maltodextrin-Based Oral Fast-Dissolving Films Employing a Box-Behnken Experimental Design.

Migraine is a neurological disorder characterized by severe headaches, visual aversions, auditory, and olfactory disorders, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Zolmitriptan (ZMT®) is a potent 5HT1B/1D serotonin receptor agonist frequently used for the treatment of migraine. It has erratic absorption from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), but its oral bioavailability is low (40-45%) due to the hepatic metabolism. This makes it an ideal candidate for oral fast dissolving formulations. Hence, the current study was undertaken to design and develop oral fast-dissolving films (OFDFs) containing ZMT for migraine treatment. The OFDFs were formulated by the solvent casting method (SCM) using Pullulan (PU) and maltodextrin (MDX) as film-forming agents and propylene glycol (PG) as a plasticizer. The strategy was designed using Box-Behnken experimental design considering the proportion of PU:MDX and percentage of PG as independent variables. The effectiveness of the OFDF's was measured based on the following responses: drug release at five min, disintegration time (D-time), and tensile strength (TS). The influence of formulation factors, including percent elongation (%E), thickness, water content, moisture absorption, and folding endurance on ZMT-OFDFs, were also studied. The results showed a successful fabrication of stable ZMT-OFDFs, with surface uniformity and amorphous shape of ZMT in fabricated films. The optimized formulation showed a remarkable rapid dissolution, over 90% within the first 5 min, a fast D-time of 18 s, and excellent mechanical characteristics. Improved maximum plasma concentration (C max) and area under the curve (AUC 0-t) in animals (rats) treated with ZMT-OFDFs compared to those treated with an intra-gastric (i-g) suspension of ZMT were also observed. Copolymer OFDFs with ZMT is an exciting proposition with great potential for the treatment of migraine headache. This study offers a promising strategy for developing ZMT-OFDFs using SCM. ZMT-OFDFs showed remarkable rapid dissolution and fast D-time, which might endeavor ZMT-OFDFs as an auspicious alternative approach to improve patient compliance and shorten the onset time of ZMT in migraine treatment.

Development of a new rapid, economical and eco-friendly HPLC method for in vitro and in vivo determination of zolmitriptan.

Multiple high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) approaches have been briefly defined for the assessment of zolmitriptan (ZMT). These methods are either cumbersome or require a plentiful volume of organic solvents, thus offering extortionate procedures. The objective of this study was to establish and validate a new rapid, eco- friendly and cost-effective HPLC method for the analysis of ZMT. The calibration curve for ZMT was established using simulated salivary fluid (SSF) and rat plasma for in-vitro and in-vivo analysis, respectively. Chromatogram separation was performed using a CST column (250mm × 4.6mm, 5µm) as a stationary phase and maintained at a temperature of 40°C. The methods were authenticated for linearity, system suitability, accuracy, precision, reproducibility, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ). The results of the validation variables and stability studies indicated that the methods were established in accordance with the guidelines of ICH and the USFDA. The established technique was time-saving, precise, eco- friendly and economical compared with the reported technique. In addition, the developed method was sufficiently repeatable for in vitro and in vivo analysis of ZMT.

Development of Cephradine-Loaded Gelatin/Polyvinyl Alcohol Electrospun Nanofibers for Effective Diabetic Wound Healing: In-Vitro and In-Vivo Assessments.

