Novel propyl karaya gum nanogels for bosentan: In vitro and in vivo drug delivery performance.

The amphiphilic propyl Karaya gum (KG) with a degree of propyl group substitution of 3.24 was synthesized to design self-assembled nanogels as carriers for bosentan monohydrate, a poorly soluble antihypertensive drug. The drug was physically hosted into the hydrophobic core of the micellar nanogels by solvent evaporation method. TEM images revealed spherical shape and core-shell morphology of the nanogels. Depending upon polymer: drug weight ratio, the drug entrapment efficiency of >85% was attained. The carriers had hydrodynamic diameter in the range of 230-305 nm with narrow size distribution. The zeta potential of -23.0 to -24.9 mV and low critical association concentration (CAC) of 8.32 mg/l provided evidence that the colloidal nanogel system was physically stable. Thermodynamics of the propyl KG system in water favored spontaneous self-assembly of propyl KG. FTIR, thermal and x-ray analyses suggested that the drug was compatible in the hydrophobic confines of the nanogels. The micellar nanogels liberated their contents in simulated gastrointestinal condition in a pH-dependent manner over a period of 10 h. Peppas-Sahlin modeling of in vitro drug release data suggested that the polymer relaxation/swelling mechanism dominated the drug release process. Pre-clinical testing of the mucoadhesive nanogel formulations exhibited that the system could monitor the anti-hypertensive activity for a prolonged period. Overall, this propyl KG micellar nanogel system had a great potential and splendid outlook to serve as novel oral controlled release carriers for poorly soluble drugs with outstanding pharmacodynamics.

Smart karaya-locust bean gum hydrogel particles for the treatment of hypertension: Optimization by factorial design and pre-clinical evaluation.

This investigation was undertaken to unveil the controlled drug delivery and preclinical anti-hypertensive potential of a novel interpenetrating biopolymer-based network of karaya gum and carboxymethyl locust bean gum (CLBG). The Williamson synthesis of CLBG was confirmed after analyzing FTIR spectra, degree of O-carboxymethyl group substitution and viscosity. The hydrogel particles (HPs) were developed using aluminium chloride solution as cross-linker. A full 32 factorial design approach was adopted for the optimization of two responses: drug entrapment efficiency and drug release (%) in simulated gastrointestinal conditions at 10 h. FE-SEM images and EDX spectra supported the formation of spherical HPs and successful entrapment of the drug in the HPs. Depending upon formulation variables, the drug entrapment efficiency of the HPs lied in the range of 84-98%. The HP matrix was chemically compatible for carvedilol phosphate as was suggested by infrared, thermal and x-ray analyses. The swelling kinetics of HPs corroborated well with the pH-dependent in vitro drug discharge characteristics. The drug release from HPs was found to follow anomalous transport mechanism with varying contribution of simple diffusion and polymer relaxation as was elucidated by Peppas-Sahlin model equation. Preclinical data suggested that the optimized HPs had an excellent blood pressure lowering activity in male Swiss albino mice up to 10 h.

Boswellia gum resin/chitosan polymer composites: Controlled delivery vehicles for aceclofenac.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of Boswellia gum resin on the properties of glutaraldehyde (GA) crosslinked chitosan polymer composites and their potential as oral delivery vehicles for a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, aceclofenac. The incorporation of resinous material caused a significant improvement in drug entrapment efficiency (∼40%) of the polymer composites. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis confirmed the formation of chitosan-gum resin composites and did not show any evidence of drug-polymer chemical interaction. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) suggested the formation of particulate polymer composites up to chitosan:gum resin mass ratio of 1:3. Only 8-17% drug was released into HCl solution (pH 1.2) in 2h. The drug release rate of polymer composites was faster in phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.8). The composites released ∼60-68% drug load in 7h. In same duration, the drug release rate suddenly boosted up to 92% as the concentration of gum resin in the composites was raised to 80%. The drug release mechanism deviated from non-Fickian to case-II type with increasing resin concentration in the composites. Hence, GA-treated Boswellia resin-chitosan composites could be considered as alternative vehicles for oral delivery of aceclofenac.

Synthesis of Ca+2-Al+3-xanthan biopolymer particles and evaluation of in vitro protein release behaviors.

