Nasal delivery of analgesic ketorolac tromethamine thermo- and ion-sensitive in situ hydrogels.

Ketorolac tromethamine (KT) was potent to treat moderate to moderately severe pains. However, KT solutions for nasal delivery lost quickly from the nasal route. Thermo- and ion-sensitive in-situ hydrogels (ISGs) are appropriate for nasal drug delivery because the intranasal temperature maintains ∼37 °C and nasal fluids consist of plentiful cations. In this study, a novel nasal thermo- and ion-sensitive ISG of KT was prepared with thermo-sensitive poloxamer 407 (P407) and ion-sensitive deacetylated gellan gum (DGG). The optimal formulation of the KT ISG consisted of 3% (w/v) DGG and 18% (w/v) P407 and its viscosity was up to 7.63 Pas at 37 °C. Furthermore, penetration enhancers and bacterial inhibitors were added and their fractions in the ISG were optimized based on transmucosal efficiencies and toxicity on toad pili. Sulfobutyl ether-ß-cyclodextrin of 2.5% (w/v) and chlorobutanol of 0.5% (w/v) were chosen as the penetration enhancer and the bacterial inhibitor, respectively. The Fick's diffusion and dissolution of KT could drive it continuous release from the dually sensitive ISG according to the in vitro investigation. Two methods, writhing frequencies induced by acetic acid and latency time of tails retracting from hot water, were used to evaluate the pharmacodynamics of the KT ISG on the mouse models. The writhing frequencies significantly decreased and the latency time of tail retracting was obviously prolonged (p<0.05) for the KT ISG compared to the control. The thermo- and ion-sensitive KT ISG had appropriate gelation temperature, sustained drug release, improved intranasal absorption, obvious pharmacodynamic effect, and negligible nasal ciliotoxicity. It is a promising intranasal analgesic formulation.

A study of the molecular structure and vibrational spectra of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol and 1,1,1-trichloro-2-methyl-2-propanol (chlorobutanol).

The conformational stability of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol and 1,1,1-trichloro-2-methyl-2-propanol (chlorobutanol) was investigated by the DFT-B3LYP/6-311+G**, MP2/6-311+G** and MP4(SDQ)/6-311+G** levels of theory. From the calculations chlorobutanol was predicted to exist in a non-planar gauche structure. The planar cis and trans structures of chlorobutanol were calculated to be about 3kcal/mol higher in energy than the gauche structure. From the calculations 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol was predicted to exist in a Ggg1 and Ggg conformational mixture at ambient temperature. In the low energy structures of both alcohols the non-bonded Cl⋯H(O) distance was calculated to be of about 2.6-2.7Å. The observation of a broad and very intense band at about 3400cm(-1) in the infrared spectra of the two alcohols supports the presence of strong intermolecular Cl⋯H(O) dipolar interactions in their condensed phases. The analysis of the Raman spectra of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol suggests the presence of a second high energy Ggg structure of the dichloride at room temperature. The vibrational frequencies of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol and chlorobutanol in their low energy structures were computed at the B3LYP level and tentative vibrational assignments were made for their normal modes on the basis of combined calculated and experimental data.

Interaction of antimicrobial preservatives with blow-fill-seal packs: correlating sorption with solubility parameters.

The aim of this work was to study the interaction of four commonly used ophthalmic antimicrobial preservatives [benzyl alcohol (BA), chlorbutol (CBL), benzalkonium chloride (BKC), and chlorhexidine gluconate (CG)] with Blow-Fill-Seal (BFS) packs. Effect of packaging material [low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP)], humidity (25% RH, 75% RH) and concentration (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mM BA/CBL in LDPE) was studied. BKC and CG gave negligible loss (<4%) in BFS packs over a period of 3 months. BA and CBL, however, gave marked losses in LDPE (ca. 70-90%) and PP (ca. 7-25%) packs. Humidity did not have any effect on the sorption loss of any preservative. Loss of BA switched from Case II to anomalous behavior with increasing initial concentration. A two-stage sorption behavior was inherent at all concentrations. Loss of CBL followed anomalous behavior with biphasic kinetics of loss. It was concluded that all the four preservatives were appropriate for use in PP BFS packs. However, only BKC and CG were amenable to be used in LDPE BFS packs. Lastly, an empirical expression consisting of the "solubility parameter distance" and "molar volume" of preservatives was developed to correlate the preservative loss in LDPE with the physicochemical properties of the preservatives.

