The Implementation of Pharmacy Competence Teaching in Estonia.

The PHAR-QA, "Quality Assurance in European Pharmacy Education and Training", project has produced the European Pharmacy Competence Framework (EPCF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the existing pharmacy programme at the University of Tartu, using the EPCF. A qualitative assessment of the pharmacy programme by a convenience sample ( = 14) representing different pharmacy stakeholders in Estonia.

Towards improved solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs: cryogenic co-grinding of piroxicam with carrier polymers.

Amorphous solid dispersions (SDs) open up exciting opportunities in formulating poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). In the present study, novel catalytic pretreated softwood cellulose (CPSC) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were investigated as carrier polymers for preparing and stabilizing cryogenic co-ground SDs of poorly water-soluble piroxicam (PRX). CPSC was isolated from pine wood (Pinus sylvestris).

Amorphous solid dispersions of piroxicam and Soluplus(®): Qualitative and quantitative analysis of piroxicam recrystallization during storage.

The conversion of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) from amorphous to crystalline form is the primary stability issue in formulating amorphous solid dispersions (SDs). The aim of the present study was to carry out qualitative and quantitative analysis of the physical solid-state stability of the SDs of poorly water-soluble piroxicam (PRX) and polyvinyl caprolactam-polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene-glycol graft copolymer (Soluplus(®)). The SDs were prepared by a solvent evaporation method and stored for six months at 0% RH/6 °C, 0% RH/25 °C, 40% RH/25 °C and 75% RH/25 °C.

Electrospun nanofibers as a potential controlled-release solid dispersion system for poorly water-soluble drugs.

Electrospinning was introduced as a novel technique for preparing controlled-release (CR) amorphous solid dispersions (SD) and polymeric nanofibers of a poorly water-soluble drug. Piroxicam (PRX) was used as a low-dose poorly-soluble drug and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as an amorphous-state stabilising carrier polymer in nanofibers. Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XPRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used in the physical characterisation of the CR-SD nanofibers.

Soluplus graft copolymer: potential novel carrier polymer in electrospinning of nanofibrous drug delivery systems for wound therapy.

Electrospinning is an effective method in preparing polymeric nanofibrous drug delivery systems (DDSs) for topical wound healing and skin burn therapy applications. The aim of the present study was to investigate a new synthetic graft copolymer (Soluplus) as a hydrophilic carrier polymer in electrospinning of nanofibrous DDSs. Soluplus (polyvinyl caprolactam-polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer (PCL-PVAc-PEG)) was applied in the nonwoven nanomats loaded with piroxicam (PRX) as a poorly water-soluble drug.

Nanometer depth resolution in 3D topographic analysis of drug-loaded nanofibrous mats without sample preparation.

We showed that scanning white light interferometry (SWLI) can provide nanometer depth resolution in 3D topographic analysis of electrospun drug-loaded nanofibrous mats without sample preparation. The method permits rapidly investigating geometric properties (e.g.

Water-mediated solid-state transformation of a polymorphic drug during aqueous-based drug-layer coating of pellets.

During aqueous drug-layer coating, drug substance(s) are exposed to water and elevated temperatures which can lead to water-mediated process induced transformations (PITs). The effects of aqueous drug-layer coating of pellets (Cellets(®)) on the anhydrous piroxicam, PRX, were investigated in the miniaturized coating equipment and with free films. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) was used as a carrier coating polymer.

Direct compression of cellulose and lignin isolated by a new catalytic treatment.

Tablet compression of softwood cellulose and lignin prepared by a new catalytic oxidation and acid precipitation method were investigated and compared with the established pharmaceutical direct compression excipients. Catalytic pretreated softwood cellulose (CPSC) and lignin (CPSL) were isolated from pine wood (Pinus sylvestris). The compaction studies were carried out with an instrumented eccentric tablet machine.

Solid-state dependent dissolution and oral bioavailability of piroxicam in rats.

The aim of this study was to gain understanding about the effects of different solid-state forms of a poorly water-soluble piroxicam on drug dissolution and oral bioavailability in rats. Three different solid-state forms of piroxicam were studied: anhydrate I (AH), monohydrate (MH), and amorphous form in solid dispersion (SD). In addition, the effect of a new polymeric excipient Soluplus® (polyvinyl caprolactam-polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer) on oral bioavailability of piroxicam was investigated.

Solid-state properties of softwood lignin and cellulose isolated by a new acid precipitation method.

Solid-state and powder properties of softwood lignin and cellulose prepared by a new catalytic oxidation and acid precipitation method were characterized and compared with the commercial softwood and hardwood lignin and cellulose products. Catalytic pre-treated softwood lignin (CPSL) and cellulose (CPSC) were isolated from pine wood (Pinus sylvestris). CPSL with nearly micronized-scale particle size showed excellent powder flow and densification behavior due to the round shape and electrically minimum charged surface characteristics of particles.

Insight into the solubility and dissolution behavior of piroxicam anhydrate and monohydrate forms.

