ABSTRACT
The purpose of this work is to investigate the discriminatory power of the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS)-biowaiver in vitro methodology, i.e., to investigate if a BCS-biowaiver approach would have detected the Cmax differences observed between two zolpidem tablets and to identify the cause of the in vivo difference. Several dissolution conditions were tested with three zolpidem formulations: the reference (Stilnox), a bioequivalent formulation (BE), and a nonbioequivalent formulation (N-BE). Zolpidem is highly soluble at pH 1.2, 4.5, and 6.8. Its permeability in Caco-2 cells is higher than that of metoprolol and its transport mechanism is passive diffusion. None of the excipients (alone or in combination) showed any effect on permeability. All formulations dissolved more than 85% in 15 min in the paddle apparatus at 50 rpm in all dissolution media. However, at 30 rpm the nonbioequivalent formulation exhibited a slower dissolution rate. A slower gastric emptying rate was also observed in rats for the nonbioequivalent formulation. A slower disintegration and dissolution or a delay in gastric emptying might explain the Cmax infra-bioavailability for a highly permeable drug with short half-life. The BCS-biowaiver approach would have declared bioequivalence, although the in vivo study was not conclusive but detected a 14% mean difference in Cmax that precluded the bioequivalence demonstration. Nonetheless, these findings suggest that a slower dissolution rate is more discriminatory and that rotation speeds higher than 50 rpm should not be used in BCS-biowaivers, even if a coning effect occurs.
Subject(s)
Biopharmaceutics/methods , Excipients/chemistry , GABA-A Receptor Agonists/metabolism , Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism , Pyridines/metabolism , Animals , Biological Availability , Caco-2 Cells , Cell Membrane Permeability , Chemistry, Pharmaceutical , Gastric Emptying/physiology , Humans , Rats , Therapeutic Equivalency , ZolpidemABSTRACT
Currently, gamma-irradiation seems to be a good method for sterilising drug delivery systems made from biodegradable polymers. The gamma-irradiation of microspheres can cause several physicochemical changes in the polymeric matrix. These modifications are affected by the temperature, irradiation dose and nature of the encapsulated drug and additives. This study has aimed to evaluate the influence of temperature during the sterilisation process by gamma irradiation in indomethacin PLGA microspheres including a PEG-derivative. Microspheres were prepared by the solvent evaporation method from o/w emulsion and were then exposed to gamma-irradiation. A dose of 25 kGy was used to ensure effective sterilisation. Some microspheres were sterilised with dry ice protection that guaranteed a low temperature during the process whilst others were sterilised without such dry ice protection. The effects of gamma-irradiation on the characteristics of non-loaded PLGA/PEG-derivative and indomethacin loaded PLGA/PEG-derivative microspheres with and without protection were studied. Non-protected microspheres showed changes in their morphological surface, polymer glass transition temperature, molecular weight and release rate of indomethacin after sterilisation. However, microspheres sterilised with protection did not show significant differences after gamma-irradiation exposure. The sterilisation method was satisfactory when the indomethacin loaded microspheres including a PEG-derivative were exposed to gamma-irradiation at low temperature.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/radiation effects , Drug Carriers/radiation effects , Gamma Rays , Indomethacin/radiation effects , Lactic Acid/radiation effects , Microspheres , Polyethylene Glycols/radiation effects , Polyglycolic Acid/radiation effects , Polymers/radiation effects , Sterilization , Temperature , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/chemistry , Calorimetry, Differential Scanning , Chromatography, Gel , Crystallography, X-Ray , Drug Carriers/chemistry , Drug Stability , Indomethacin/chemistry , Kinetics , Lactic Acid/chemistry , Molecular Weight , Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry , Polyglycolic Acid/chemistry , Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer , Polymers/chemistry , Solubility , Sterilization/methods , Surface Properties , Transition TemperatureABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to obtain biodegradable indomethacin microspheres for intra-articular administration in rheumatoid arthritis, where angiogenic processes are involved. Indomethacin concentrations to achieve an anti-angiogenic effect would be five-times higher than an anti-inflammatory. Microspheres were prepared by solvent evaporation using PLGA. Indomethacin is a poor water-soluble drug with it being possible that dissolved and non-dissolved drug co-exist within the polymeric matrix resulting in rapid release. To control this release, an oil-PEG-derivative was incorporated, producing changes in morphology, crystallinity and indomethacin release. To minimize the amount of microspheres administered, a two-factor five-level central rotable composite 2(2)+star design was employed with two independent variables: indomethacin percentage and PEG-derivative percentage. The optimum formulation showed mean encapsulation efficiency of 94.3+/-2.2% and released 7.99+/-0.25 microg indomethacin/day/mg microspheres for 21 days. A dose of 20-50 mg of this formulation could be appropriate to achieve both anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory effects. Preliminary cytotoxicity studies performed in rat splenocytes showed an adequate cell viability.