The purpose of this study was to develop pirfenidone (PF) ointment formulations for a dose finding study in the prophylactic treatment of deep partial-thickness burns in a mouse model. A preformulation study was performed to evaluate the solubility of PF in buffers and different solvents and its stability. Three different formulations containing 1, 3.5, and 6.5% w/w PF were prepared and optimized for their composition for testing in mice. Optimized formulations showed promising in vitro release profiles, in which 20–45% of PF was released in the first 7 h and 70–90% released within 48 h. The rheological properties of the ointment remained stable throughout storage at 25 ± 2°C/60% RH. Animal studies showed treatments of burn wounds during the inflammatory stage of wound healing with PF ointments at different drug concentrations had no adverse effects on reepithelization. Moreover, 6.5% PF ointment (F3) reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-12p70 and TNFα. This study suggests that hydrocarbon base ointment could be a promising dosage form for topical delivery of PF in treatment of deep partial-thickness burns.

This study explores the mechanistic aspects of in vitro release from biodegradable microspheres with the objective of understanding the effect of the unstirred water layer on polymer degradation and drug release. In vitro drug release experiments on Leuprolide PLGA microspheres were performed under “static” and “continuous” agitation conditions using the “sample and separate” method. At specified time intervals, polymer degradation, mass loss, and drug release were assessed. While molecular weight and molecular number profiles for “static” and “continuous” samples were indistinct, mass loss occurred at a faster rate in “continuous” samples than under “static” conditions. In vitro results describe a fourfold difference in drug release rates between the “continuous” and “static” samples, ascribed to the acceleration of various processes governing release, including elimination of the boundary layer. The findings were confirmed by the fourfold increase in drug release rate when “static” samples were subjected to “continuous” agitation after 11 days. A schema was proposed to describe the complex in vitro release process from biodegradable polymer-drug dosage forms. These experiments highlight the manner in which the unstirred water layer influences drug release from biodegradable microspheres and stress the importance of selecting appropriate conditions for agitation during an in vitro release study.

The purpose of this study was to examine the degradative effect of weakly basic nucleophilic drugs on a lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) polymer in a microsphere formulation. Biodegradable PLGA microspheres of two second-generation atypical antipsychotics, Risperidone and Olanzapine, were manufactured using a solvent extraction/evaporation technique. The effect of drug content, buffer pH and temperature on polymer molecular weight and degradation, were examined via a series of experiments and compared against a control (Placebo PLGA microspheres). In comparison to Placebo microspheres, significant polymer molecular weight reduction was observed upon encapsulation of varying levels of either Risperidone or Olanzapine. There was excellent correlation between the extent of molecular weight reduction during manufacture and the amount of encapsulated drug in the microspheres. Subsequent studies on polymer degradation showed: the following (a) the Placebo and Olanzapine microspheres followed pseudo first order kinetics, (b) Risperidone microspheres exhibited biphasic degradation profiles, and (c) polymer degradation was dependent on temperature, not pH. The findings of these studies show that encapsulation of weakly basic nucleophile type drugs into PLGA can accelerate the biodegradation of the PLGA and have major implications on the design of polymeric microsphere drug delivery systems.

The objective of this study was to develop long-acting injectable dosage forms of Orntide, a peptide GnRH antagonist, to provide tailored release for 6-month duration. Using a polylactide homopolymer and the solvent extraction/evaporation method, three microsphere formulations ( Formulations A, B, and C ) were prepared at various drug loadings (11.85–15.79%). The microspheres were characterized for particle size by laser diffractometry, surface morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and bulk density by tapping, as well as long-term in vitro drug release, mass loss and hydration at 37°C, and short-term in vitro drug release at elevated temperatures (51–59°C). Experiments at 37°C revealed that drug release was triphasic and occurred due to slow degradation of the polylactide polymer. Short-term in vitro release results indicated that drug release was diffusional. Application of the Higuchi equation to short-term release confirmed the temperature dependency of the diffusional rate constant. Using the rate constant and the Arrhenius equation, an Ea value of 45 kcal/mol ( Formulation A ) and approximately 25 kcal/mol ( Formulations B and C ) was obtained for diffusional release. Study results suggest that by selection of an appropriate biodegradable polymer, injectable dosing forms that release drug for 6 months or longer can be developed.

