Cryomilled electrospun nanofiber mats containing d-mannitol exhibit suitable for aerosol delivery of proteins.

Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are the first choice for inhalation drug development. However, some conventional DPI formulation processes require heating, which may damage high molecular weight drugs such as proteins and nucleic acids. In this study, we propose a novel DPI preparation process that avoids the use of heat. Dry powders were prepared by cryomilling nanofiber mats composed of polyvinyl alcohol, D(-)-mannitol (Man), and α-chymotrypsin (α-Chy) as the model drug using the electrospinning method. The addition of Man conferred high dispersibility and excellent in vitro aerosol performance to the nanofiber mat powder in a very short milling time (less than 0.5 min) as assessed using the Andersen cascade impactor. Powders were classified according to the degree of friability, and among these, nanofiber mats containing 15 % Man and milled for 0.25 min exhibited the highest aerosol performance. Nanofiber mats containing Man milled for less than 0.5 min also exhibited greater α-Chy enzymatic activity than a nebulized α-Chy solution. Furthermore, single inhalation induced no significant lung tissue damage as evidenced by lactate dehydrogenase activity assays of mouse bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. This novel DPI formulation process may facilitate the safe and efficient inhalational delivery of therapeutic proteins.

Development of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Nanofibers Containing Cationic Lipid/siRNA Complexes via Electrospinning: The Impact of PVA Characterization.

This study aimed to develop polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers encapsulating 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP)/siRNA complexes via electrospinning for the delivery of nucleic acid-based drugs. It also focused on the influence of the intrinsic properties of PVA on the efficacy of the system. PVA nanofibers, with diameters of 300-400 nm, were obtained, within which the siRNA remained intact and the DOTAP/siRNA complexes were uniformly dispersed. By incorporating DOTAP/siRNA complexes into the PVA nanofibers and assessing the impact of their RNA interference (RNAi) activity in A549-Luc cells, a stable inhibition of luciferase expression was observed. An examination of the nanofiber preparation process revealed that even when DOTAP or siRNA were added separately to the PVA solution without forming complexes, the RNAi effect was retained. The DOTAP/siRNA complexes released from the PVA nanofibers were internalized by the cells, with some PVA residues remaining on their surfaces. The significance of the degree of hydrolysis and polymerization of PVA on the performance of nanofibers was highlighted. Notably, PVA with a low degree of hydrolysis substantially enhanced RNAi effects, with luciferase expression inhibition reaching 91.5 ± 0.7%. Nanofibers made of PVA grades with anionic or cationic modifications were also evaluated, suggesting that they affect the efficacy of siRNA delivery. The insights obtained suggest avenues for future research to optimize drug delivery systems further.

Controlled Release of Lysozyme Using Polyvinyl Alcohol-Based Polymeric Nanofibers Generated by Electrospinning.

Polymeric nanofibers generated via electrospinning offer a promising platform for drug delivery systems. This study examines the application of electrospun polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers for controlled lysozyme (LZM) delivery. By using various PVA grades, such as the degree of polymerization/hydrolysis, this study investigates their influence on nanofiber morphology and drug-release characteristics. LZM-loaded PVA monolithic nanofibers having 50% drug content exhibit efficient entrapment, wherein rapid dissolution is achieved within 30 min. The initial burst of LZM from the nanofiber was reduced as the LZM content was lowered. The initial dissolution is greatly influenced by the choice of PVA grade used; fully hydrolyzed PVA nanofibers demonstrate controlled release due to the reduced water solubility of PVA. Furthermore, coaxial electrospinning, which creates core-shell nanofibers with polycaprolactone as a controlled release layer, enables sustained LZM release over an extended period. This study confirms a correlation between PVA characteristics and controlled drug release and provides valuable insights into tailoring nanofiber properties for pharmaceutical applications.

Dry Powder Inhalers for Proteins Using Cryo-Milled Electrospun Polyvinyl Alcohol Nanofiber Mats.