The aim of the present study was two-fold: (1) to investigate the effect of pH and presence of surfactant sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) on the solubility and dissolution rate of two solid-state forms of piroxicam (PRX), anhydrate (PRXAH) and monohydrate (PRXMH), and (2) to quantitatively assess the solid-phase transformation of PRXAH to PRXMH in slurry with a special interest to the impact on the solubility and dissolution behavior of the drug. X-ray powder diffractometry (XRPD), Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used for characterization of the solid-state forms. Phase transformation was monitored in slurry by means of in-line Raman spectroscopy, and the partial least squares (PLS) regression model was used for predicting the amount of PRXMH.

Polymorphic form of piroxicam influences the performance of amorphous material prepared by ball-milling.

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of the starting solid state form of piroxicam (anhydrate form I: PRXAH I vs form II: PRXAH II) on the properties of the resulting amorphous material. The second objective was to obtain further insight into the impact of critical factors like thermal stress, dissolution medium and storage conditions on the thermal behavior, solid state transformations and physical stability of amorphous materials. For analysis differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffractometry (XRPD) were used.

X-ray powder diffractometry in combination with principal component analysis--a tool for monitoring solid state changes.

In this study a combined approach of analysing structural changes and elucidating the kinetics of the phase transformations by X-ray powder diffractometry (XRPD) and Raman spectroscopy with principal component analysis (PCA) during ball-milling was investigated. The effect of thermal and mechanical stress on three crystalline forms of piroxicam (PRX) was investigated with particular interest in preparation of amorphous form. Quench cooling of a melt, and ball-milling at room and low temperature were used for amorphisation.

Self-reported competence of Estonian community pharmacists in relation to herbal products: findings from a health-system in transition.

Recent health-system reforms in Estonia have resulted in an increased emphasis on primary health care and evidence-based medicine. Community pharmacies are the primary source of herbal products, and pharmacists have an important role in ensuring the safe and effective use of herbal products. The objective of this study was to explore the self-reported competence of pharmacists and the self-reported provision of community pharmacy services in relation to herbal products.

Nano-coating of beta-galactosidase onto the surface of lactose by using an ultrasound-assisted technique.

We nano-coated powdered lactose particles with the enzyme beta-galactosidase using an ultrasound-assisted technique. Atomization of the enzyme solution did not change its activity. The amount of surface-attached beta-galactosidase was measured through its enzymatic reaction product D-galactose using a standardized method.

Thin-coating as an alternative approach to improve flow properties of ibuprofen powder.

In the present study, thin-coating as a potential method for improving flow properties of cohesive ibuprofen powder was introduced. Briefly, the technique was based on the successive deposition of ultrasound-assisted fine polymer mist onto the surface of the powdered active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), producing individual particles with a hydrophilic thin-coat. A 0.

Building quality into a coating process.

An effective approach towards optimal development strategy is to use the quality by design principle. However, this approach can first be implemented when possible risks impacting critical quality attributes are defined and interactions between those are fully understood. The objective of this study was to identify critical variables that affect the final modified release product performance using a risk management approach with supporting statistical tool.

Effective modification of particle surface properties using ultrasonic water mist.

The goal of the present study was to design a new technique to modify particle surface properties and, through that, to improve flowability of poorly flowing drug thiamine hydrochloride and pharmaceutical sugar lactose monohydrate of two different grades. The powdered particles were supplied by a vibratory feeder and exposed to an instantaneous effect of water mist generated from an ultrasound nebulizer. The processed and original powders were evaluated with respect to morphology (scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and spatial filtering technique), flow, and solid state properties.

Qualitative in situ analysis of multiple solid-state forms using spectroscopy and partial least squares discriminant modeling.

This study used in situ spectroscopy to reveal the multiple solid-state forms that appear during isothermal dehydration. Hydrate forms of piroxicam and carbamazepine (CBZ) were investigated on hot-stage at different temperatures using near-infrared (NIR) and Raman spectroscopy combined with multivariate modeling. Variable temperature X-ray powder diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and Karl Fisher titrimetry were used as reference methods.

Acoustic monitoring of a fluidized bed coating process.

The aim of the study was to investigate the potential of acoustic monitoring of a production scale fluidized bed coating process. The correlation between sensor signals and the estimated amount of film applied and percentage release, respectively, were investigated in coating potassium chloride (KCl) crystals with ethylcellulose (EC). Vibrations were measured with two different types of accelerometers.

Evaluation of microcrystalline chitosans for gastro-retentive drug delivery.

In vivo absorption studies were carried out in human volunteers to evaluate whether microcrystalline chitosan (MCCh) granules would be gastro-retentive. Furosemide, which is site-specifically absorbed from the upper gastrointestinal tract, was used as model drug. The rate of release of furosemide in vitro could be prolonged by increasing the molecular weight (M(w)) or amount of MCCh (150 to 240 kDa; 80 to 95%) in the granules, and also by addition of acidic excipients to the formulations.