Acta pharmaceutica Nordica最新文献

The interactions of fenbufen (FB) with alpha-, beta-, gamma-cyclodextrins (CyDs) were studied in aqueous solution and in solid state. beta-CyD formed water soluble complex with FB in the molar ratio of 1:2 (guest:host). The solid complex of FB with alpha-CyD was obtained in the molar ratio of 1:2 (guest:host), while the same with gamma-CyD was obtained as 1:1 ratio. The dissolution rate and bioavailability of FB were significantly increased by the formation of inclusion complexes (alpha greater than gamma-CyD complex). CyDs had no effect on the metabolic time of FB forming two active metabolites, and the bioavailability of metabolites was also increased by complexation of FB with CyDs. The bitter taste of FB powder was reduced by alpha-CyD complexation. The enhanced bioavailability and reduced bitterness of FB by CyD complexations suggested the possibility of applying FB in smaller doses with fewer side-effects.

Various N-substituted 3- or 4-(aminomethyl)benzoate 21-esters of hydrocortisone, prednisolone and methylprednisolone were synthesized and evaluated as water-soluble prodrug forms, with the aim of developing improved preparations for parenteral or ophthalmic administration. All esters were readily hydrolyzed enzymatically by human plasma. The half lives of hydrolysis in 80% plasma ranged from 8 min to 342 min, the rate being dependent on the structure of the amino group and its position relative to the ester moiety, as well as on the structure of the steroid. The esters showed maximal stability in aqueous solution at pH 3-4. From temperature-accelerated studies of the 3-[(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)methyl)]benzoate ester of hydrocortisone, the shelf life of an aqueous solution (pH 4.0) of this ester was predicted to be 6 years at 25 degrees C. This estimated shelf life is not reduced by precipitation of the slightly soluble parent drug since the ester was shown to be capable of solubilizing hydrocortisone, possibly by self-micelization.

An in vitro permeation cell has been designed and validated for use in monitoring the transmembrane permeation of betamethasone 17-valerate. The design utilizes common laboratory equipment and incorporates as many beneficial features as possible from other designs. The importance of fully validating the hydrodynamic performance of the cell prior to experimentation is stressed. The cell was validated by monitoring the diffusion of betamethasone 17-valerate in isopropyl myristate solution into purified isopropyl myristate receptor phase at different temperatures, different agitation rates and through different synthetic and biological membranes. The results of the hydrodynamic validation agree with data from other researchers and show that the permeation cell is adequately sensitive to these experimental parameters. The results of the membrane evaluation allow appropriate selection of the barrier material for representative transdermal experiments to be conducted. While human and porcine stratum corneum/epidermis are similar in diffusive properties, hairless mouse skin appears to be the most convenient animal membrane for these studies. Although silicone and cellulose membranes appear to be useful in this application, porous filter membranes and egg-shell membranes are insufficiently discriminatory to betamethasone 17-valerate diffusion to provide useful in vitro permeation data.

Endo-dextranase-mediated depolymerization of dextran and dextran derivatives under various experimental conditions in vitro was determined. By a simultaneous determination of Mn and MW of dextrans treated with the enzyme in aqueous buffer, an initial increase of the polydispersity of the polysaccharide sample was observed, indicating that dextranase cleaved the dextran molecules into chains which differed significantly in length. A pH optimum of 5 for the enzyme action was found. However, in the pH range 5-8, which prevails in the colon, the initial depolymerization rates differed by a factor of less than 2. Dextranase treatment of a dextran sample resulted in a constant increase of the concentration of terminal reducing glucose residues per time unit suggesting, that the initial depolymerization reaction followed zero-order kinetics. For degrees of substitution below 12 the efficacy of dextranase fragmentation of dextran conjugates decreased almost linearly with increasing DS. The chemical nature of the attached drug did not significantly affect the depolymerization rates. Maximally depolymerized dextran derivatives were obtained by the combined action of dextranase and various alpha-glucosidases. Treatment of such solutions with: a) model esterases b) 80% plasma and c) 20% liver homogenate did not give rise to an acceleration of the initial drug regeneration, as compared to identical experiments carried out in pure buffer solution (pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C).