To enable the efficient delivery of drugs to the lungs, the drug particle design for most dry powder inhalers (DPIs) involves reducing the aerodynamic particle size to a few microns using methods such as spray-drying or jet-milling. Stresses, including heat and the shear forces generated by the preparation processes, may result in the degradation and denaturation of drugs such as those based on peptides and proteins. Here, we showed that cryo-milled polyvinyl alcohol nanofiber mats loaded with α-chymotrypsin by electrospinning exhibited suitable inhalation properties for use in DPIs, while maintaining enzymatic activity. The cryo-milled nanofiber mats were porous to fine particles, and the particle size and drug stability depended on the freezing and milling times. The median diameter of the milled fiber mats was 12.6 µm, whereas the mass median aerodynamic diameter was 5.9 µm. The milled nanofiber mats were successfully prepared, while retaining the enzymatic activity of α-chymotrypsin; furthermore, the activity of milled fiber mats that had been stored for 6 months was comparable to the activity of those that were freshly prepared. This novel method may be suitable for the DPI preparation of various drugs because it avoids the heating step during the DPI preparation process.

Hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin Enhances Oral Absorption of Silymarin Nanoparticles Prepared Using PureNano™ Continuous Crystallizer.

The oral bioavailability of drugs is limited by factors such as poor membrane permeability, low solubility, and low dissolution rate. Silymarin (SLM) is a health-food active ingredient that is good for immunosuppression and tumor suppression. However, obtaining a good oral bioavailability is difficult owing to its poor solubility and low dissolution ability. To overcome these concerns, we previously prepared SLM nanoparticles (NPs) using the high-pressure crystallization method (PureNanoTM) and freeze-dried them with erythritol (Ery) or hydroxypropyl-ß-CyD (HP-ß-CyD) as a water-soluble dispersion stabilizer. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism underlying the improved absorption of SLM/hypromellose (HPMC)/HP-ß-CyD NPs after oral administration. The SLM/HPMC nano-suspension prepared using PureNanoTM exhibited a narrow size distribution. The size of the SLM/HPMC/HP-ß-CyD NPs was approximately 250 nm after hydration. The SLM/HPMC/HP-ß-CyD NPs were rapidly dissolved, and demonstrated a high solubility under supersaturated conditions. Additionally, they exhibited good wettability and their membrane permeability was improved compared with that of SLM original powder. These results suggest that the formulation of SLM NPs using PureNanoTM and freeze-drying with HP-ß-CyD improves the absorption of SLM after oral administration by enhancing solubility, wettability, and membrane permeability.

Design and evaluation of folate-modified liposomes for pulmonary administration in lung cancer therapy.

Pulmonary drug administration for the treatment of lung cancer is useful because the drug is directly delivered to the lung tissues with minimal invasiveness and higher efficiency compared to other conventional methods. However, it is critical to enhance drug accumulation in the lung cancer tissues to achieve sufficient therapeutic efficacy. The submicron-sized liposome (ssLip) preparation is one of the most promising approaches to enhance drug accumulation in the lungs; however, ssLips prepared for conventional inhalation do not have tumour selectivity. Therefore, in this study, we prepared folate (FA)-modified ssLip (FA-ssLip) to enhance drug accumulation in folate receptor (FR)-expressing lung cancer cells, and evaluated its physicochemical properties and potential as a drug carrier in pulmonary administration. In addition, we prepared rapamycin (RM-an autophagy-inducing anticancer drug)-loaded FA-ssLip (RM/FA-ssLip) and investigated its anti-tumour effect. FA-ssLip showed excellent nanoparticle properties with submicron size (approximately 120 nm) and high lung accumulation in lung cancer mouse model-bearing LL2 cells-a mouse Lewis lung carcinoma cell line. RM/FA-ssLip showed significant cytotoxic activity in FR-expressing cancer cells. In addition, pulmonary administration of RM/FA-ssLip extended the survival of LL2 cell tumour-bearing mice. Taken together, our results suggest the potential of FA-ssLip as a pulmonary drug carrier for the efficient treatment of lung cancer.

Monovalent antibody-conjugated lipid-polymer nanohybrids for active targeting to desmoglein 3 of keratinocytes to attenuate psoriasiform inflammation.

