Inhaled extended-release microparticles of heparin elicit improved pulmonary pharmacodynamics against antigen-mediated airway hyper-reactivity and inflammation.

Inhaled heparin appears to provide benefit in the management of airway hyper-reactivity and inflammation. The pharmacodynamics of inhaled heparin are however transient. Providing sustained heparin concentrations in the respiratory tract should provide for an extended duration of action.

The effect of terpenes on percutaneous absorption of tiaprofenic acid gel.

Tiaprofenic acid is a potent analgesic and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and like any other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, oral administration of the conventional dosage forms of tiaprofenic acid invariably causes gastrointestinal side effects. In an effort to eliminate these side effects while enhancing the drug concentration at the target tissue, an epidermal application of tiaprofenic acid seems to be an effective alternative drug delivery modality. This study attempts to demonstrate the influence of different terpenes (d-limonene, menthol and nerolidol) in various combinations of preparations on the percutaneous penetration of tiaprofenic acid from Carbopol(®) 940 based gel formulations (1%) in an ex vivo experiment using Franz-type diffusion cells.

Biodegradable microspherical implants containing teicoplanin for the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis.

Background: The aim of this study was to prepare poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspherical implants containing teicoplanin (TCP) using a double emulsion solvent evaporation method and to evaluate its efficacy for the local treatment of chronic osteomyelitis.

Methods: The particle size and distribution, morphological characteristics, thermal behaviour, drug content, encapsulation efficiency and in vitro release assessments of the formulations were carried out. Sterile TCP–PLGA microspheres were implanted in the proximal tibia of rats with methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) osteomyelitis.

Characterization of biodegradable chitosan microspheres containing vancomycin and treatment of experimental osteomyelitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with prepared microspheres.

The biodegradable chitosan microspheres containing vancomycin hydrochloride (VANCO) were prepared by spray drying method with different polymer:drug ratios (1:1, 2:1, 3:1 and 4:1). Thermal behaviour, particle size and distribution, morphological characteristics, drug content, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release assessments of formulations have been carried out to obtain suitable formulation which shows sustained-release effect when implanted. Sterilized VANCO loaded microspheres were implanted to proximal tibia of rats with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) osteomyelitis.

Nasal administration of heparin-loaded microspheres based on poly(lactic acid).

In this study, heparin-loaded microspheres having smooth surface and small particle size were designed in order to provide the absorption of heparin through nasal mucosa. For this purpose, microspheres at different polymer/drug ratios (1:10, 1:2.5 and 1:1) and at different concentrations of polyvinyl alcohol, emulsifying agent (1.