In this study, four PLGA microsphere formulations of Olanzapine were characterized on the basis of their in vitro behavior at 37°C, using a dialysis based method, with the goal of obtaining an IVIVC. In vivo profiles were determined by deconvolution (Nelson-Wagner method) and using fractional AUC. The in vitro and in vivo release profiles exhibited the same rank order of drug release. Further, in vivo profiles obtained with both approaches were nearly superimposable, suggesting that fractional AUC could be used as an alternative to the Nelson-Wagner method. A comparison of drug release profiles for the four formulations revealed that the in vitro profile lagged slightly behind in vivo release, but the results were not statistically significant (P<0.0001). Using the four formulations that exhibited different release rates, a Level A IVIVC was established using the deconvolution and fractional AUC approaches. A nearly 1 : 1 correlation (R2>0.96) between in vitro release and in vivo measurements confirmed the excellent relationship between in vitro drug release and the amount of drug absorbed in vivo . The results of this study suggest that proper selection of an in vitro method will greatly aid in establishing a Level A IVIVC for long acting injectables.

The objective of this study was to compare the in vitro behavior of four long-acting subcutaneous risperidone formulations with in vivo performance, with the intent of establishing an IVIVC. Two copolymers of PLGA (50:50 and 75:25) were used to prepare four microsphere formulations of risperidone, an atypical antipsychotic. In vitro behavior was assessed at the physiological temperature (37 °C) using the ‘modified dialysis’ technique. The in vitro release profile demonstrated rank order behavior with Formulations A and B , prepared using the 50:50 copolymer, exhibiting rapid drug release, while Formulations C and D , prepared using 75:25 PLGA, released drug in a slower manner. In vivo profiles were obtained by two approaches, i.e., deconvolution using the Nelson–Wagner equation (the FDA recommended approach) and using fractional AUC. With both in vivo approaches, the 50:50 PLGA preparations released drug faster than the 75:25 PLGA microspheres, exhibiting the same rank order observed in vitro. Additionally, profiles for the four formulations obtained using the deconvolution approach were nearly superimposable with fractional AUC, implying that the latter procedure could be used as a substitute for the Nelson–Wagner method. A comparison of drug release profiles for the four formulations revealed that in three of the four formulations, in vivo release was slightly faster than that in vitro, but the results were not statistically significant ( P > 0.0001). An excellent linear correlation ( R 2 values between 0.97 and 0.99) was obtained when % in vitro release for each formulation was compared with its corresponding in vivo release profile, obtained by using fraction absorbed (Nelson–Wagner method) or fractional AUC. In summary, using the four formulations that exhibited different release rates, a Level A IVIVC was established using the FDA-recommended deconvolution method and fractional AUC approach. The excellent relationship between in vitro drug release and the amount of drug absorbed in vivo in this study was corroborated by the nearly 1:1 correlation ( R 2 greater than 0.97) between in vitro release and in vivo performance. Thus, the results of the current study suggest that proper selection of an in vitro method to assess drug release from long-acting injectables will aid in obtaining a Level A IVIVC.

The aim of this study was to design and evaluate biodegradable PLGA microspheres for sustained delivery of Risperidone, with an eventual goal of avoiding combination therapy for the treatment of schizophrenia. Two PLGA copolymers (50 : 50 and 75 : 25) were used to prepare four microsphere formulations of Risperidone. The microspheres were characterized by several in vitro techniques. In vivo studies in male Sprague-Dawley rats at 20 and 40 mg/kg doses revealed that all formulations exhibited an initial burst followed by sustained release of the active moiety. Additionally, formulations prepared with 50 : 50 PLGA had a shorter duration of action and lower cumulative AUC levels than the 75 : 25 PLGA microspheres. A simulation of multiple dosing at weekly or 15-day regimen revealed pulsatile behavior for all formulations with steady state being achieved by the second dose. Overall, the clinical use of Formulations A, B, C, or D will eliminate the need for combination oral therapy and reduce time to achieve steady state, with a smaller washout period upon cessation of therapy. Results of this study prove the suitability of using PLGA copolymers of varying composition and molecular weight to develop sustained release formulations that can tailor in vivo behavior and enhance pharmacological effectiveness of the drug.