Diabetic wound infections caused by conventional antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains are fast emerging, leading to life-threatening situations (e.g., high costs, morbidity, and mortality) associated with delayed healing and chronic inflammation. Electrospinning is one of the most widely used techniques for the fabrication of nanofibers (NFs), induced by a high voltage applied to a drug-loaded polymer solution. Particular attention is given to electrospun NFs for pharmaceutical applications (e.g., original drug delivery systems) and tissue regeneration (e.g., as tissue scaffolds). However, there is a paucity of reports related to their application in diabetic wound infections. Therefore, we prepared eco-friendly, biodegradable, low-immunogenic, and biocompatible gelatin (GEL)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) electrospun NFs (BNFs), in which we loaded the broad-spectrum antibiotic cephradine (Ceph). The resulting drug-loaded NFs (LNFs) were characterized physically using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry (for drug loading capacity (LC), drug encapsulation efficiency (EE), and drug release kinetics determination), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) (for thermostability evaluation), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (for surface morphology analysis), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) (for functional group identification). LNFs were further characterized biologically by in-vitro assessment of their potency against S. aureus clinical strains (N = 16) using the Kirby-Bauer test and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, by ex-vivo assessment to evaluate their cytotoxicity against primary human epidermal keratinocytes using MTT assay, and by in-vivo assessment to estimate their diabetic chronic wound-healing efficiency using NcZ10 diabetic/obese mice (N = 18). Thin and uniform NFs with a smooth surface and standard size (<400 nm) were observed by SEM at the optimized 5:5 (GEL:PVA) volumetric ratio. FTIR analyses confirmed the drug loading into BNFs. Compared to free Ceph, LNFs were significantly more thermostable and exhibited sustained/controlled Ceph release. LNFs also exerted a significantly stronger antibacterial activity both in-vitro and in-vivo. LNFs were significantly safer and more efficient for bacterial clearance-induced faster chronic wound healing. LNF-based therapy could be employed as a valuable dressing material to heal S. aureus-induced chronic wounds in diabetic subjects.

Hemolytic and cellular toxicology of a sulfanilamide-based nonionic surfactant: a niosomal carrier for hydrophobic drugs.

Biocompatible surfactants are of diverse pharmaceutical interest due to their ability to self-assemble into nano-particulate systems which can be used for single-step drug loading, based upon the hydrophobic-hydrophobic interaction between a hydrophobic drug and the lipophilic part of a surfactant molecule. However, surfactants are associated with cytotoxicity and hemolysis due to their amphiphilic interaction with cellular membranes. This study reports a novel membrane-compatible surfactant, synthesized from sulfanilamide and its self-micellization into niosomes. The surfactant was synthesized in a single step reaction via the introduction of an alkyl chain in the sulfanilamide moiety by conjugation with deconyl chloride. The synthesized surfactant (S-SDC) was characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, mass spectrometry and single crystal XRD. The S-SDC niosomes were explored for drug delivery with clarithromycin as a model drug. The biocompatibility of the surfactant was investigated through hemolysis and cytotoxicity. The surfactant presented a very low critical micellar concentration (CMC) of 0.04 mM and entrapped 65% of the drug which was released in a sustained manner, over 12 h, at acidic and physiological pH. The vesicles were spherical in shape with 234 ± 3.61 nm mean diameter and a narrow size distribution. Niosomes were hemocompatible and nontoxic to cellular membrane. The results suggested the sulfanilamide based surfactant can be applied as a novel and cell membrane compatible niosomal drug delivery vehicle.

Unprecedented chemosensing behavior of novel tetra-substituted benzimidazole zinc(II) phthalocynine for selective detection of Bi3+ ion: Synthesis, characterization and ROS generation.

In this work, synthesis of novel symmetrical 4-(2-bromo-4-(5-bromo-1H-benzo[d] imidazol-2-yl) phenoxy) tetra substituted zinc phthalocyanine has been reported. The novel benzimidazole zinc phthlocynine compound (3) has been characterized by MALDI-TOF MS, FT-IR, UV-vis, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. This new compound 3 displayed excellent selectivity towards Bi3+ ion in the presence of other competitive ions including Ca2+, Cd2+, Co2+ Cu2+, Fe3+, Hg2+, Sn2+, Mg2+, Na+, Ni2+ and Pb2+ respectively. Upon addition of Bi3+ into the solution of compound 3 in DMSO, dramatic change was observed in the Q- and the B-bands in UV-visible spectra as a result of donor acceptor interactions. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were also studied using 2,7-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) a fluorescent probe which is converted to highly fluorescent dichlorofluorescein (DCF) in the presence of ROS. This property of non-aggregating zinc phthalocyanine is promising as a photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy of cancer.

