Current Drug Delivery - Volume 5, Issue 4, 2008

The use of particulate polymeric carriers holds great promise for the development of effective and affordable DNA and protein subunit vaccines. Rational development of such vaccine formulations requires a detailed understanding of their physico-chemical properties, cell-free and in vitro behaviour, in addition to particle uptake and processing mechanisms to antigen presenting cells capable of stimulating safe and effectiv Read More

Medicinal cannabis, cannabis extracts, and other cannabinoids are currently in use or under clinical trial investigation for the control of nausea, emesis and wasting in patients undergoing chemotherapy, the control of neuropathic pain and arthritic pain, and the control of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. The further development of medicinal cannabinoids has been challenged with problems. These include the psychoacti Read More

This work is focused on the development of controlled drug delivery systems using different wax/fat embedded indomethacin (IM). Discrete wax/fat embedded microspherules containing indomethacin were prepared by using cetostearyl alcohol, paraffin wax and stearic acid by employing emulsification-phase separation method. These matrices have been used as barrier coatings due to their hydrophobic nature. Chemicall Read More

Novel pH-sensitive carboxymethylcellulose-(polyacrylamide-grafted-sodium alginate) interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogel beads loaded with ketoprofen were prepared using ionotropic gelation and covalent crosslinking method. Polyacrylamide-graftedsodium alginate (PAAm-g-SA) copolymer was synthesized by free radical polymerization using ammonium persulfate (APS) as free radical initiator under the nitrogen Read More

A method for developing sustained release multiple unit dosage form consisting of pellets of a proteolytic enzyme blend using extrusion spheronization as a process is demonstrated in this paper. Effect of Cellulose and Methacrylate based polymers and plasticizers on stability of the enzyme blend are determined. The effect of type & concentration of the sustained release polymer, spheronization rpm and plasticizer Read More

The present study was aimed at in vitro and in vivo evaluation of PEGylated elastic liposomal formulation for lymphatic targeting of zidovudine (AZT). PEGylated elastic liposomal formulation was prepared and characterized for characteristic in vitro, ex-vivo and in vivo parameters. The plain and PEGylated elastic liposomal formulation showed transdermal flux of 99.8±5.8 and 119.5±5.2 μg/cm2/hr, respectively across the rat Read More

Inspite of the various impediments in the bioavailability of orally delivered drugs, oral dosage forms, both solid and liquid, occupy a center stage in the therapeutic regimen of diseases. However, liquid dosage forms are more prone to low bioavailability because of their quick transit from the stomach/ duodenum. This could be a serious problem for drugs, which are absorbed from these sites of the GIT. The gastric retention of Read More

Glimepiride is a third generation oral antidiabetic sulphonylurea drug frequently prescribed to patients of type 2 diabetes. However, its oral therapy is encountered with bioavailability problems due to its poor solubility leading to irreproducible clinical response, in addition to adverse effects like dizziness and gastric disturbances. As a potential for convenient, safe and effective antidiabetic therapy, the rationale of this study was t Read More

The asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR), an endocytotic cell surface receptor expressed by hepatocytes, is triggered by triantennary binding to galactose residues of macromolecules such as asialoorosomucoid (ASOR). The capacity of this receptor to import large molecules across the cellular plasma membrane makes it an enticing target for receptor-mediated drug delivery to hepatocytes and hepatoma cells via ASGP Read More

Serrapeptase is an anti-inflammatory, proteolytic enzyme isolated from the microorganism, Serratia sp. HY-6. Very few methods are available for the quantification of serrapeptase. The activity of the enzyme is determined by an ELISA assay, colorimetric method using casein as substrate or by HPLC method. These methods are lengthy, time consuming and require a number of reagents and solvents. Therefore an attempt was Read More

Elementary osmotic pumps (EOP) are well known for delivering moderately soluble drugs at a zero order rate. A push-pull osmotic system was developed and commercialized for poorly water-soluble drugs [Procardia XL (Nifedipine), Glucotrl XL (Glipizide)]. However, the technology is complex comprising of bilayer compression and the suspension of drug formed in the core has more viscosity and has to withstand the Read More

Mucoadhesive polymers have recently gained interest among pharmaceutical scientists as a means of improving drug delivery by promoting the residence time and contact time of the dosage form with the mucous membranes. Mucoadhesion is the process whereby synthetic and natural polymers adhere to mucosal surfaces in the body. If these materials are then incorporated into pharmaceutical formulations, drug absor Read More

Cetrorelix is a GnRH antagonist of the third generation. Its manifold therapeutic potential requires the adjustment of its resorption rates and effect profiles. The method of non-covalent complexation with suitable partner molecules enables the development of customized depot formulations. Investigating new partners and synthesis methods for Cetrorelix complexes we focused on maximal biocompatibility of the complexes. C Read More

The first generation of solid lipid carrier systems in nanometer range, Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLN), was introduced as an alternative to liposomes. SLN are aqueous colloidal dispersions, the matrix of which comprises of solid biodegradable lipids. SLN are manufactured by techniques like high pressure homogenization, solvent diffusion method etc. They exhibit major advantages such as modulated release, improved bi Read More

Gastroretentive drug delivery systems (GRDDS) of Ranitidine hydrochloride (RHC) has been designed based on the osmotic technology, with the floating and swelling features in order to prolong the gastric retention time. The developed system consisted of osmotic core (containing drug, osmotic agent and hydrophilic polymers), coated with semipermeable membrane (SPM) which is then further coated with compression c Read More