The effect of residual water on antacid properties of sucralfate gel dried by microwaves.

The aim of this work was to study the acid neutralization characteristics of microwave-dried sucralfate gel in relation to the water content and physical structure of the substance. Several dried sucralfate gels were compared with humid sucralfate gel and sucralfate nongel powder in terms of neutralization rate and buffering capacity. Humid sucralfate gel and microwave-dried gel exhibited antacid effectiveness. In particular, the neutralization rate of dried gel powders was inversely related to the water content: as the water content of dried powders decreased, the acid reaction rate linearly increased. The relationship was due to the different morphology of dried sucralfate gels. In fact, the porosity of the dried samples increased with the water reduction. However, the acid neutralization equivalent revealed that the dried sucralfate gel became more resistant to acid attack in the case of water content below 42%. Then, the microwave drying procedure had the opposite effect on the reactivity of the aluminum hydroxide component of dried sucralfate gel powders, since the rate of the reaction increased whereas the buffering capacity decreased as the amount of water was reduced.

Utilizaçäo de sucralfato para prevençäo de mucosite na radioterapia dos tumores da cabeça e pescoço: um estudo randomizado / Utilization of sucralfate in the prevention of mucositis related to the radiotherapy of head and neck cancer: a randomized study

A mucosite da cavidade oral e faringe causada pela radioterapia nos tumores da cabeça e pescoço determina graus variáveis de dor e desconforto, constituindo um dos maiores fatores dose-limitantes, podendo causar até mesmo interrupçäo do tratamento. Costuma ser mais intensa nos casos que recebem quimioterapia neoadjuvante (QTNA) à radioterapia. Neste estudo foi testado o sucralfato, droga comercialmente disponível e utilizada como antiulcerosa, empregada prospectiva e randomizadamente num grupo de pacientes. Os resultados obtidos indicaram uma nítida reduçäo na incidência de mucosite nos pacientes tratados com QTNA que receberam sulcrafato. Houve também resposta evidente no grupo tratado apenas com radioterapia exclusiva, mas com menor impacto estatístico. Efeitos colaterais e morbidade foram desprezíveis. Estudos mais amplos devem ser desenvolvidos no futuro para identificaçäo mais precisa dos benefícios potenciais desta substância

Bile salt binding properties of commonly used gastrointestinal drugs: maalox, carafate, and questran.

We have validated a method to measure bile salt binding by Maalox (aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide), Carafate (sucralfate), and Questran (cholestyramine) in vitro. The method used in this study involves a correction for adherent water volume and thus provides a correct measure of bile salt binding. With this approach, we described the binding properties of Maalox, Carafate, and Questran. The bile salt binding capacities of Carafate and Maalox are limited and do not have physiological or pharmacological significance. On the other hand, we found that Questran has substantial bile salt binding capacity. At the recommended dosage, Questran could deplete the total bile salt pool. We also found that Carafate, although not used as an antacid, has buffering capacity (maintaining a pH of solution in the range 4.2-4.8) which might contribute to its effectiveness as an ulcer treatment drug.