Development of a Bilayer Tablet by Fused Deposition Modeling as a Sustained-Release Drug Delivery System.

Three-dimensional printing by fused deposition modeling (FDM) coupled with hot-melt extrusion (HME) is a point of convergence of research efforts directed toward the development of personalized dosage forms. In addition to the customization in terms of shapes, sizes, or delivered drug doses, the modulation of drug release profiles is crucial to ensure the superior efficacy and safety of modern 3D-printed medications compared to those of conventional ones. Our work aims to solidify the groundwork for the preparation of 3D-printed tablets that ensure the sustained release of diclofenac sodium. Specifically, we achieved the fast release of a diclofenac sodium dose to allow for the prompt onset of its pharmacological effect, further sustaining by the slow release of another dose to maintain the effect over a prolonged timeframe. In this regard, proper formulation and design strategies (a honeycomb structure for the immediate-release layer and a completely filled structure for the sustained-release layer) were applied. Secondarily, the potential of polyvinyl alcohol to function as a multifaceted polymeric matrix for both the immediate and slow-release layers was explored, with the objective of promoting the real-life applicability of the technique by downsizing the number of materials required to obtain versatile pharmaceutical products. The present study is a step forward in the translation of HME-FDM-3DP into a pharmaceutical manufacturing methodology.

Co-delivery of gemcitabine and salinomycin in PEGylated liposomes for enhanced anticancer efficacy against colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer remains one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in both developed and emerging countries. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of cells within the tumor mass harboring stem cell characteristics, considered responsible for tumor initiation, growth, relapse, and treatment failure. Lately, it has become clear that both CSCs and non-CSCs have to be eliminated for the successful eradication of cancer. Drug delivery systems have been extensively employed to enhance drug efficacy. In this study, salinomycin (SAL), a selective anti-CSC drug, and gemcitabine (GEM), a conventional anticancer drug, were co-loaded in liposomes and tested for optimal therapeutic efficacy. We employed the Design of Experiments approach to develop and optimize a liposomal delivery system for GEM and SAL. The antiproliferative effect of the liposomes was evaluated in SW-620 human colorectal cancer cells. The GEM and SAL-loaded liposomes exhibited adequate size, polydispersity, zeta potential, and drug content. The in vitro release study showed a sustained release of GEM and SAL from the liposomes over 72 h. Moreover, no sign of liposome aggregation was seen over 1 month and in a biological medium (FBS). The in vitro cytotoxic effects of the co-loaded liposomes were superior to that of single GEM either in free or liposomal form. The combination therapy using GEM and SAL co-loaded in liposomes could be a promising strategy for tackling colorectal cancer.

Milk Oral Lyophilizates with Loratadine: Screening for New Excipients for Pediatric Use.

The development of suitable formulations for the pediatric population remains a challenging field with great advances reported every year in terms of excipients and technology. When developing pediatric formulations, the acceptability of medicines represents a key element to consider. For this reason, milk can be a widely accepted excipient with taste-masking properties and supplementary advantages for drug solubility. In recent years, the orodispersible dosage forms have come onto the market as child-friendly formulations. The current study aimed to develop freeze-dried orodispersible dosage forms containing bovine milk or infant formulae as the main component. In the first stage, an exploratory study evaluated the mechanical properties of placebo milk formulations and the suitability of milk as a matrix-forming agent. As the appropriate mechanical strength to withstand manipulation was demonstrated, milk oral lyophilizates were loaded with a poorly soluble model API, loratadine. Hence, a D-optimal design was conducted to prepare milk lyophilizates with loratadine and to evaluate the effects of three factors (dose of loratadine, the lyophilizate size, and the type of milk) and their interactions. Finally, three formulations were prepared to confront the predictions of the DoE and further studied to thoroughly understand the observed effects. The experimental results showed the potential of milk in the development of oral lyophilizates loaded with different doses of suspended API.

QbD guided development of immediate release FDM-3D printed tablets with customizable API doses.