To improve the treatment of psoriasiform inflammation, we developed actively targeted nanocarriers loaded with the phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor AN2728. Methods: Phospholipid-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanohybrids were prepared and conjugated with monovalent anti-desmoglein 3 antibody to bind keratinocytes. Results: The actively targeted nanohybrids were 229 nm in mean size with a nearly neutral surface charge. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy showed a 9-fold increase in keratinocyte uptake of targeted nanohybrids relative to non-targeted nanoparticles. The nanoparticles localized mainly in lysosomes after internalization. AN2728-loaded antibody-conjugated nanocarriers inhibited cytokine/chemokine overexpression in activated keratinocytes without affecting cell viability. The targeted nanohybrids also suppressed neutrophil migration by reducing CXCL1 and CXCL2 release from keratinocytes. Following subcutaneous administration in mice, the nanohybrids distributed to the epidermis and hair follicles. In a psoriasis-like skin mouse model, the actively targeted nanoparticles were superior to free drug and non-targeted nanoparticles in mitigating skin inflammation. Intervention with the targeted nanosystem reduced the epidermal thickness of the psoriasiform lesion from 191 to 42 µm, decreased the Psoriasis Area Severity Index by 74%, restored barrier function, and returned chemokine levels to baseline. Conclusions: Our developed nanosystem was safe and demonstrated efficient targeting properties for the treatment of cutaneous inflammation.

Oral mucus-penetrating PEGylated liposomes to improve drug absorption: Differences in the interaction mechanisms of a mucoadhesive liposome.

We investigated the feasibility of densely polyethylene glycol (PEG2000)-modified liposomes as mucus-penetrating particles (MPPs) for oral delivery of systemically absorbed peptides. The oral absorption of MPPs and mucoadhesive liposomes modified with glycol chitosan (GCS) was compared. In an in vitro artificial mucus model, the densely PEGylated liposomes showed mucus permeability. Intracellular uptake of liposomes was evaluated in a Caco-2 and mucus-secreting Caco-2/HT29 co-culture. Intracellular uptake of MPPs was unaffected by mucus in the co-culture system, whereas the cellular uptake of GCS-liposomes was lower with a mucus layer than in Caco-2 alone. Rat in vivo oral absorption of liposomes was evaluated by using fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FD) as a model peptide drug. Oral absorption was higher for densely PEGylated than for unmodified liposomes and was PEG-concentration dependent, but excessive PEGylation decreased FD blood concentration. PEGylated liposomes incorporating spermine (SPM) as an absorption enhancer were then designed and showed the highest in vivo absorption of FD of all tested formulations. The pharmacological effects of the oral liposomes were evaluated by using elcatonin and did not correlate with FD oral absorption. The non-PEGylated SPM liposomes showed the highest pharmacological effect, suggesting the need for drug-specific optimization of liposomal components and surface modifiers.

Mechanical characteristics of orally disintegrating films: Comparison of folding endurance and tensile properties.

The tensile test is the most widely used method for testing the mechanical characteristics of orally disintegrating films (ODFs). The other available test is the folding endurance (FE) test, which is more suitable for clarifying the actual strength during the manufacturing and dosing. However, the FE test is performed manually, and the FE number it generates has not been adequately analyzed as an index. The aim of this studies were to establish an automatic method for determining the FE number, and to compare the resulting FE numbers with the tensile properties. For this purpose, a desktop-model endurance test machine was used. First, the operating conditions-i.e., the folding angle, the folding speed and the weight requirement were optimized using ODF models. Secondly, the FE of ODFs prepared from three film formers (HPMC, HPC, and PVA) and with insoluble particles (calcium carbonate), plasticizers (glycerin) and APIs (acetaminophen), was evaluated and compared with the tensile properties. Lastly, the commercial ODFs were investigated. The results showed that our automatic system could be successfully used to determine the FE characteristics of ODFs. FE was suggested to relate to not only the strength but also the elongation during the tensile test.

Adverse event profiles of solvent-based and nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel formulations using the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System.

