Indirect Methods For Determination of The Protective Effects of Coating Films on The Surface of Crystals

The extents of the protective effects of coating films on the surface of crystals were determined. Three different samples were made with different quantities of coating fluid (Sepifilm LP 010 in 10% aqueous solution). Since the atomizing rate was constant, the coating time increased in parallel with the volume of coating fluid applied. The direct measurement of film thickness and smoothness is very difficult, and therefore indirect methods were used. Dimenhydrinate was chosen as model drug; this is a heat-sensitive antihistamine with a low melting point. This temperature can be reached during the tableting process. The behaviour of samples on exposure to heat was examined by differential scanning calorimetry. The water uptakes of the samples were determined with an Enslin apparatus. Plasticity was studied with an instrumented tablet machine. These indirect methods (thermal conductivity, water uptake and plasticity measurements) revealed connections between the results of the various experiments. An overlong coating time decreased the protective effect of the coating film. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of Sucrose Palmitate on the Physico-Chemical and Mucoadhesive Properties of Buccal Films

In our current research, sucrose palmitate (SP) was applied as a possible permeation enhancer for buccal use. This route of administration is a novelty as there is no literature on the use of SP in buccal mucoadhesive films. Films containing SP were prepared at different temperatures, with different concentrations of SP and different lengths of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) chains. The mechanical, structural, and in vitro mucoadhesive properties of films containing SP were investigated. Tensile strength and mucoadhesive force were measured with a device and software developed in our Institute. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and X-ray powder diffractometry (XRPD) were applied for the structure analysis of the films. Mucoadhesive work was calculated in two ways: from the measured contact angle and compared with direct mucoadhesive work, which measured mucoadhesive force, which is direct mucoadhesion work. These results correlate linearly with a correlation coefficient of 0.98. It is also novel because it is a new method for the determination of mucoadhesive work.     

Raman spectroscopic investigation of film thickness

The determination of film thickness is of prime importance in the quality assurance of coated pharmaceutical preparations. The rapid measurement of this parameter is problematic for multi-particulate pellet systems. The aim of this study was to apply the Raman spectroscopic method for the determination of the thickness of polymer coating on pellets. The change of Raman intensity was compared with measured film thickness, which was calculated from the change of the geometric parameters of the pellets, measured with an image-analyzing system. The results revealed that despite some difficulties Raman spectroscopy is a suitable method for the fast and accurate determination of film thickness on multi-particulate systems.     

Testing of the structure of macromolecular polymer films containing solid active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) particles

The aim of the present study was to investigate the structure of free films of Eudragit^® L 30D-55 containing different concentrations (0%, 1% or 5%) of diclofenac sodium by positron annihilation spectroscopy. The data revealed that the size of the free-volume holes and the lifetimes of ortho-positronium atoms decreased with increase of the API concentration. Films containing 5% of the API exhibited a different behavior during storage (17 °C, 65% relative humidity (RH)) in consequence of the uptake of water from the air.     

In Vitro Tests of FDM 3D-Printed Diclofenac Sodium-Containing Implants

One of the most promising emerging innovations in personalized medication is based on 3D printing technology. For use as authorized medications, 3D-printed products require different in vitro tests, including dissolution and biocompatibility investigations. Our objective was to manufacture implantable drug delivery systems using fused deposition modeling, and in vitro tests were performed for the assessment of these products. Polylactic acid, antibacterial polylactic acid, polyethylene terephthalate glycol, and poly(methyl methacrylate) filaments were selected, and samples with 16, 19, or 22 mm diameters and 0%, 5%, 10%, or 15% infill percentages were produced. The dissolution test was performed by a USP dissolution apparatus 1. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide dye (MTT)-based prolonged cytotoxicity test was performed on Caco-2 cells to certify the cytocompatibility properties. The implantable drug delivery systems were characterized by thermogravimetric and heatflow assay, contact angle measurement, scanning electron microscopy, microcomputed tomography, and Raman spectroscopy. Based on our results, it can be stated that the samples are considered nontoxic. The dissolution profiles are influenced by the material properties of the polymers, the diameter, and the infill percentage. Our results confirm the potential of fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing for the manufacturing of different implantable drug delivery systems in personalized medicine and may be applied during surgical interventions.     

Physicochemical testing of free films containing non‐soluble components

Eudragit® L 30D‐55 films containing diclofenac sodium in different concentrations (0%, 1%, and 5%) were studied by conventional physicochemical methods and positron annihilation spectroscopy. Diclofenac sodium was found to change the properties of the film formed significantly. Positron annihilation spectroscopy was applied to track the Eudragit–diclofenac interaction. The presence of diclofenac initially led to significant distortion of the structure of the pure Eudragit film. However, during storage (17°C, 65% relative humidity), the distorted structure relaxed because of water uptake from the air. At the end of the storage period, the free‐volume size was almost the same in all films. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surface Treatment of Dimenhydrinate Crystals

Dimenhydrinate is a heat-sensitive antihistamine with a low melting point. The heat-sensitive feature is of importance if direct compression is used. Direct measurement of the heat originating in the texture of tablets during compression is very difficult. Thermoanalytical methods were used as indirect methods to describe the changes in material properties at high temperature: differential scanning calorimetry, thermomicroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Film coating method is widely used in pharmaceutical technology. A fluidized bed apparatus was applied to coat the crystals. The coating film forming agent was hydroxy-propyl-methylcellulose (HPMC), which is a gastric-soluble polymer. Thermoanalytical measurements reveal that dimenhydrinate crystals are sensitive to heat. Film coating method does not alter the shape of the DSC curve of dimenhydrinate, but increases the melting point. The presence of a macromolecular film reduces the thermal conductivity, because it separates the particles. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Adsorption of 1-butanol from water on modified silicate surfaces

The structure and the sorption properties of partially hydrophobized silicates (dodecylammonium and dodecyldiammonium vermiculites) have been investigated in aqueous solutions of 1-butanol. The alcohol is preferentially adsorbed on the surface. The interlayer composition is calculated from adsorption and x-ray diffraction data. In air-dried state the organic cations lie flat on the interlamellar surface. In aqueous butanol solutions, the basal spacing of dodecylammonium vermiculite gradually increases with the extent of butanol adsorption because the chains increasingly point away from the surface. The basal spacing of dodecyldiammonium vermiculite is virtually independent on the interlayer composition because the expansion of the interlayer space is sterically restricted and a relatively rigid structure is formed. The enthalpy of the displacement of water by 1-butanol has been determined by flow sorption microcalorimetry. The displacement process is endothermic.     

Investigation of Ethacrynic Acid and Random-methyl-β-cyclodextrin Binary Complexes

Cyclodextrin complexation was applied to achieve better aqueous solubility of the drug and to formulate suppositories. Binary products were prepared in several mole ratios by two different methods. The dissolution profiles and in vitro membrane diffusion behaviour of the compositions were investigated. Thermoanalytical studies were performed in order to confirm inclusion complex formation. Compositions were selected for further detailed investigations and for incorporation into suppository dosage form.