Synthesis and characterization of triazole based supramolecule for interaction with cefuroxime in tap water and blood plasma.

In this study a new calix[4]arene triazole 5 was successfully synthesized using click reaction and characterized through UV-visible, FT-IR, 1H NMR spectroscopes and Mass Spectrometry. The supramolecular interaction of compound 5 towards commonly used drugs has been carried out using UV-Visible spectroscopy. The supramolecule 5 showed characteristic enhancement in the absorbance intensity after mixing with Cefuroxime at pH (2-12). Compound 5 displayed considerably good interactions with cefuroxime in the presence of other drugs. Compound 5 exhibits linear relationship with cefuroxime concentration in the range of (10-80µM) with regression value of 0.9954. The standard deviation for 50µM Cefuroxime was found to be 0.01 and the limit of detection for cefuroxime was calculated to be 2µM. Job's plot experiments showed 1:1 (5: cefuroxime) binding stoichiometry between compound 5 and cefuroxime. Supramolecule 5 displayed fairly good spectrophotometric recognition of Cefuroxime in human blood plasma and tap water thus showing that the ingredients of tap water and plasma sample was inert in the recognition of cefuroxime.

Novel fluorene-based supramolecular sensor for selective detection of amoxicillin in water and blood.

Synthesis, characterization and molecular recognition properties of fluorene based supramolecular cleft 1 is reported. The cleft molecule 1 was prepared in a single-step with good yield (85% yield), by linking Fluorene with 1-ethyl piperazine. The cleft molecule 1 was carefully characterized using various spectroscopic techniques such as NMR and mass spectrometry. The supramolecular interaction of cleft 1 with amoxicillin, 6APA, aspirin, captopril, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, cefuroxime, diclofenac, penicillin, and cephradine was evaluated by fluorescent spectroscopy. The molecular recognition studies showed that amoxicillin selectively binds with cleft 1 in the presence of other drugs. The analytical method developed for the supramolecular interaction of molecular cleft 1 and amoxicillin was validated at varying pH, concentration and temperature during recognition process. Job's plots indicated that the stochiometry of the interactions between the cleft 1 and the amoxicillin was 1:1.

Nanoparticles decorated with a Schiff's base for the microextraction of Cd, Pb, Ni, and Co in environmental samples.

In this paper, we report a new liquid-liquid microextraction procedure called "nanoparticles decorated with a Schiff's base for the microextraction of Cd, Pb, Ni, and Co in environmental samples". The developed procedure was utilized for the extraction of Cd, Pb, Ni, and Co in environmental samples. The Schiff's base was formed by reacting salicylaldehyde with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane-functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles. Analyte extraction was conducted in a capillary column system loaded with modified nanoparticles and triton X-114 as dispersion medium. 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate was employed as an extraction solvent. Acidified methanol in ultrasonic bath was used as desorption solvent, and elemental determination was carried out with flame atomic absorption spectrometer. Characterization of modified nanoparticles was performed with FTIR spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Solution pH, nanoparticles amount, dispersant concentration, ionic liquid, and temperature were optimized for the extraction. Detection limits obtained for Cd, Pb, Ni, and Co were 0.183, 0.201, 0.241, and 0.192 µg L(-1), respectively, and enhancement factors were 79.1, 86.4, 95.7, and 82.0, respectively. The reproducibility of the developed procedure was in the range of 3.98-5.10%. Validation was checked by applying the developed procedure on certified reference water samples. The microextraction based on nanoparticles decorated with Schiff's base was successfully applied for the extraction of Cd, Pb, Ni, and Co in real environmental water samples.

Triazole-based highly selective supramolecular sensor for the detection of diclofenac in real samples.