OBJECTIVES: Paclitaxel is a highly effective antitumor agent with notable adverse events, including hypersensitivity reactions, peripheral neuropathy, arthralgia, myalgias, and neutropenia. Solvent-based paclitaxel causes severe allergic, hypersensitivity, and anaphylactic reactions. Nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel was recently developed and provides an advantage over solvent-based paclitaxel in avoiding solvent/surfactant-related adverse events. The aim of this study was to assess the adverse event profiles of solvent-based paclitaxel and nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel formulations using data from the spontaneous adverse event reporting system of the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System database. METHODS: This study relied on Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities preferred terms and standardized queries, and calculated the reporting ratio and reporting odds ratios of paclitaxel formulations. RESULTS: Of 8,867,135 reports recorded in the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System database from January 2004 to December 2016, 3469 and 4447 adverse events corresponded to solvent-based paclitaxel and nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel, respectively. Reporting odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for anaphylactic reaction (standardized MedDRA query code: 20000021) associated with the use of solvent-based paclitaxel and nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel were 1.69 (1.56-1.84) and 0.75 (0.68-0.83), respectively. Reporting odds ratio signal for anaphylactic reaction was not detected for nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel. Reporting odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for acute renal failure (standardized MedDRA query code: 20000003) associated with the use of solvent-based paclitaxel and nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel were 0.75 (0.58-0.98) and 1.60 (1.37-1.89), respectively. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to evaluate the adverse event profile of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel using US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System data. Considering that the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System database does not allow to infer causality or risk ranking, the different reporting frequencies of anaphylactic reaction and acute renal failure between solvent-based paclitaxel and nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel must be further investigated via analytical observational research.

Design of a new disintegration test system for the evaluation of orally disintegrating films.

In the design of the orally disintegrating films (ODFs), it is important to determine the disintegration time (DT) precisely and properly. These films' DTs are usually assessed by a disintegration test defined in the pharmacopoeias, but under the conditions of such tests, a much larger volume of water is used and a stronger up-down movement is applied compared to the conditions of the human oral cavity. Here we developed and tested our new disintegration test system for ODFs. We chose a disintegration test device (the Tricorptester®, Okada Seiko, Tokyo) for orally disintegrating tablets. This device enabled the mechanical dropping of the test medium. We designed an exclusive fixture for ODFs, made an opening in the center of the fixture, and optimized the size of the opening (i.e., the cell). We also investigated that test conditions including the types of test media, the dropping height, flow rate, dropping methods, and medium holding methods. With a passage sensor attached to the Tricorptester, the device was able to automatically detect the DTs of ODFs. We thus successfully developed a new disintegration test system and optimized the operating conditions. Using this system, model ODFs and the commercial ODFs can be properly evaluated.

The active compounds derived from Psoralea corylifolia for photochemotherapy against psoriasis-like lesions: The relationship between structure and percutaneous absorption.

8­Methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) in combination with ultraviolet A (PUVA) is a photochemotherapy for management of psoriasis. 8-MOP is a natural compound from Psoralea corylifolia. The present work was undertaken to evaluate the percutaneous absorption of five compounds derived from P. corylifolia, and to further explore the inhibitory effect on psoriasis-like lesions generated by imiquimod stimulation in a mouse model. 8-MOP, psoralen, isopsoralen, psoralidin, and bakuchiol were comparatively tested for in vitro skin permeation, keratinocyte apoptosis, and in vivo antipsoriatic potency. The pig ear skin deposition of 8-MOP, isopsoralen, and bakuchiol at an equimolar dose was 0.47, 0.58, and 0.50 nmol/mg, respectively, which was comparable and higher than that of psoralen (0.25 nmol/mg) and psoralidin (0.14 nmol/mg). Psoralidin and bakuchiol were absorbed into the skin without further penetration across the skin. Besides experimental data of physicochemical properties, the hydrogen bond number, total polarity surface, and stratum corneum lipid docking calculated could explain the correlation of the penetrant structure with the skin permeability. The antiproliferative activity against keratinocytes was stronger for 8-MOP and isopsoralen than the others. Topical application of PUVA by using 8-MOP and isopsoralen on imiquimod-induced plaque significantly reduced transepidermal water loss from 55 to 33 and 38 g/m2/h, respectively. The epidermal thickening elicited by imiquimod (117 µm) was decreased to 62 and 26 µm by 8-MOP and isopsoralen application. IL-6 expression in psoriasiform skin was downregulated by isopsoralen but not 8-MOP. Isopsoralen may be a potential candidate for PUVA therapy.

Characterization of mannitol granules and powder: A comparative study using two flowability testers.

