Mucoadhesive, thermosensitive, prolonged-release vaginal gel for clotrimazole:beta-cyclodextrin complex.

The purpose of this study was to achieve a better therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance in the treatment for vaginitis. Clotrimazole (1%) has been formulated in a vaginal gel using the thermosensitive polymer Pluronic F127 (20%) together with mucoadhesive polymers such as Carbopol 934 and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (0.2% for both). To increase its aqueous solubility, clotrimazole was incorporated as its inclusion complex with 1:1 molar ratio with beta-cyclodextrin. The inclusion complex was thoroughly characterized using various techniques, including 1H NMR spectroscopy, FT IR spectrophotometry, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, phase solubility studies, and determination of stability constant (k(1:1)). The gelation temperature and rheological behavior of different formulations at varying temperatures were measured. In vitro release profiles of the gels were determined in pH 5.5 citrate buffer. It was observed that complexation with cyclodextrin slowed down the release of clotrimazole considerably. Carbopol 934, on the other hand, was found to interact with beta-cyclodextrin, inducing precipitation. As far as rheological properties are concerned, thermosensitive in situ gelling was obtained with formulations containing drug:cyclodextrin complex rather than with free drug. Thus, the optimum formulation for a controlled-release thermosensitive and mucoadhesive vaginal gel was determined to be clotrimazole:beta-cyclodextrin 1% with 0.2% hydroxypropylmethylcellulose in Pluronic F127 gel (20%) providing continuous and prolonged release of active material above MIC values.

Cytotoxic evaluation of injectable cyclodextrin nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles were prepared using beta-CDC6, which is an amphiphilic beta-cyclodextrin derivative modified on the secondary face with 6C aliphatic esters. A nanoprecipitation technique was used to prepare the blank nanoparticles without any surfactant and nanoparticles containing Pluronic F68 as surfactant in a concentration range of 0.1 to 1%. Nanoparticle formulations were characterized by particle size distribution and zeta potential measurements. Entrapment efficiency and in-vitro release profiles were determined and the cytotoxicity of these injectable nanospheres was evaluated against mouse fibroblast L929 cell line and human polymorphonuclear cells by methlythiazolyltetrazolium assay. As far as particle size and zeta potential are concerned, there is a relationship between surfactant presence and nanoparticle characteristics. However, these effects are not significant. It was also found that surfactant presence has no effect on model drug nimodipine encapsulation but accelerates the in-vitro release of the drug. Cell culture studies on mouse fibroblasts and human polymorphonuclear cells revealed a concentration-dependent cytotoxicity more pronounced in fibroblast cells. This led to the conclusion that the use of surfactants in injectable nanoparticles prepared from amphiphilic beta-cyclodextrins may lead to altered in-vitro properties and impaired safety for the drug delivery system.

Carbidopa/levodopa-loaded biodegradable microspheres: in vivo evaluation on experimental Parkinsonism in rats.

The purpose of this study was to prepare and characterize injectable carbidopa (CD)/levodopa (LD)-loaded Poly(L-lactides) (L-PLA), Poly(D,L-lactides) (D,L-PLA) and Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLAGA) microspheres for the intracerebral treatment of Parkinson's disease. The microspheres were prepared by solvent evaporation method. The polymers' (L-PLA, D,L-PLA and PLAGA) concentrations were 10% (w/w) in the organic phase; the emulsifiers [sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC):sodium oleate (SO) and Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA):SO mixture (4:1 w/v)] concentrations were 0.75% in the aqueous phase. Microspheres were analyzed for morphological characteristics, size distribution, drug loading and in vitro release. The release profile of CD/LD from microspheres was characterized in the range of 12-35% within the first hour of the in vitro release experiment. The efficiency of CD- and LD-encapsulated microspheres to striatal transplantation and the altering of apomorphine-induced rotational behavior in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) unilaterally lesioned rat model were also tested. 6-OHDA/CD-LD-loaded microsphere groups exhibited lower rotation scores than 6-OHDA/Blank microsphere groups as early as 1 week postlesion. These benefits continued throughout the entire experimental period and they were statistically significant during the 1, 2 and 8 weeks (p<0.05). CD/LD-loaded microspheres were specifically prepared to apply as an injectable dosage forms for brain implantation.