Bone targeted delivery of salmon calcitonin hydroxyapatite nanoparticles for sublingual osteoporosis therapy (SLOT).

We present salmon calcitonin (SCT) loaded Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAP-NPs) for sublingual osteoporosis therapy. Surface stabilized HAP-NPs were prepared by aqueous precipitation. SCT was loaded by ionic complexation, as confirmed by FTIR. SCT-HAP-NPs exhibited high loading efficiency (~85%), average size (~100 nm), and zeta potential (~ -25 mv). Stability of SCT was established by circular dichroism spectroscopy and HPLC analysis. Confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed deep penetration of SCT-HAP-NPs into the mucosa with >4-fold enhancement in permeability relative to SCT solution. Sublingual SCT-HAP-NPs revealed relative bioavailability of ~15% compared to the subcutaneous injection in rabbits (200 IU). Significant and comparable improvement in serum biomarkers with increase in bone mass and mechanical strength and decreased bone erosion compared to subcutaneous SCT was confirmed in ovariectomized (OVX) osteoporosis rat model. Such comparable pharmacodynamic effect at the same dose suggested targeted bone delivery and promise of sublingual SCT-HAP-NPs as a non-invasive alternative to the injection.

Design and Characterization of Metformin-Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles for Colon Cancer.

Colorectal cancer is a global concern, and its treatment is fraught with non-selective effects including adverse side effects requiring hospital visits and palliative care. A relatively safe drug formulated in a bioavailability enhancing and targeting delivery platform will be of significance. Metformin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) were designed, optimized, and characterized for particle size, zeta potential, drug entrapment, structure, crystallinity, thermal behavior, morphology, and drug release. Optimized SLN were 195.01 ± 6.03 nm in size, -17.08 ± 0.95 mV with regard to surface charge, fibrous in shape, largely amorphous, and release of metformin was controlled. The optimized size, charge, and shape suggest the solid lipid nanoparticles will migrate and accumulate in the colon tumor preventing its proliferation and subsequently leading to tumor shrinkage and cell death.

Microwave-Assisted Development of Orally Disintegrating Tablets by Direct Compression.

Orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) are challenged by the need for simple technology to ensure good mechanical strength coupled with rapid disintegration. The objective of this work was to evaluate microwave-assisted development of ODTs based on simple direct compression tableting technology. Placebo ODTs comprising directly compressible mannitol and lactose as diluents, super disintegrants, and lubricants were prepared by direct compression followed by exposure to >97% relative humidity and then microwave irradiation for 5 min at 490 W. Placebo ODTs with hardness (>5 kg/cm2) and disintegration time (<60 s) were optimized. Palatable ODTs of Lamotrigine (LMG), which exhibited rapid dissolution of LMG, were then developed. The stability of LMG to microwave irradiation (MWI) was confirmed. Solubilization was achieved by complexation with beta-cyclodextrin (ß-CD). LMG ODTs with optimal hardness and disintegration time (DT) were optimized by a 23 factorial design using Design Expert software. Taste masking using sweeteners and flavors was confirmed using a potentiometric multisensor-based electronic tongue, coupled with principal component analysis. Placebo ODTs with crospovidone as a superdisintegrant revealed a significant increase in hardness from ∼3 to ∼5 kg/cm2 and a decrease in disintegration time (<60 s) following microwave irradiation. LMG ODTs had hardness >5 kg/cm2, DT < 30s, and rapid dissolution of LMG, and good stability was optimized by DOE and the design space derived. While ß-CD complexation enabled rapid dissolution and moderate taste masking, palatability, which was achieved including flavors, was confirmed using an electronic tongue. A simple step of humidification enabled MWI-facilitated development of ODTs by direct compression presenting a practical and scalable advancement in ODT technology.