In the manufacture of tablets, especially in direct tableting processes, the flowability of excipient powders and formulated powders is one of the most important characteristics. In the past two decades, orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) have been prepared as popular solid dosage forms for elderly patients. Many types of mannitol granules have been developed and marketed as new pharmaceutical excipients for ODTs, owing to the solubility and palatability of mannitol. Characterizing the flow behaviors of these mannitol granules is essential to their use. The flowability of mannitol excipients was the focus of the present study. A fine crystalline mannitol powder, eight commercial types of mannitol granules and four types of mannitol mixture granules were evaluated. Two flowability testers were used for comparing and analyzing the samples' flowabilities. A variety of methodologies were used: an assessment using Carr's index, a shear test and a dynamic flow test. Mannitol powder showed the lowest Carr's index, meaning the lowest flowability. Spherical mannitol granules showed the lowest angle of internal friction in the shear test and extremely low basic flow energy in the dynamic flow test. Larger granules showed relatively high values for Carr's index, but also a relatively high total flow energy.

Effects of cationic liposomes with stearylamine against virus infection.

In this study, we demonstrated that cationic liposomes with incorporated stearylamine (SA) inhibit viral infectivity without preloaded active pharmaceutical ingredients. Specifically, we correlated physiochemical properties of liposomes, such as zeta potentials and particle sizes, with virus infectivity using the BacMam™ reagent, which is based on recombinant baculovirus (BV). Compared with neutral or negatively-charged liposomes, SA liposomes suppressed BV infectivity in several mammalian cell lines, including A549 cells. SA liposomes inhibited BV infection over 80% by optimizing the liposomal concentration and exposure time with cells. Moreover, these antiviral SA liposomes were not cytotoxic, and reducing the embedded cholesterol contents intensified the antiviral effects and simultaneously increased the binding of SA liposomes to the cell membranes. These data indicate that binding of SA liposomes to cell membranes may block virus entry. Finally, we also demonstrated the antiviral effects of SA liposomes on herpes simplex virus type 1 in A549 cells, and showed comparable efficacy to that of the antiviral drug acyclovir.

Advanced Continuous Flow Platform for On-Demand Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.

As a demonstration of an alternative to the challenges faced with batch pharmaceutical manufacturing including the large production footprint and lengthy time-scale, we previously reported a refrigerator-sized continuous flow system for the on-demand production of essential medicines. Building on this technology, herein we report a second-generation, reconfigurable and 25 % smaller (by volume) continuous flow pharmaceutical manufacturing platform featuring advances in reaction and purification equipment. Consisting of two compact [0.7 (L)×0.5 (D)×1.3 m (H)] stand-alone units for synthesis and purification/formulation processes, the capabilities of this automated system are demonstrated with the synthesis of nicardipine hydrochloride and the production of concentrated liquid doses of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, neostigmine methylsulfate and rufinamide that meet US Pharmacopeia standards.

Formulation design of granules prepared by wet granulation method using a multi-functional single-punch tablet press to avoid tableting failures.

We previously determined "Tableting properties" by using a multi-functional single-punch tablet press (GTP-1). We plotted "Compactability" on the x-axis against "Manufacturability" on the y-axis to allow visual evaluation of "Tableting properties". Here, we examined whether this evaluation method can be used in the formulation design of tablets prepared by wet granulation. We used the GTP-1 to measure "Tableting properties" with different amounts of binder, disintegrant, and lubricant, and compared the results with those of tableting on a commercial rotary tableting machine. Tableting failures (capping and binding in particular) occurred when samples that had been evaluated as having poor "Compactability" or "Manufacturability" on the GTP-1 were compressed on the rotary tableting machine. Thus, our evaluation method predicted tableting failure at the commercial scale. The method will prove useful for scaling up production.

Evaluation of liposomal behavior in the gastrointestinal tract after oral administration using real-time in vivo imaging.

Liposomes are regarded as promising drug carriers for enhancing the pharmacological effects of poorly absorbed drugs, such as peptides, following oral administration. Liposomal surface modifications by mucoadhesive polymers could improve drug absorption through interactions with the mucus layer. The main purpose of this study was to establish a method of monitoring the behavior of liposomes within the body after oral administration, particularly in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, using a real-time in vivo imaging system (IVIS) to elucidate the behavior of surface-modified liposomes. Indocyanine green (ICG) was used as a near-infrared dye to label chitosan (CS) or glycol CS (GCS)-modified liposomes, and to observe the dynamic behavior of the liposomes in rats by noninvasive IVIS after oral administration. First, we validated IVIS results of the rat abdomens by comparing them to quantitative measurements of ICG fluorescence intensity in tissue homogenates. Nano-sized small unilamellar vesicles were retained longer than micro-sized multilamellar vesicles in the GI tract. Furthermore, surface-modified liposomes showed longer-term retention in the GI tract than unmodified liposomes in fasted rats. Moreover, surface modification by CS or GCS effectively prevented the excretion of liposomes from the GI tract and prolonged retention in fed rats.

