Chronotherapeutic Drug Delivery of Ketoprofen and Ibuprofen for Improved Treatment of Early Morning Stiffness in Arthritis Using Hot-Melt Extrusion Technology.

This work developed a chronotherapeutic drug delivery system (CTDDS) utilizing a potential continuous hot-melt extrusion (HME) technique. Ketoprofen (KTP) and ibuprofen (IBU) were used as two separate model drugs. Eudragit S100 (ES100) was the matrix-forming agent, and ethyl cellulose (EC) (2.5 and 5%) was the release-retarding agent. A 16-mm extruder was used to develop the CTDDS to pilot scale. The obtained extrudate strands were transparent, indicating that the drugs were homogeneously dispersed in the matrix in an amorphous form, confirmed by both differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffraction. The strands were pelletized into 1, 2, and 3 mm size pellets. A 100% drug release from 1, 2, and 3 mm pellets with 2.5% EC was observed at 12, 14, and 16 h, whereas the drug release was sustained for 14, 16, and 22 h from 5% EC pellets, respectively, for KTP. The release characteristics of IBU were similar to those of KTP with modest variations in release at lag time. The in vitro drug release study conducted in three-stage dissolution media showed a desired lag time of 6 h. The percent drug release from 1, 2, and 3 mm pellets with 40% drug load showed < 20% release from all formulations at 6 h. The amount of ethyl cellulose and pellet size significantly affected drug release. Formulations of both KTP and IBU were stable for 4 months at accelerated stability conditions of 40°C/75% RH. In summary, HME is a novel technique for developing CTDDS.

Preparation and Pharmacological Evaluation of Novel Orally Active Ester Prodrugs of Ketoprofen with Non-Ulcerogenic Property.

This study investigates anti-inflammatory activity with improved pharmacokinetic and non-ulcerogenic properties of various novel synthesized prodrugs of ketoprofen in experimental animals. Prodrugs 3a, 3f and 3k were found to possess significant anti-inflammatory activity with almost non-ulcerogenic potential than standard drug ketoprofen (1) in both normal and inflammation-induced rats. The experimental findings elicited higher AUC and plasma concentration at 1 and 2 h indicating improved oral bioavailability as compared to parent drug ketoprofen. These prodrugs are found to have no gastric ulceration with retained anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, present experimental findings demonstrated significant improvement of various pharmacokinetic properties with non-ulcerogenic potential of ester prodrugs of ketoprofen.

Preparation and in vitro evaluation of modified release ketoprofen microsponges.

Microsponges containing ketoprofen and Eudragit RS 100 were prepared by quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method. The effects of different mixing speeds, drug-polymer ratios, solvent-polymer ratios on the physical characteristics of the microsponges as well as the in vitro release rate of the drug from the microsponges were investigated. All the factors studied had an influence on the physical characteristics of the microsponges. In vitro dissolution results showed that the release rate of ketoprofen was modified in all formulations.

Bulky amine analogues of ketoprofen: potent antiinflammatory agents.

Replacement of the carboxyl group of 2-(3-benzoylphenyl)propionic acid (Ketoprofen) with various bulky amines has produced a series of highly active antiinflammatory agents that have reduced intestinal ulcerogenicity and have better therapeutic ratios in the 21-day adjuvant arthritis assay in rats than currently marketed nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Activity is maintained on reduction of these 2-(3-benzoylphenyl)propyl bulky amines to the corresponding alcohols or methylene analogues, on conversion of the ketone function to a primary amine or oxime, and on introduction of a 4-halo substitutent (Cl or F) on the terminal aromatic ring. Removal of the alpha-CH3 group greatly reduces the antiinflammatory activity of the series. These compounds have been synthesized by the reductive amination of 2-(3-bromophenyl)propionaldehyde with the respective amine followed by lithiation of this product and condensation with the appropriate benzonitrile.