A triazole-based supramolecular chemosensor 6 for the selective spectrophotometric detection of diclofenac in human plasma and tap water was developed. The 6 was synthesized through click approach and characterized via UV-vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, Mass and NMR spectroscopy. The supramolecular interaction of compound 6 with commonly used drugs has been investigated with the help of UV-vis spectral titrations, FT-IR and (1)H, (13)C NMR spectroscopy. The UV-visible spectral changes upon addition of various commonly used drugs showed that compound 6 is highly selective for diclofenac over other drugs. The supramolecule 6 exhibited a selective enhancement in the absorbance intensity after mixing with diclofenac in human plasma and water samples in the presence of other drugs at pH 6-7, with a linear range of 0.938 (R(2)=0.938) and a limit of detection 10µM. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for 100µM diclofenac was found to be 0.462. The Job's plot analysis revealed that diclofenac bind to compound 6 in 1:1 stoichiometry.

1,4-Bis{4-[bis-(prop-2-yn-1-yl)amino]-phen-oxy}benzene.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(30)H(24)N(2)O(2), contains two independent mol-ecules, which both lie on centers of inversion. The central phenyl-ene ring is inclined at 61.4 (2)° with respect to the flanking aromatic ring [dihedral angle = 70.7 (3)° in the second mol-ecule].

4,4'-Bis[(E)-(2,3-diiodo-prop-2-en-1-yl)-oxy]biphen-yl.

Iodine adds across both triple bonds of 4,4'-bis-(prop-2-yn--yl-oxy)biphenyl, yielding the 4,4'-bis-(2,3-diiodo-all-yloxy)biphenyl title compound, C(18)H(14)I(4)O(2); the 2,3-diiodo-ally-oxy substituents have the I atoms in an E configuration. In the biphenyl portion of the mol-ecule, the aromatic rings are inclined by 37.8 (2)°.

Di-tert-butyl 2,2'-[9H-fluorene-9,9-diylbis(p-phenyl-ene-oxy)]diacetate.

In the title mol-ecule, C(37)H(38)O(6), the non-fused C atom belonging to the five-membered ring of the fluorene system is connected to two p-phenyl-ene rings, the rings opening up the C(ar-yl)-C-C(ar-yl) angle to 113.1 (1)°. The four-atom -O-CH(2)-C(=O)-O- chain between the p-phenyl-ene ring and the tert-butyl group assumes a more regular W-shaped conformation for one substituent [O-C-C-C torsion angle = 171.9 (2)°] but a less regular W-shaped conformation for the other [torsion angle = 147.4 (2)°].

9,9-Bis[4-(prop-2-yn-yloxy)phen-yl]-9H-fluorene.

In the title compound, C(31)H(22)O(2), the bond angle at the C atom belonging to the five-membered ring of the fluorene system is opened to 112.64 (12)°. The two benzene rings are twisted with respect to the fluorene ring system at dihedral angles of 72.81 (6) and 81.83 (6)°. One C(ar-yl)-O-C-C  fragment is extended, with a C-O-C-C torsion angle of -178.77 (13)°, but the other C(ar-yl)-O-C-C  fragment is bent, with a C-O-C-C torsion angle of 64.78 (19)°. Inter-molecular weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonding is present in the crystal structure.

Ortho-rhom-bic modification of bis-[4-(3-pyridyl-methyl-idene-amino)-phen-yl]methane.

The title compound, C(25)H(20)N(4), is a disubstituted methane derivative having two pyridyl-methyl-ene-amino-phenyl arms, one of which is essentially rigid as all atoms lie on a plane (r.m.s. deviation = 0.074 Å), whereas the other is twisted [dihedral angle between the phenyl-ene and pyridyl rings = 51.1 (4)°]. The angle at the methyl-ene C atom is 113.2 (2)°.

9,9-Bis[4-(2-chloro-eth-oxy)phen-yl]-9H-fluorene.

The title compound, C(29)H(24)Cl(2)O(2), a fluorene derivative, features a C atom that is connected to four phenyl-ene rings, two of which are almost coplanar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.035 Å) as they belong to the fluorene system. The other two rings are aligned at angles of 67.5 (5) and 85.5 (5)° with respect to the pair. The O and Cl atoms of the -OCH(2)CH(2)Cl- units adopt a gauche conformation [torsion angles = 61.6 (6) and 66.6 (5)°].