Gelation Factors of Pectin for Development of a Powder Form of Gel, Dry Jelly, as a Novel Dosage Form.

Jellies for oral administration are dosage forms that contain water, as stipulated in the Japanese Pharmacopeia, and heat is generally applied to the jellies during the manufacturing process. Therefore, it is difficult to formulate drugs that may be affected adversely by water and/or heat. To solve this problem, we tried to develop a powder form of gel as a novel dosage form (dry jelly: jelly medicine extemporaneously prepared) that is converted to jelly after addition of water at the time of administration. For this purpose, a basic gel formulation consisting of pectin, glucono-δ-lactone, dibasic calcium phosphate hydrate, and sucrose was investigated to evaluate the critical factors affecting gelation phenomena. The gel form was developed by adjusting the amount of each component of the formulation and of water added. Gelation occurred even with hard water containing metal ions (hardness of approximately 304 mg/L), and no changes in gel hardness occurred. The desired gel hardness could be controlled by adjusting the amount of water. The gel hardness changed over time after the addition of water, but this change did not affect the dissolution behavior of drugs formulated in the dry jelly.

Comparison of the adverse event profiles of conventional and liposomal formulations of doxorubicin using the FDA adverse event reporting system.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline widely used for the treatment of solid and hematological tumors. The aim of this study was to assess the adverse event profiles of conventional DOX and liposomal DOX. This is the first study to evaluate the effect of a liposomal formulation of DOX using spontaneous reporting system (SRS) databases. The SRS used was the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). This study relied on definitions of preferred terms provided by the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) and the standardized MedDRA Queries (SMQ) database. We also calculated the reporting odds ratios (RORs) of suspected drugs (conventional DOX; PEGylated-liposome DOX; non-PEGylated-liposome DOX). The FAERS database contained 7,561,254 reports from January 2004 to December 2015. The number of reported AE cases for conventional DOX, PEGylated-liposome DOX, and non-PEGylated-liposome DOX was 5039, 3780, and 349, respectively. Conventional DOX and liposomal DOX have potential risks of causing myelosuppression, cardiotoxicity, alopecia, nausea, and vomiting, among other effects. The RORs (95% CI) from SMQ for haematopoietic leucopenia associated with conventional DOX, PEGylated-liposome DOX, and non-PEGylated-liposome DOX were 12.75 (11.89-13.68), 6.43 (5.81-7.13), and 14.73 (11.42-18.99), respectively. Liposomal DOX formulations were associated with lower RORs with regard to myelosuppression, cardiotoxicity, and alopecia than the conventional DOX was. The RORs (95% CI) for palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE) associated with conventional DOX, PEGylated-liposome DOX, and non-PEGylated-liposome DOX were 6.56 (4.74-9.07), 64.77 (56.84-73.80), and 28.76 (15.77-52.45), respectively. This study is the first to evaluate the relationship between DOX liposomal formulations and their adverse event profiles. The results indicate that careful observation for PPE is recommended with the use of liposomal DOX, especially PEGylated-liposome DOX formulations.

An advanced technique using an electronic taste-sensing system to evaluate the bitterness of orally disintegrating films and the evaluation of model films.

Taste detection systems using electronic sensors are needed in the field of pharmaceutical design. The aim of this study was to propose an advanced technique using a taste-sensing system to evaluate the bitterness of an orally disintegrating film (ODF) samples. In this system, a solid film sample is kept in the test medium with stirring, and the sensor output is recorded. Model films were prepared using a solution-casting method with a water-soluble polymer such as pullulan, HPMC, HPC or PVP as film formers, and donepezil hydrochloride and quinine hydrochloride as model bitter-tasting active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The results showed that this advanced techniques could detect the emergence of bitterness along the time course. Increasing the amount of donepezil hydrochloride increased the sensor output. The sensor output was suppressed at the very early stage of the test, and then increased. Both the film thickness and the use of additives markedly affected the delay of the sensor output. The profile of the sensor output was accurately related to the release of APIs. It was concluded that this advanced technique could detect the onset of bitterness during the initial stage of ODF administration.