The objective of this work was to develop a fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printed immediate release (IR) tablet with flexibility in adjusting the dose of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) by scaling the size of the dosage form and appropriate drug release profile steadiness to the variation of dimensions or thickness of the deposited layers throughout the printing process. Polyvinyl alcohol-based filaments with elevated API content (50% w/w) were prepared by hot melt extrusion (HME), through systematic screening of polymeric formulations with different drug loadings, and their printability was evaluated by means of mechanical characterization. For the tablet fabrication step by 3D printing (3DP), the Quality by Design (QbD) approach was implemented by employing risk management strategies and Design of Experiments (DoE). The effects of the tablet design, tablet size and the layer height settings on the drug release and the API content were investigated. Between the two proposed original tablet architectures, the honeycomb configuration was found to be a suitable candidate for the preparation of IR dosage forms with readily customizable API doses. Also, a predictive model was obtained, which assists the optimization of variables involved in the printing phase and thereby facilitates the tailoring process.

Polyvinyl Alcohol-Based 3D Printed Tablets: Novel Insight into the Influence of Polymer Particle Size on Filament Preparation and Drug Release Performance.

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) by fused deposition modeling (FDM) has gained momentum as a promising pharmaceutical manufacturing method due to encouraging forward-looking perspectives in personalized medicine preparation. The current challenges the technology has for applicability in the fabrication of solid dosage forms include the limited range of suitable pharmaceutical grade thermoplastic materials. Hence, it is important to investigate the implications of variable properties of the polymeric carrier on the preparation steps and the final output, as versatile products could be obtained by using the same material. In this study, we highlighted the influence of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particle size on the residence time of the mixtures in the extruder during the drug-loaded filament preparation step and the consequent impact on drug release from the 3D printed dosage form. We enhanced filament printability by exploiting the plasticizing potential of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and we explored a channeled tablet model as a design strategy for dissolution facilitating purposes. Our findings disclosed a new perspective regarding material considerations for the preparation of PVA-based solid dosage forms by coupling hot melt extrusion (HME) and FDM-3DP.

Antispasmodic Effect of Essential Oils and Their Constituents: A Review.

The antispasmodic effect of drugs is used for the symptomatic treatment of cramping and discomfort affecting smooth muscles from the gastrointestinal, billiary or genitourinary tract in a variety of clinical situations.The existing synthetic antispasmodic drugs may cause a series of unpleasant side effects, and therefore the discovery of new molecules of natural origin is an important goal for the pharmaceutical industry. This review describes a series of recent studies investigating the antispasmodic effect of essential oils from 39 plant species belonging to 12 families. The pharmacological models used in the studies together with the mechanistic discussions and the chemical composition of the essential oils are also detailed. The data clearly demonstrate the antispasmodic effect of the essential oils from the aromatic plant species studied. Further research is needed in order to ascertain the therapeutic importance of these findings.

Concepts and Challenges of Biosimilars in Breast Cancer: The Emergence of Trastuzumab Biosimilars.

With the development of anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) monoclonal antibodies, trastuzumab-based therapy has become the standard of care among patients with early or advanced HER2-positive breast cancer. However, real-world data have shown that up to a half of patients do not receive trastuzumab or any other HER2-targeted agent, mainly due to high treatments costs. The prospect of a more enlarged access to trastuzumab treatment lies in the use of biosimilars, as the European and the US patent of the reference products has or will soon expire. Biosimilars are biologics highly similar in terms of quality characteristics, biological activity, safety and efficacy to already approved biologics. The biosimilarity of any European Union (EU)-approved biosimilar is guaranteed based on the comprehensive comparability exercise which includes comparative analytical, non-clinical and clinical studies. In the matter of biosimilars' interchangeability and substitution, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have adopted different positions, triggering various discussions on the potential immunogenicity and efficacy in individual patients. As more biosimilars are gaining approval, the present review aims to offer concise information for oncologists and pharmacists about the production, approval, interchangeability, and substitution policies of biosimilars used in breast cancer therapy, with a special focus on trastuzumab.

A step forward towards the development of stable freeze-dried liposomes: a quality by design approach (QbD).