Accelerated in vitro release testing methodology has been developed as an indicator of product performance to be used as a discriminatory quality control (QC) technique for the release of clinical and commercial batches of biodegradable microspheres. While product performance of biodegradable microspheres can be verified by in vivo and/or in vitro experiments, such evaluation can be particularly challenging because of slow polymer degradation, resulting in extended study times, labor, and expense. Three batches of Leuprolide poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres having varying morphology (process variants having different particle size and specific surface area) were manufactured by the solvent extraction/evaporation technique. Tests involving in vitro release, polymer degradation and hydration of the microspheres were performed on the three batches at 55°C. In vitro peptide release at 55°C was analyzed using a previously derived modification of the Weibull function termed the modified Weibull equation (MWE). Experimental observations and data analysis confirm excellent reproducibility studies within and between batches of the microsphere formulations demonstrating the predictability of the accelerated experiments at 55°C. The accelerated test method was also successfully able to distinguish the in vitro product performance between the three batches having varying morphology (process variants), indicating that it is a suitable QC tool to discriminate product or process variants in clinical or commercial batches of microspheres. Additionally, data analysis utilized the MWE to further quantify the differences obtained from the accelerated in vitro product performance test between process variants, thereby enhancing the discriminatory power of the accelerated methodology at 55°C.

The objective of this study was to assess the physicochemical effects of hydrating a hydrophobic end-capped poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) polymer in the liquid and vapor state. PLGA RG503 polymer was incubated at 37°C in 0.5% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution and at 90% RH. Samples were withdrawn at predetermined intervals and changes to polymer properties like glass transition temperature (Tg), moisture uptake, molecular weight change, and % acid number were determined using differential scanning calorimetry, Karl Fisher titrimetry, gel permeation chromatography, and acid base titrimetry, respectively. Study results showed that Tgwas depressed instantaneously upon hydration, indicating that bulk water acted as a plasticizer of hydrophobic end-capped PLGA. Tgvalues decreased to levels below the incubation temperature when hydrated in 0.5% PVA solution but not in 90% RH. The drop in Tgexhibited a linear relationship (R2>0.99) to the amount of water uptake by the polymer; higher moisture uptake was noted with liquid water. Removal of moisture from the polymer matrix resulted in recovery of Tg, only up to a period of 14 days. Presence of water in liquid or vapor form caused a reduction in molecular weight of the polymer and a corresponding increase in % acid number over the duration of the study.

The aim of this study was to prepare injectable depot formulations of Olanzapine using four poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) polymers of varying molecular weight and copolymer composition, and evaluate in vivo performance in rats. In vivo release profiles from the formulations were governed chiefly by polymer molecular weight and to a lesser extent, copolymer composition. Formulations A and B, manufactured using low molecular weight PLGA and administered at 10 mg/kg dose, released drug within 15 days. Formulation C, prepared from intermediate molecular weight PLGA and administered at 20 mg/kg dose, released drug in 30 days, while Formulation D, manufactured using a high molecular weight polymer and administered at 20 mg/kg dose, released drug in 45 days. A simulation of multiple dosing at 7- and 10-day intervals for Formulations A and B revealed that steady state was achieved within 7- 21 days and 10-30 days, respectively. Similarly, simulations at 15-day intervals for Formulations C and D indicated that steady state levels were reached during days 15-45. Overall, steady state levels for 7-, 10-, or 15-day dosing ranged between 45 and 65 ng/mL for all the formulations, implying that Olanzapine PLGA microspheres can be tailored to treat patients with varying clinical needs.

