Nanoparticles in the pharmaceutical industry and the use of supercritical fluid technologies for nanoparticle production.

Poor aqueous solubility of drug candidates is a major challenge for the pharmaceutical scientists involved in drug development. Particle size reduction appears as an effective and versatile option for solubility improvement. Nanonization is an attractive solution to improve the bioavailability of the poorly soluble drugs, improved therapies, in vivo imaging, in vitro diagnostics and for the production of biomaterials and active implants.

Impact of polymers on dissolution performance of an amorphous gelleable drug from surface-coated beads.

A non-ionic amorphous active API ((RR)-3((1R)-3-oxocyclopentyl)-2-[3-chloro-4-methyl sulfonyl]phenyl-N-pyrozin-2ylpropanamide) with a glass transition temperature of 60 degrees C and aqueous solubility of 0.8 mg/mL was layered on the cellulose beads by the help of an anionic (Eudragit L100) and a non-ionic (polyvinylpyrrolidone) PVP K30 polymer respectively. An "immediate" and complete release of API from the anionic (Eudragit L100), and "sustained" but incomplete release from the hygroscopic non-ionic polymer coatings were observed.

The effect of rheological properties of experimental moisturizing creams/lotions on their efficacy and perceptual attributes.

Although anecdotal evidence suggests that the rheology of creams and lotions might affect their moisturizing efficacy and perceptual qualities, to date no systematic investigation of these effects has been carried out. We prepared 12 prototype moisturizing creams that had identical overall formulae but differed in as far as they contained three different polymers (Carbopol 981, Carbopol 5984 and Permulen TR.-2) each at four concentration levels.

Phase behavior of amorphous molecular dispersions II: Role of hydrogen bonding in solid solubility and phase separation kinetics.

Purpose: To determine the factors influencing "solid solubility" and phase separation kinetics of drugs from amorphous solid dispersions.

Methods: Solid dispersions of griseofulvin-poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and indoprofen-PVP were prepared using solvent evaporation technique. Dispersions demonstrating single Tg were exposed to 40 degrees C/69% RH for 90 days.

Phase behavior of amorphous molecular dispersions I: Determination of the degree and mechanism of solid solubility.

Purpose: To understand the phase behavior and the degree and mechanism of the solid solubility in amorphous molecular dispersions by the use of thermal analysis.

Methods: Amorphous molecular dispersions of trehalose-dextran and trehalose-PVP were prepared by co-lyophilization. The mixtures were exposed to 23 degrees C, 40 degrees C, and 50 degrees C [75% relative humidity (RH)] and 23 degrees C (69% RH) storage conditions, respectively.