A Flow Imaging Microscopy-Based Method Using Mass-to-Volume Ratio to Derive the Porosity of PLGA Microparticles.

The release of drugs from poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles depends to a large extent on the porosity of the particles. Therefore, porosity determination of PLGA microparticles is extremely important during pharmaceutical product development. Currently, mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) is widely used despite its disadvantages, such as the need for a large amount of sample (several hundreds of milligrams) and residual toxic waste.

Micro-Flow Imaging as a quantitative tool to assess size and agglomeration of PLGA microparticles.

The purpose of this study was to explore the potential of flow imaging microscopy to measure particle size and agglomeration of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles. The particle size distribution of pharmaceutical PLGA microparticle products is routinely determined with laser diffraction. In our study, we performed a unique side-by-side comparison between MFI 5100 (flow imaging microscopy) and Mastersizer 2000 (laser diffraction) for the particle size analysis of two commercial PLGA microparticle products, i.

Determination of the Porosity of PLGA Microparticles by Tracking Their Sedimentation Velocity Using a Flow Imaging Microscope (FlowCAM).

Purpose: To investigate whether particle sedimentation velocity tracking using a flow imaging microscope (FlowCAM) can be used to determine microparticle porosity.

Methods: Two different methods were explored. In the first method the sedimentation rate of microparticles was tracked in suspending media with different densities.

A phase 0 clinical trial of novel candidate extended-release formulations of capecitabine.

Purpose: To examine the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of several candidate extended-release (ER) formulations of capecitabine in patients.

Methods: In a phase 0 clinical study, PK profiles of several oral candidate ER formulations of capecitabine were compared to the PK profile of capecitabine after administration of the commercially available immediate-release (IR) tablet. A single dose of 1000 mg IR formulation (two 500 mg tablets) was administered on day 1, and a single dose of a 1000 mg candidate ER formulation of capecitabine (two 500 mg tablets) was administered on day 2.

Development of an extended-release formulation of capecitabine making use of in vitro-in vivo correlation modelling.

An oral extended-release (ER) formulation of capecitabine was developed for twice daily dosing, theoretically providing a continuous exposure to capecitabine, thus avoiding the undesirable in-between dosing gap inherent to the dosing schedule of the marketed capecitabine immediate-release formulation (Xeloda(®)). The target 12-hour in vivo release profile was correlated to an in vitro dissolution profile using an in vitro-in vivo correlation model based on the pharmacokinetic (PK) and dissolution characteristics of Xeloda(®). Making use of the slow dissolution characteristics of amorphous capecitabine as reported previously and screening of a panel of ER excipients, an ER formulation was designed.