The purpose of this study was to develop a parenteral delivery system of Risperidone that would provide initial and extended drug release and thereby avoid the need for co-administration of oral tablets. Key formulation parameters utilized to achieve desired therapeutic levels in vivo were particle size and drug loading. Three poly (d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microsphere formulations (Formulations A, B, and C) that encapsulated Risperidone were prepared by varying particle size (19–49μm) and drug loading parameters (31–37%) but with a uniform bulk density (0.66–0.69)g/cc and internal porosity, utilizing the solvent extraction/evaporation method. The microspheres were characterized for drug content by HPLC, particle size by laser diffractometry, surface morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and in vivo drug release. In vivo studies were performed in male Sprague-Dawley rats, and levels of the active moiety (Risperidone and its metabolite, 9-hydroxyrisperidone) were assessed. In vivo release profiles from the three microsphere formulations were dependent on particle size and drug loading. The smaller sized microspheres (Formulation A) exhibited a large initial burst and a shorter duration of action, while the larger particles exhibited a smaller initial burst (Formulations B and C) but released drug for a much longer period in vivo. Extended duration of drug release was ascribed to higher drug content in the microspheres. A biweekly simulation of multiple dosing revealed that Formulation C, the selected formulation, with a high load and large particle size would provide adequate initial and maintenance levels of the active moiety (Risperidone and its metabolite, 9-hydroxyrisperidone). A comparison of biweekly dosing in vivo of Formulation C with the marketed product showed that at steady state, though average concentrations for both preparations were similar, the time taken to achieve steady state was much faster for Formulation C. The delay in attaining steady state with Risperdal Consta® was attributed to the 3week latency in drug release from the microspheres and was in accordance with previous studies indicating a good corroboration with clinical findings. Calculated cumulative AUC (area under the curve) levels for Formulation C were similar to the Risperdal Consta®, though there were marked differences in AUC levels at the early time points. Comparison of Risperidal Consta® and Formulation C by multiple dosing in vivo experiments revealed that the marketed preparation demonstrated a substantial delay in providing an initial loading dose, continuous circulating levels, and attainment of steady state; all of which were observed rapidly with Formulation C. Findings from the current study strongly suggest that a microsphere dosage form of Risperidone can be formulated with an optimum particle size and drug loading to provide an initial bolus followed by maintenance levels, thereby eliminating combination therapy and improving patient compliance.

The purpose of this research was to develop a topical microsphere delivery system in a thermosensitive 20% poloxamer 407 gel (Pluronic F127) to control release of KSL-W, a cationic antimicrobial decapeptide, for a period of 4–7 days for potential application in combat related injuries. KSL-W loaded microsphere formulations were prepared by a solvent extraction-evaporation method (water-oil-water), with poly (D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) (50 : 50, low-weight, and hydrophilic end) as the polymeric system. After optimization of the process, three formulations (A, B, and C) were prepared with different organic to water ratio of the primary emulsion while maintaining other components and manufacturing parameters constant. Formulations were characterized for surface morphology, porous nature, drug loading, in vitro drug release, and antimicrobial activity. Microspheres containing 20% peptide with porous surfaces and internal structure were prepared in satisfactory yields and in sizes varying from 25 to 50 μ m. Gels of 20% Pluronic F127, which were liquid at or below 24.6°C and formed transparent films at body temperature, were used as carriers for the microspheres. Rheological studies showed a gelation temperature of 24.6°C for the 20% Pluronic F127 gel alone. Gelation temperature and viscosity of formulations A, B, and C as a function of temperature were very close to those of the carrier. A Franz diffusion cell system was used to study the release of peptide from the microspheres suspended in both, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and a 20% Pluronic F127 gel. In vitro release of greater than 50% peptide was found in all formulations in both PBS and the gel, and in one formulation there was a release of 75% in both PBS and the gel. Fractions collected from the release process were also tested for bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis using the broth microdilution method and found to provide effective antimicrobial activity to warrant consideration and testing in animal wound models for treating combat-related injuries.

