Enabling oral delivery of antiviral drugs: Double emulsion carriers to improve the intestinal absorption of zanamivir.

Antiviral drugs play a major role in the control of seasonal influenza epidemics and may provide prophylactic and therapeutic benefits during an eventual pandemic. Among the neuraminidase inhibitors, zanamivir has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of influenza viruses, and similarly against emerging resistant strains. Despite its high antiviral efficiency, zanamivir suffers from poor intestinal permeability, therefore administered via inhalation.

The Role of Paracellular Transport in the Intestinal Absorption and Biopharmaceutical Characterization of Minoxidil.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate mechanisms behind the intestinal permeability of minoxidil, with special emphasis on paracellular transport, and elucidate the suitability of minoxidil to be a reference drug for Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS). The permeability of minoxidil (vs. metoprolol) was evaluated in-silico, in-vitro using both the PAMPA assay and across Caco-2 cell monolayers, as well as in-vivo in rats throughout the entire intestine.