Development and evaluation of chitosan and chitosan/Kollicoat® Smartseal 30 D film-coated tablets for colon targeting.

The aim of the present study was to develop film-coated tablets which release a minor amount of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) into the stomach and small intestine, yet show a sharp increase of drug release in the colon. Tablets containing the model drug Diclofenac-Na, microcrystalline cellulose as a filler (MT), as well as tablets consisting of Ludiflash® (LT), both were used as tablet cores, respectively. Either chitosan (CHI) alone or different ratios of chitosan and Kollicoat® Smartseal 30 D (KCSS) were applied onto these cores. The resulting film-coated tablets were analyzed for swelling, drug dissolution and stability. In order to clarify whether the colon release is mainly enzyme-driven or pressure-controlled, the coated tablets were both tested in the colon microflora test (CMT), which simulates the enzyme environment within the colon, and using a bio-relevant dissolution apparatus mimicking the intraluminal pressures and stress conditions present in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). CHI/KCSS (25:75) coated LTs showed a pressure-controlled site-specific drug release in the large intestine, while remaining intact in the upper GIT. CHI as well as CHI/KCSS (25:75) applied onto MTs, remained stable during the entire simulated bio-relevant dissolution transit of the GIT, but showed enzymatically controlled colon targeting in the CMT. These results could be confirmed for CHI/KCSS (25:75) film-coated MTs top-coated with an additional hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) layer and an Eudragit L 30 D-55 (EUL) layer to avoid the dissolution in the fasting stomach.

Comparative in silico-in vivo evaluation of ASGP-R ligands for hepatic targeting of curcumin Gantrez nanoparticles.

The present study aims to design hepatic targeted curcumin (CUR) nanoparticles using Gantrez (GZ) as a polymer. Three carbohydrate-based hepatocyte asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R) ligands were selected for the study, namely kappa carrageenan (KC), arabinogalactan (AG), and pullulan (P). AG and KC are galactose based while P is a glucose-based polymer. CUR-GZ nanoparticles were prepared by nanoprecipitation and anchored with the ligands by nonspecific adsorption onto preformed nanoparticles. The change in zeta potential values confirmed adsorption of the ligands. Docking simulation was evaluated as a tool to predict ligand ASGP-R interactions, using grid-based ligand docking with energies (Glide). Monomers and dimers were used as representative units of polymer for docking analysis. The binding of ASGP-R was validated using D-galactose as monomer. The interaction of the ligands with the receptor was evaluated based on Glide scores and E model values, both for monomers and dimers. The data of the docking study based on Glide scores and E model values suggested higher affinity of AG and P to the ASGP-R, compared to KC. At 1 h, following intravenous administration of the nanoparticles to rats, the in vivo hepatic accumulation in the order CUR-GZAG > CUR-GZKC > CUR-GZP correlated with the docking data based on Glide scores. However, at the end of 6 h, pullulan exhibited maximum hepatic accumulation and arabinogalactan minimum accumulation (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, as predicted by docking analysis, arabinogalactan and pullulan revealed maximum hepatic accumulation. Docking analysis using dimers as representative stereochemical units of polymers provides a good indication of ligand receptor affinity. Docking analysis provides a useful tool for the preliminary screening of ligands for hepatic targeting.

Drug release from Kollicoat SR 30D-coated nonpareil beads: evaluation of coating level, plasticizer type, and curing condition.

A newly available polyvinylacetate aqueous dispersion, Kollicoat SR 30D, was evaluated with respect to its ability to modulate the in vitro release of a highly water-soluble model compound (diphenhydramine hydrochloride) from nonpareil-based systems. Kollicoat SR 30D premixed with a selected plasticizer (10% wt/wt propylene glycol, 2.5% triethyl citrate, or 2.5% dibutyl sebacate), talc, and red #30 lake dye was coated onto the drug beads in an Aeromatic Strea I fluid-bed drier with a Wurster insert using bottom spray. With propylene glycol as the plasticizer, increases in polymer coating level retarded drug release from beads in a stepwise fashion along with apparent permeability, indicating a consistent release mechanism. Stability studies at 40 degrees C/75% RH revealed gradual decreases in dissolution rate, and additional curing studies further confirmed the dependence of release kinetics on curing condition. Furthermore, the type of plasticizer was found to play a key role. Unplasticized formulations exhibited the fastest dissolution, followed by formulations plasticized with triethyl citrate, propylene glycol, and dibutyl sebacate. All 4 formulations (unplasticized and plasticized), nevertheless, revealed a marked difference between uncured and cured dissolution profiles. Kollicoat SR 30D has, thereby, been demonstrated to effectively retard drug release from nonpareil-based systems. However, selected plasticizer type and subsequent curing condition play important roles in controlling drug release from such a system.

Interaction of zona pellucida glycoproteins, sulphated carbohydrates and synthetic polymers with proacrosin, the putative egg-binding protein from mammalian spermatozoa.

Fertilization in mammals is a unique cell-cell recognition event that involves specific receptors on the surface of each gamete. Previous work has shown that proacrosin, a protein found within the acrosome of mammalian spermatozoa, binds non-enzymatically to zona pellucida glycoproteins (ZPGPs) that surround the egg and that this binding can be inhibited by sulphated polysaccharides such as fucoidan. The mechanism of this interaction has been investigated using 125I-ZPGPs and 125I-fucoidan as probes. Results show that it involves poly(sulphate) groups on zona glycoproteins that bind with high affinity (Kd = 1.2 to 5.0 x 10(-8)M) to complementary 'docking' sites on proacrosin. The spatial orientation of these sulphates, together with the tertiary structure of the target protein, determines the selectivity of polymer binding. Thus, dextran sulphate and poly(vinyl sulphate) are strong inhibitors of the above probes whereas dextran, chondroitin sulphates A and C and poly(vinyl phosphate) are ineffective. Proacrosin, therefore, has properties analogous to those described for 'bindin', the egg adhesion protein found within the acrosomal vesicle of sea urchin spermatozoa.