The influence of a tertiary amine, namely risperidone (pKa = 7.9) on the degradation of poly(d, l lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres was elucidated. Risperidone and blank microspheres were fabricated at two lactide/glycolide ratios, 65:35 and 85:15. The microspheres were characterized for drug loading by high-performance liquid chromatography, particle size by laser diffractometry, and surface morphology by scanning electron microscopy. Polymer degradation studies were carried out with drug-loaded microspheres and blank microspheres in presence of free risperidone in 0.02 M PBS containing 0.02% Tween®80 at 37°C. Molecular weight was monitored by gel permeation chromatography. Risperidone and blank microspheres had similar size distribution and were spherical with a relatively nonporous smooth surface. The presence of risperidone within the microspheres enhanced the hydrolytic degradation in both polymeric matrices with faster degradation occurring in 65:35 PLGA. The molecular weight decreased according to pseudo-first-order kinetics for all the formulations. During the degradation study, the surface morphology of drug-loaded microspheres was affected by the presence of risperidone and resulted in shriveled microspheres in which there appeared to be an intrabatch variation with the larger microspheres being less shriveled than the smaller ones. When blank microspheres were incubated in free risperidone solutions, a concentration-dependent effect on the development of surface porosity could be observed. Risperidone accelerates the hydrolytic degradation of PLGA, presumably within the microenvironment of the drug-loaded particles, and this phenomenon must be taken into consideration in designing PLGA dosage forms of tertiary amine drugs.

The technical advances in microscopy imaging techniques have been applied to assess the fate of drugs for researching respiratory drug delivery in ex vivo and in vivo experiments. Recent developments in optical imaging (confocal microscopy, multi-photon microscopy, fluorescence imaging (FLI) and bioluminescence imaging (BLI)), and in non-optical imaging (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computing tomography (CT), positron-emission tomography (PET) and single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT)) are presented with their derivative medical devices. Novel microscopy have been utilized to address many biological questions in basic research and are becoming powerful clinical tools for non-invasive objective diagnosis, guided treatment, and monitoring therapies. The goal of this paper is to present recent advances in microscopy imaging techniques and to discuss their novel applications in respiratory drug delivery imaging.

Because of the importance of in vitro release tests in establishing batch-to-batch reproducibility and in vitro-in vivo correlation, this study investigated the influence of agitation regimen on the in vitro release behavior of leuprolide from poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid microparticles. Leuprolide-loaded microspheres were prepared using Resomer(®) RG502H and RG503H as polymers. Leuprolide in vitro release was performed in phosphate buffer solution under continuous or once-a-week agitation. At predetermined intervals, leuprolide release, polymer mass loss, and degree of hydration were investigated. Leuprolide release and polymer mass loss were higher under continuous agitation with respect to that under intermittent agitation. Using a modified version of Koizumi equation, it was possible to fit leuprolide release profiles. Similarity factor comparison showed a high level of similarity between experimental and modeled data in the case of once-a-week agitation regimen. This work highlights the importance of the in vitro release conditions on peptide release behavior from polyester microparticles.

Nanomedicine, as a convergence of nanoscience with molecular pharmaceutics and medicinal science, is currently one of the fastest growing aspects of nanotechnology and will be for the foreseeable future. It is essential for physiological understanding of living targets based on biological science and for developing multifunctional nanomaterials as drug delivery carriers with novel nanotechnology. Nanomedicines can be designed for solubilization of lipophilic drugs that are poorly water-soluble, thereby improving drug absorption in the body, and for drug-targeting at the cellular and molecular level, which offers enhanced therapeutic effects and decreased side effects. The approaches that have progressed rapidly in nanomedicine and drug delivery are the lipid-based nanoparticulate drug delivery systems, such as Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs), Nanostructure Lipid Carriers (NLCs), and liposomal drug delivery carriers. SLN, NLC, and liposomal carrier systems are attractive carriers for nanomedicines and drug delivery. SLNs themselves represent a solid technology whereas NLCs are comprised of liquid lipid in a solid matrix. Liposomal drug delivery carriers are bio-membrane colloidal dispersion systems in an aqueous bulk phase. Proliposomes are solid-state formulation of dry, free-flowing particles, which have the ability to form liposomal colloidal dispersions following hydration. Despite the fact that the use of lipid nanoparticulate drug delivery for nanomedicine is very promising and a highly attractive application platform, further basic research needs to be done in this exciting area.