Development of film dosage form containing allopurinol for prevention and treatment of oral mucositis.

Film dosage forms (FDs) containing allopurinol (AP) were prepared using a casting method with water-soluble polysaccharides, such as sodium alginate (ALG), and the release profile of AP from FDs was investigated in limited dissolution medium. Some ALGs were able to form FDs incorporating AP, and the thickness was about 50 μm. All FDs were easy to handle, though the rheological properties varied with ALG species.

Preparation of Fast Dissolving Films for Oral Dosage from Natural Polysaccharides.

Fast-dissolving films (FDFs) were prepared from natural polysaccharides, such as pullulan, without heating, controlling the pH, or adding other materials. The release profiles of model drugs from the films were investigated. In the absence of a drug, the casting method and subsequent evaporation of the solvent resulted in the polysaccharide forming a circular film.

Site-specific drug delivery to the middle-to-lower region of the small intestine reduces food-drug interactions that are responsible for low drug absorption in the fed state.

Food-drug interactions may reduce the bioavailability of drugs taken after meals (negative food effects). We designed enteric-coated tablets that start to disintegrate when they reach the middle-to-lower region of the small intestine, and examined whether they could reduce negative food effects in dogs. Tablets containing trientine as a model drug were coated with hypromellose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) with various values of succinoyl group content.

Site-specific drug delivery to the middle region of the small intestine by application of enteric coating with hypromellose acetate succinate (HPMCAS).

Enteric coatings that deliver drugs to specific regions of the small intestine were examined. Hypromellose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) with different values of succinoyl group contents was used. Decreasing the succinoyl group content resulted in an increase in the pH at which HPMCAS started to dissolve.

Effect of administration site in the gastrointestinal tract on bioavailability of poorly absorbed drugs taken after a meal.

Food-drug interactions may reduce the bioavailability of drugs taken after meals (negative food effect). In order to develop pharmaceutical technologies that overcome this problem, the effect of administration site within the gastrointestinal tract on the bioavailability of several model drugs was examined in rats. Bioavailability after oral administration to fed animals was one-fifth to one-tenth of that in the fasted animals because of interactions between drugs and large amounts of food components remaining in the stomach.