A novel three-dimensional printed device with conductive elements for electromembrane extraction combined with high-performance liquid chromatography and ultraviolet detector.

This study is focused on proposing a new design and setup for electromembrane extraction. A new cap was designed and conductive vials of different shapes were fabricated using three-dimensional printing. The new cap holds three fibers to enhance electromembrane extraction recovery. Conductive vials can simultaneously perform as electrodes therefore, there is no need to include an electrode in sample solutions. Phenobarbital and phenytoin were used as model compounds to assess the setup performance. Under optimal conditions, these analytes were extracted from the sample solution at pH = 9 to the acceptor solution at pH = 13 with a voltage of 40 V for 20 min, while 1-octanol was employed as the supported-liquid-membrane. The influence of conductive vials geometry on the recovery was examined and the effects of different shapes were studied by performing numerical simulation to establish electric potential distribution. Of the vials tested with circular, triangular, and floral-like cross-sections the latter exhibited the best voltage distribution. The circular vial had the highest recovery attributed to its better hydrodynamic shape, which allows rapid fluid sample transport and therefore enhanced system recovery. The extraction recovery and relative standard deviation of the circular vial with three fibers were 33.0 and 7.6 for phenobarbital and 42.2 and 10.4 for phenytoin.

Formulation optimization of smart thermosetting lamotrigine loaded hydrogels using response surface methodology, box benhken design and artificial neural networks.

The aim of this research was to develop lamotrigine containing thermosetting hydrogel for intranasal administration to manage and treat generalized epilepsy. Thermosetting hydrogels were prepared using different ratios of poloxamer 407 (L127), poloxamer 188 (L68) and Carbopol® 974 P NF (C974) using the cold production process. The in situ thermosetting hydrogel was optimized using Box Behken design. Co-solvency approach was used to increase the solubility of lamotrigine by dissolving it in propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol 400 (0.2: 0.8) and the resultant solution was incorporated in the hydrogel to manufacture an LTG hydrogel. The presence of a higher amount of L127 resulted in higher viscosity at 22 °C and 34 °C and decreased the overall release of LTG. An increase in the amount of C974 resulted in a decrease in the pH of the hydrogel. The results show that formulations F10, F12, F13, F14, F15, F16 and F17 exhibited acceptable thermosetting behavior, pH and released adequate Lamotrigine above the minimum effective concentration to treat generalized epilepsy. The optimized formulation exhibited acceptable thermosetting behavior, pH and lamotrigine release but formed a stiff gel at 22 °C. The average LTG content of the optimized hydrogel was 5.00 ± 0.0225 mg/ml with % recovery of 99.17%. The amount of LTG released at 12 h from the optimized hydrogel was 3.21 ± 0.0155 mg and will be therapeutically effective in the brain after absorption via the olfactory region in the nasal cavity.

Assessment of taste masking of captopril by ion-exchange resins using electronic gustatory system.

The objective of the study was to mask the unpleasant taste of captopril (CPT). Taste masking was achieved by complexation of CPT with a basic ion exchange resin, Dowex® 66, using the batch method. Dowex® 66 was used for the adsorption of CPT, and physical and chemical parameters of the CPT resinates complex were evaluated. A central composite design was used to generate the experiments for the manufacture of resinates using different process and formulation variables. In vitro dissolution studies were performed for 2 h in 0.01N HCl (pH 1.6) using USP Apparatus I. The compatibility of CPT and the resin was evaluated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). The resinates were evaluated for micromeritic properties and further characterised using FTIR, DSC, and PXRD. Response surface methodology was used to determine the significance of input variables on the CPT content and release. The CPT resin ratio was found to have a significant impact on content of the resinates and on CPT release. The formulations were also studied for taste masking ability by means of an electronic gustatory system - electronic tongue.

The use of response surface methodology for the formulation and optimization of salbutamol sulfate hydrophilic matrix sustained release tablets.

The objective of this study was to develop a hydrophilic matrix formulation with in vitro release characteristics similar to Asthalin(®) tablets and that would sustain the release of salbutamol sulfate over a 12-h period. A central composite design was used as the framework for manufacturing formulations that may be used to understand the relationships between polymer levels and in vitro release characteristics. Tablets were manufactured using wet granulation with Surelease(®) as the granulating fluid and different levels of Methocel(®) K100M, xanthan gum, and Carbopol(®) 974P as matrix-forming materials. In vitro dissolution testing was conducted using USP Apparatus 3 and samples were analyzed using a validated reversed-phase HPLC method. The results revealed that the levels and types of polymers had a significant impact on the rate of drug release from these formulations and that it was possible to optimize the levels of matrix-forming polymers to achieve the desired release characteristics. Statistical design and response surface methodology have been successfully used to understand and optimize formulation factors and interactions that impact the in vitro release characteristics of salbutamol sulfate from a potential multisource sustained release dosage form.

Evaluation of rate of swelling and erosion of verapamil (VRP) sustained-release matrix tablets.

Tablets manufactured in-house were compared to a marketed sustained-release product of verapamil to investigate the rate of hydration, erosion, and drug-release mechanism by measuring the wet and subsequent dry weights of the products. Swelling and erosion rates depended on the polymer and granulating fluid used, which ultimately pointed to their permeability characteristics. Erosion rate of the marketed product was highest, which suggests that the gel layer that formed around these tablets was weak as opposed to the robust and resistant layers of test products. Anomalous and near zero-order transport mechanisms were dominant in tests and commercial product, respectively.