This study highlights the advantages of using a Quality by Design (QbD) approach in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the freeze-drying process of pravastatin-loaded long-circulating liposomes (LCL-PRAV). Within the QbD paradigm, the present study aimed to establish the design space for the optimization of freeze-dried LCL-PRAV by means of Design of Experiment (DOE). The encapsulated solute retention (ESR), the average particle size, and zeta potential after freeze-drying, the residual moisture content, the macroscopic cake appearance, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the freeze-dried cake, and the primary drying time were defined as critical quality attributes (CQAs) for the freeze-dried final product. Further on, the influence of lyoprotectant type, freezing rate, shelf temperature during primary drying, and the presence of an annealing step on the CQAs was investigated through a 21-run D-optimal experimental design. Three-dimensional response surfaces were generated to complete the statistical analysis and for a better understanding of the influence of variables and their interactions on the responses. The developed model was then used to build the design space for the freeze-dried liposomes, within which the product quality was assured and the process variability was minimized.

A quality by design approach for the development of lyophilized liposomes with simvastatin.

Lyophilization is used to ensure an increased shelf-life of liposomes, by preserving them in dry state, more stable than the aqueous dispersions. When stored as aqueous systems, the encapsulated drugs are released and the liposomes might aggregate or fuse. The aim of this study was to develop and optimize a lyophilized formulation of simvastatin (SIM) loaded into long circulating liposomes using the Quality by Design (QbD) approach. Pharmaceutical development by QbD aims to identify characteristics that are critical for the final product quality, and to establish how the critical process parameters can be varied to consistently produce a product with the desired characteristics. In the case of lyophilized liposomes, the choice of the optimum formulation and technological parameters has to be done, in order to protect the integrity of the liposomal membrane during lyophilization. Thus, the influence of several risk factors (3 formulation factors: PEG proportion, cholesterol concentration, the cryoprotectant to phospholipids molar ratio, and 2 process parameters: the number of extrusions through 100 nm polycarbonate membranes and the freezing conditions prior lyophilization) over the critical quality attributes (CQAs) of lyophilized long circulating liposomes with simvastatin (lyo-LCL-SIM), i.e. the size, the encapsulated SIM concentration, the encapsulated SIM retention, the Tm change and the residual moisture content, was investigated within the current study using the design of experiments tool of QbD. Moreover, the design space for lyo-LCL-SIM was determined, in which the established quality requirements of the product are met, provided that the risk factors vary within the established limits.

QbD for pediatric oral lyophilisates development: risk assessment followed by screening and optimization.

OBJECTIVE: This study proposed the development of oral lyophilisates with respect to pediatric medicine development guidelines, by applying risk management strategies and DoE as an integrated QbD approach. METHODS: Product critical quality attributes were overviewed by generating Ishikawa diagrams for risk assessment purposes, considering process, formulation and methodology related parameters. Failure Mode Effect Analysis was applied to highlight critical formulation and process parameters with an increased probability of occurrence and with a high impact on the product performance. To investigate the effect of qualitative and quantitative formulation variables D-optimal designs were used for screening and optimization purposes. RESULTS: Process parameters related to suspension preparation and lyophilization were classified as significant factors, and were controlled by implementing risk mitigation strategies. Both quantitative and qualitative formulation variables introduced in the experimental design influenced the product's disintegration time, mechanical resistance and dissolution properties selected as CQAs. The optimum formulation selected through Design Space presented ultra-fast disintegration time (5 seconds), a good dissolution rate (above 90%) combined with a high mechanical resistance (above 600 g load). CONCLUSIONS: Combining FMEA and DoE allowed the science based development of a product with respect to the defined quality target profile by providing better insights on the relevant parameters throughout development process. The utility of risk management tools in pharmaceutical development was demonstrated.

Defining the design space for freeze-dried orodispersible tablets with meloxicam.

