Tailoring functional spray-dried powder platform for efficient donepezil nose-to-brain delivery.

Shortcomings of oral donepezil administration in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease have paved the way for ongoing investigations towards more efficient and safe donepezil nose-to-brain delivery. Herein we present the development of advantageous powder platform for donepezil nose-to-brain delivery, coupling careful design of chitosan and mannitol-based carrier matrix with spray-drying technology advantages and early consideration of adequate nasal administration mode, employing QbD approach. Unprecedentedly, ultrasonic nozzle was used to atomise the drying feed in response to size-related requirements for nasal aerosol particles. The optimised spray-drying process resulted in free-flowable dry powder with a great majority of particles larger than 10 µm, ensuring localised nasal deposition upon aerosolization, as evidenced by using 3D-printed nasal cavity model. QbD approach coupling formulation, process and administration parameters enabled optimisation of drug deposition profile reaching tremendously high 65.5 % of the applied dose deposited in the olfactory region. The leading formulation exhibited favourable swelling, mucoadhesion, drug release and permeation-enhancing properties, suiting the needs for efficient brain-targeted delivery. Results of in vitro biocompatibility and physico-chemical stability studies confirmed the leading formulation potential for safe and efficient donepezil nose-to-brain delivery. The obtained results encourage extending the study to an appropriate in vivo model needed for the final proof-of-concept.

Development, characterisation and nasal deposition of melatonin-loaded pectin/hypromellose microspheres.

In this study, we present the development of spray-dried pectin/hypromellose microspheres as efficient melatonin carrier for targeted nasal delivery. Different pectin to hypromellose weight ratios in the spray-dried feed were employed (i.e. 1:0, 3:1, 1:1 and 1:3) in order to optimise microsphere physicochemical properties influencing overall powder behaviour prior, during and upon nasal delivery. All microspheres assured complete melatonin entrapment and increased dissolution rate in relation to pure melatonin powder. Among all combinations tested, combining pectin with hypromellose at 1:3 wt ratio resulted in the microspheres with the highest potential for melatonin nasal delivery as they assured highest swelling ability and most prominent mucoadhesive properties. Studies on deposition profile revealed adequate turbinate and olfactory deposition of microsphere/lactose monohydrate powder blend administered nasally using MIAT® device, complementing findings relevant for their therapeutic potential. In conclusion, developed microspheres bear the potential to ensure prolonged melatonin retention at the nasal mucosa, improved bioavailability and advanced therapeutic outcome.

Preparation of Filaments and the 3D Printing of Dronedarone HCl Tablets for Treating Cardiac Arrhythmias.

The production of 3D-printed dosage forms requires the preparation of high-quality filaments containing an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The objective of this research is to prepare filaments containing dronedarone hydrochloride, a drug used in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Filaments and 3D-printed tablets were subjected to characterization methods in order to prove and ensure the stability of the API and preservation of the drug content. Blends containing different proportions of dronedarone hydrochloride (DNR), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and polyvinyl alcohol filament (PVA) were prepared in two forms: as a powder mixture and as a solid dispersion. Thermogravimetric analysis was conducted, and the thermal properties of the components and polymer blends were tested using differential scanning calorimetry. Hot melt extrusion at 170 °C was used to prepare the filaments, and the fused deposition modeling technique was employed to print tablets. Drug release profiles were obtained by in vitro tests. The results indicate that the mixture containing 10 wt.% of polyethylene glycol prepared as a solid dispersion exhibits the most straightforward structure and shows only the slightest deviation from the target filament diameter. The compact structure of the tablet obtained from the filament provides a uniform in vitro drug release over a 24-h period. It also shows the smallest aberration from the expected DNR content in the tablet. The paper demonstrates that a blend containing 10 wt.% of PEG, 10 wt.% of DNR, and 80 wt.% of PVA filament is the most appropriate formula for extrusion and tablet printing.