Chitosan-decorated polystyrene-b-poly(acrylic acid) polymersomes as novel carriers for topical delivery of finasteride.

In view of the fact that the oral administration of finasteride (FIN) has resulted in various undesirable systemic side effects, the topical application of polystyrene and poly(acrylic acid)-based polymersomes (underexplored system) was investigated. Undecorated PS139-b-PAA17 and PS404-b-PAA63 vesicles (C3 and C7, respectively) or vesicles decorated with chitosan samples of different molecular weight (C3/CS-oligo, C7/CS-oligo, C3/CS-37 and C7/CS-37) were prepared by the co-solvent self-assembly method and characterized by small-angle X-ray scattering,transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering techniques. In vitro release experiments and ex vivo permeation using Franz diffusion cells were carried out (through comparison with hydroethanolic finasteride solution).

Nifedipine-loaded polymeric nanocapsules: validation of a stability-indicating HPLC method to evaluate the drug entrapment efficiency and in vitro release profiles.

A simple stability-indicating analytical method was developed and validated to quantify nifedipine in polymeric nanocapsule suspensions; an in vitro drug release study was then carried out. The analysis was performed using an RP C18 column, UV-Vis detection at 262 nm, and methanol-water (70 + 30, v/v) mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min.

Physicochemical and microbiological stability studies of extemporaneous antihypertensive pediatric suspensions for hospital use.

Extemporaneous suspensions of the antihypertensive agents furosemide, spironolactone and hydrochlorothiazide for pediatric use have been prepared at University Hospital (Federal University of Santa Catarina - Brazil). The aim of this work was to investigate the physicochemical and microbiological stability of these suspensions over the estimated shelf-life period of seven days and, if necessary, to optimize the formulations by improving the chemical stability. The pediatric suspensions were prepared using drug raw material and were stored at 25 ± 2°C and 5 ± 3°C.

Development and validation of an RP-HPLC method to quantitate acyclovir in cross-linked chitosan microspheres produced by spray drying.

An accurate, simple, reproducible, and sensitive liquid chromatographic method is developed and validated to quantitate acyclovir (ACV) in cross-linked chitosan microspheres produced by spray drying. The analysis is carried out using a reversed-phase C18 column with UV-vis detection at 254 nm. The mobile phase is diluted with pure water and acetonitrile (95:5 v/v) at a flow-rate of 0.