Development of Calcitonin Salmon Nasal Spray: similarity of peptide formulated in chlorobutanol compared to benzalkonium chloride as preservative.

The similarity of an intranasal salmon calcitonin (sCT) employing chlorobutanol as preservative (Calcitonin Salmon Nasal Spray) was compared to the reference listed drug (RLD) employing benzalkonium chloride as preservative (Miacalcin Nasal Spray). Various orthogonal methods assessed peptide structuring, dynamics, and aggregation state. Mass spectrometry, amino acid analysis, and N-terminal sequencing all demonstrated similarity in primary structure. Near- and far-UV circular dichroism (CD) data supported similarity in secondary and tertiary sCT structure. Nuclear magnetic resonance studies further supported similarity of three-dimensional structure and molecular dynamics of the peptide. Other methods, such as sedimentation velocity and size exclusion chromatography, demonstrated similarity in peptide aggregation state. These latter methods, in addition to reversed phase chromatography, were also employed for monitoring stability under forced degradation, and at the end of recommended shelf storage and patient use conditions. In all cases and for all methodologies employed, similarity to the RLD was observed with respect to extent of aggregation and other degradation processes. Finally, ELISA and bioassay data demonstrated similarity in biological properties. These investigations comprehensively demonstrate physicochemical similarity of Calcitonin Salmon Nasal Spray and the RLD, and should prove a useful illustration to pharmaceutical scientists developing alternative and/or generic peptide or protein products.

In vitro permeation of desmopressin across rabbit nasal mucosa from liquid nasal sprays: the enhancing effect of potassium sorbate.

Nasal spray products containing desmopressin acetate (DDAVP) were tested in vitro to evaluate the effect of the contained preservatives on drug permeation across rabbit nasal mucosa. Experiments were performed using Franz-type diffusion cells with rabbit nasal mucosa as model barrier. Transport profiles obtained in comparison with a preservative-free solution evidenced that in the presence of preservatives DDAVP permeation in vitro always increased (p<0.05), although at different extents (chlorobutanol

Equimolar mixture of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol and 4-chloro-1-butanol is a stronger inducer of molten globule state: isothermal titration calorimetric and spectroscopic studies.

A mixture of 4-chloro-1-butanol and 2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol (TFE) has been used to generate Molten globule (MG) state of structurally homologous but functionally different proteins bovine alpha-lactalbumin and hen egg-white lysozyme. The thermal denaturation was done using UV-Visible spectroscopy. From UV-Visible profile, thermal transition was not observed beyond a particular concentration. There was an indication of molten globule state in case of alpha-lactalbumin from circular dichroism experiments. By intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence, acrylamide and potassium iodide quenching, 8-anilino-naphthalene sulfonic acid (ANS) binding and energy transfer studies the presence of molten globule state was confirmed. Quantitative characterization of MG state and determining the binding thermodynamics of ANS to the MG state was done using Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC). Results show that alpha-lactalbumin exists in MG state at a particular concentration but lysozyme does not show features of MG state.

Structural elucidation of disinfection by-products in treated drinking water.

Two unusual disinfection by-products have been detected periodically in the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) characterization analyses of semi-volatile organics in treated drinking water. The electron ionization (EI) mass spectra contained mono-chlorinated and mono-brominated ions at m/z 107/109 and 151/153, respectively. Library searching techniques suggested mono-halogenated butanol structures but no matches could be found. Positive ion chemical ionization (CI) spectra contained mono-chlorinated and mono-brominated ions at m/z 105/107 and 149/151, respectively. No [M + H]+ ions were initially observed. Accurate mass measurements confirmed the empirical formulae for the significant ions in the EI spectra and the mono-halogenated butanol structures. Further CI experiments with other reagent gases and instruments revealed possible molecular weights of 139 and 183 Da, respectively. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) experiments in EI and CI were used to elucidate the fragmentation schemes. The two compounds have been tentatively identified as 1-aminoxy-1-chlorobutan-2-ol and 1-aminoxy-1-bromobutan-2-ol, respectively.