In this work, a hydrogelation method was used for the development of protein-loaded xanthan biopolymer particles. The gelation of the aqueous polymer droplets was accomplished in a mixture of calcium chloride and aluminium chloride solution. The particles were less than 900 µm in diameter and appeared spherical under scanning electron microscope. The particles retained a maximum of 90% of its initial load and released the protein molecules over an extended period in phosphate buffer saline solution (pH 7.4). The protein release was <13% in acidic medium (pH 1.2). The protein release was interrelated with pH-dependent swelling of the particles. The polymer relaxation phenomenon predominated over simple diffusion mechanism in anomalous protein release process as the ratio of di- and trivalent metal ions was decreased. No protein-biopolymer interaction was evident by FTIR spectroscopy. The divalent and trivalent metal ion cross-linked xanthan particles showed immense potential in controlled oral delivery of macromolecules.

Quantification of allicin by high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet analysis with effect of post-ultrasonic sound and microwave radiation on fresh garlic cloves.

BACKGROUND: Garlic (Allium sativum L.) has been accepted universally to be applied in food, spice and traditional medicine. The medicinal and other beneficial properties of garlic are attributed to organosulfur compounds. OBJECTIVE: As of today no simultaneous analysis has been performed; hence the transformation of allicin to its degraded products during cultivation and storage is open into doubt. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our present work, we have tried to develop a sensitive and reproducible analytical method to measure allicin by high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet analysis with effect of post-acoustic waves and microwave radiation on fresh garlic cloves. RESULTS: The process revealed the effect of different radiation techniques on fresh garlic retains the principle component, allicin in its pure form and generated higher yield than the conventional way of extraction. CONCLUSION: Therefore, materializing these techniques in the pharmaceutical industry will definitely be proved beneficial in term of time as well as money. Most interestingly, the methods ruled out possibilities of degradation of organosulfur compounds as well.

Development of hydroxyapatite-ciprofloxacin bone-implants using "Quality by design".

The present study deals with the development of hydroxyapatite (HAp)-ciprofloxacin bone-implants using the ¼Quality by design« approach. The effect of various synthesis parameters like drug amount added in the process, stirring speed and addition rate of orthophosphoric acid in the synthesis on drug concentration in the HAp-ciprofloxacin system synthesized by the precipitation technique using 23 factorial design was analyzed. Optimization methodology utillizing the first-order polynomial equation was used to search for optimal drug concentration in the HAp-ciprofloxacin implant system. The observed responses coincided well with the predicted values from the optimization technique. New implants were manufactured using various HAp-ciprofloxacin composites and 1.5 % (m/V) guar gum as a binder. Characterization of the delivery system was done by XRPD, FTIR spectroscopy and SEM. Even at highest drug concentration (76.6 ± 0.5 %, m/m), ciprofloxacin was present in noncrystalline state. The in vitro ciprofloxacin release from various bone-implants was sustained for several weeks and the drug release pattern correlated well with the Korsmeyer- Peppas model.

Novel interpenetrating network microspheres of xanthan gum-poly(vinyl alcohol) for the delivery of diclofenac sodium to the intestine--in vitro and in vivo evaluation.

Xanthan gum (XG), a trisaccharide branched polymer and poly vinyl alcohol (PVA), was used to develop pH-sensitive interpenetrating network (IPN) microspheres by emulsion cross-linking method in the presence of glutaraldehyde as a cross-linker to deliver model anti-inflammatory drug, diclofenac sodium (DS) to the intestine. Various formulations were prepared by changing the ratio of XG:PVA, extent of cross-linking in order to optimize the formulation variables on drug encapsulation efficiency, and release rate. Formation of interpenetrating network and the chemical stability of DS after penetration of microspheres was confirmed by Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were done on the drug loaded microspheres which confirmed molecular dispersion of DS in the IPN. Microspheres formed were spherical with smooth surfaces, as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and mean particle size, as measured by laser light scattering technique ranged between 310.25-477.10 microm. Drug encapsulation of up to 82.94% was achieved as measured by UV method. Both equilibrium and dynamic swelling studies and in vitro release studies were performed in pH 1.2 and 6.8. Release data indicated a Fickian trend of drug release which depends on the extent of cross-linking and the ratio of XG:PVA present in the microsphere. When subjected to in vivo pharmacokinetic evaluation in rabbits, microparticles show slow and prolonged drug release when compared with DS solution. Based on the results of in vitro and in vivo studies it was concluded that these IPN microspheres provided oral controlled release of water-soluble DS.