Fabrication of delayed release hard capsule shells from zein/methacrylic acid copolymer blends.

Hard capsule shells with an inherent delayed release action are useful for oral administration of active ingredients, which are acid-labile and/or enzymatically degradable in the gastric environment, without the need of film coating. The objective of this study was to fabricate delayed release hard capsule shells by the dip coating method. The film coating formulations comprised blends of zein and methacrylic acid copolymer (Eudragit® L100-55), with and without the addition of the plasticizer, polyethylene glycol 1000.

Miscibility characterization of zein/methacrylic acid copolymer composite films and plasticization effects.

Composite films have gained interest for producing films with optimal properties, without the need of chemical modification. Miscibility of components in the film is important for attaining reproducible and consistent film properties. This study used several techniques, i.

Solid-State Characterization and Interconversion of Recrystallized Amodiaquine Dihydrochloride in Aliphatic Monohydric Alcohols.

Amodiaquine dihydrochloride monohydrate (AQ-DM) was obtained by recrystallizing amodiaquine dihydrochloride dihydrate (AQ-DD) in methanol, ethanol, and n-propanol. Solid-state characterization of AQ-DD and AQ-DM was performed using X-ray powder diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry. All recrystallized samples were identified as AQ-DM.

An investigation of nifedipine miscibility in solid dispersions using Raman spectroscopy.

Purpose: Raman spectroscopy is potentially an extremely useful tool for the understanding of drug-polymer interactions in solid dispersions. This is examined and demonstrated for the case of solid dispersions of nifedipine in a polymeric substrate.

Methods: Solid dispersions consisting of nifedipine and polyvinyl caprolactam--polyvinyl acetate--polyethylene glycol graft copolymer (Soluplus®) were prepared by freeze drying, melting and solvent evaporation at drug loadings of 10, 30, 50, 70 and 90% w/w.

Preparation and in vivo absorption evaluation of spray dried powders containing salmon calcitonin loaded chitosan nanoparticles for pulmonary delivery.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to prepare inhalable co-spray dried powders of salmon calcitonin loaded chitosan nanoparticles (sCT-CS-NPs) with mannitol and investigate pulmonary absorption in rats.

Methods: The sCT-CS-NPs were prepared by the ionic gelation method using sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) as a cross-linking polyion. Inhalable dry powders were obtained by co-spray drying aqueous dispersion of sCT-CS-NPs and mannitol.

The preparation by extrusion/spheronization and the properties of pellets containing drugs, microcrystalline cellulose and glyceryl monostearate.

Pellets have been prepared by extrusion and spheronization containing microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and four model drugs with decreasing order of solubility, paracetamol (P), diclofenac sodium (D), ibuprofen (IB) and indomethacin (IN) at a 10% level with and without the addition of a range of levels of glyceryl monostearate (GMS). The drugs differed in their response to extrusion in that all formulations containing the drug D had a 'steady state' extrusion profile whereas the other three drugs exhibited 'forced flow' indicating the possibility of water migration during the process of ram extrusion. The presence of GMS did not influence this effect.

The influence of chitosan and sodium alginate and formulation variables on the formation and drug release from pellets prepared by extrusion/spheronisation.

The influence of the incorporation of two oppositely charged hydrophilic natural polymers, chitosan and sodium alginate, alone and in combination, on the ability of formulations containing a model drug (paracetamol) to form spherical pellets by the process of extrusion/spheronisation and the properties of the pellets, has been undertaken. A statistically experimental design was employed to allow the major factors which determined the properties of the pellets, to be identified. A standardised procedure was used to prepare the pellets with a ram producing the extrudate for spheronisation.