OBJECTIVE: This work focused on simultaneously investigating formulation variables and freeze-drying parameters when preparing orodispersible tablets with meloxicam (Mel), by a Quality by Design (QbD) approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Methylcellulose (MC) was selected as a matrix forming agent and mannitol (Man) as cryoprotectant, both at two concentration levels. The freezing regime was also varied between fast and shelf-ramped, to find out how it affects the final products. The tablet formulations were characterized for their disintegration time, wetting properties, mechanical properties, morphology and in vitro dissolution. Response Surface Modeling completed the statistical analysis that assessed the effects of independent variables on the responses. RESULTS: All the responses showed good fitting to the chosen model. The increase in MC content determined a positive effect on disintegration time, wetting time, mechanical strength and a negative effect on Mel dissolution. High levels of Man-determined brittle products with low-absorption capacity and fast Mel dissolution. The freezing rate had an important effect on the structure of tablets: fast freezing determined slightly thicker pore walls with smooth surfaces, while shelf-ramped freezing led to a multiple-layer structure with increased hardness. Still, shelf-ramped freezing yielded higher Mel release, due to physical changes of the active substance during the freeze-drying process. CONCLUSION: From the generated design space, an optimal formulation was obtained and the results validated the experimental design. The QbD approach was an efficient manner of understanding formulation and process parameters at the freeze-dried orodispersible tablets preparation.

Optimization of the sonication process for meloxicam nanocrystals preparation.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Meloxicam, a widely recommended AINS, presents poor water solubility, which limits its bioavailability and effect onset. The objective of this study is the investigation of the most important factors that influence the efficiency of sonication in the preparation of meloxicam nanocrystals. METHODS: The effects of crucial technological sonication parameters (amplitude, time and applied cycle) on the crystal sizes and dissolution were investigated using a central composite experimental design with three factors and three levels. Different mathematical models were applied for the evaluation of the influence of each factor on the measured responses. RESULTS: The amplitude and the time were found as the most important variables. Their increase determined significant size reduction and homogeneity due to cavitation phenomenon, while the applied cycle was less important. The crystal size greatly influenced dissolution; a strong correlation was noted between small crystals and fast dissolution after freeze-drying the nanosuspensions. The optimal formulation was obtained by sonication at 100% amplitude, for 45 minutes and cycle 1, conditions which led to 600 nm crystals with 0.521 polydispersion index. The morphological analysis revealed small, round-shaped crystals with narrow size distribution. CONCLUSIONS: The results provided the optimal sonication conditions needed to obtain meloxicam nanosuspensions with high drug dissolution capacity.

High-throughput NIR-chemometric methods for determination of drug content and pharmaceutical properties of indapamide tablets.

This paper describes the development, validation and application of NIR-chemometric methods for API content and pharmaceutical characterization (disintegration time and crushing strength) of indapamide intact tablets. Development of the method for chemical characterization was performed on samples corresponding to 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120% of indapamide content and for pharmaceutical characterization on samples prepared at nine different compression forces (covering the interval 7-45 kN). NIR spectra of prepared tablets were recorded in transmission mode, and partial least-squares followed by leave-one-out cross-validation were used to develop models for the prediction of the drug content and the pharmaceutical properties of tablets. All developed models were validated in terms of trueness, precision and accuracy. No statistical differences were found between results predicted by NIR-chemometric methods and the ones determined by reference methods. Therefore, the developed NIR-chemometric methods meet the requirements of a high-throughput method for the determination of drug content, pharmaceutical properties of indapamide tablets.

High-throughput NIR-chemometric methods for determination of drug content and pharmaceutical properties of indapamide powder blends for tabletting.

This paper describes the development and application of NIR-chemometric methods for active content assay and pharmaceutical characterization (granulometric analysis and flowability assessment) of indapamide powder blends for tabletting. Indapamide powder blends were prepared and their NIR spectra were recorded in reflectance mode. Partial least-squares (PLS) regression followed by leave-one-out cross-validation was used to develop calibration models for predicting the indapamide content and pharmaceutical properties. The method for indapamide assay was validated in terms of trueness, precision, accuracy. The near infrared based property predictions were compared with the reference method results and no significant differences were found between the reference and predicted characteristics. The developed NIR-chemometric methods can be useful tools for prediction of active content, granulometric properties and parameters related to flowability of pharmaceutical powders.