Polymeric microneedle-mediated sustained release systems: Design strategies and promising applications for drug delivery

Parenteral sustained release drug formulations, acting as preferable platforms for longterm exposure therapy, have been wildly used in clinical practice. However, most of these delivery systems must be given by hypodermic injection. Therefore, issues including needle-phobic, needle-stick injuries and inappropriate reuse of needles would hamper the further applications of these delivery platforms. Microneedles (MNs) as a potential alternative system for hypodermic needles can benefit from minimally invasive and self-administration. Recently, polymeric microneedle-mediated sustained release systems (MN@SRS) have opened up a new way for treatment of many diseases. Here, we reviewed the recent researches in MN@SRS for transdermal delivery, and summed up its typical design strategies and applications in various diseases therapy, particularly focusing on the applications in contraception, infection, cancer, diabetes, and subcutaneous disease. An overview of the present clinical translation difficulties and future outlook of MN@SRS was also provided.

Construction and properties of venlafaxine hydrochloride sustained release system based on hollow mesoporous silica microspheres

The aim of this work is to develop a venlafaxine hydrochloride sustained release system based on hollow mesoporous silica microspheres(HMSMs).HMSMs were innovatively prepared with tetraethyl silicate(TEOS)as the precursor and volatile n-heptane as a soft template.The obtained HMSMs show a well-defined hollow structure with an average size of 967 nm and pore volume of 0.85 cm^(3)/g,implying it is a potential drug carrier.Subsequently,venlafaxine hydrochloride(VF)was absorbed in the HMSMs with a content of 37.67% or so.The sustained release effect is further measured by the dissolution in-strument at 37℃ and 50 rpm in ultrapure water.The results showed that the HMSMs/VF system shows good sustained release properties compared with sustained release tablets with hydroxypropyl meth-ylcellulose as the main component.This HMSMs sustained release system appears to be a promising candidate for a sustained drug release.

Preparation of multicore millimeter-sized spherical alginate capsules to specifically and sustainedly release fish oil

Specific and sustained release of nutrients from capsules to the gastrointestinal tract has attracted many attentions in the field of food and drug delivery.In this work,we reported a monoaxial dispersion electrospraying-ionotropic gelation technique to prepare multicore millimeter-sized spherical capsules for specific and sustained release of fish oil.The spherical capsules had diameters from 2.05 mm to 0.35 mm with the increased applied voltages.The capsules consisted of uniform(at applied voltages of≤10 k V)or nonuniform(at applied voltages of>10 k V)multicores.The obtained capsules had reasonable loading ratios(9.7%-6.3%)due to the multicore structure.In addition,the obtained capsules had specific and sustained release behaviors of fish oil into the small intestinal phase of in vitro gastrointestinal tract and small intestinal tract models.The simple monoaxial dispersion electrospraying-ionotropic gelatin technique does not involve complicated preparation formulations and polymer modification,which makes the technique has a potential application prospect for the fish oil preparations and the encapsulation of functional active substances in the field of food and drug industries.

Study on Sustained-Release Pesticides Blended with Fosthiazate-Stearic Acid/Expanded Perlite

The low utilization rate of pesticides makes the migration of pesticides in water and soil,which brings great harm to the ecosystem.The development of pesticide carriers with good drug loading capacity and release control abil-ity is an effective method to realize effective utilization of pesticides and reduce pesticide losses.In this work,fosthiazate-stearic acid/expanded perlite sustained-release particles were successfully prepared by vacuum impregnation using expanded perlite(EP)as carrier,fosthiazate(FOS)as model pesticide and stearic acid(SA)as hydrophobic matrix.The structure and morphology of the samples were studied by BET,FT-IR,TGA,XRD,DSC and SEM.The effects of different mass ratios of FOS to SA on loading capacity and release rate at 24 h were investigated.The sustained release behavior of FOS-SA/EP at different temperatures and pH values was investigated by static dialysis bag method.The results showed that FOS and SA were adsorbed in EP pores by physical interaction.With the mass ratios of FOS to SA decreasing from 7:3 to 3:7,the 24 h release rate of FOS-SA/EP decreased from 18.77%to 8.05%,and the drug loading decreased from 461.32 to 130.99 mg/g.FOS-SA/EP showed obvious temperature response at 25℃,30℃ and 35℃,the cumulative release rate(CRR)of 200 h were 33.38%,41.50%and 51.17%,respectively.When pH=5,the CRR of FOS was higher than that of pH=7,and the CRR of FOS for 200 h were 49.01%and 30.12%,respectively.At different temperatures and pH=5,the release mechanism of FOS-SA/EP belongs to the Fickian diffusion mechanism;When pH=7,the diffusion mechanism is dominant,and the dissolution mechanism is complementary.

Coating Process of Paeonol Sustained Release Pills

[Objectives] To study the coating process of paeonol sustained release pills by extrusion-spheronization method taking ethyl cellulose as the coating material. [Methods] Paeonol pills were made by Auari AW-95 Full Automatic Pill Making Machine. Coating of paeonol sustained release pills was prepared by Auari Mini Pill Polishing Machine. The prescription and process factors of paeonol sustained release pills coating were investigated by single factor experiment and orthogonal experiment. The release of paeonol sustained release pills was determined according to the cumulative release curve of paeonol. [Results] The prepared paeonol sustained release pills released slowly within 24 h, and the release rate reached 80% in 12 h. [Conclusions] The prepared paeonol sustained release pills basically meet the 24 h sustained release standard, and can be further developed and applied.

Novel Gelatin-Adriamycin Sustained Drug Release System for Intravesical Therapy of Bladder Cancer

To reduce recurrence in the patients with bladder cancer after tumor removal through open surgery or transurethral resection, a form of gelatin adriamycin sustained drug release system was developed and its release kinetics both in vitro and in vivo , its efficacy in inhibiting BIU 87 bladder tumor cell growth in vitro and its safety in vivo were studied. The results showed that this system controlled adriamycin release over a period of 21 days in vitro and significantly inhibited BIU 87 cell growth. When this system was injected into rabbit bladder, it sustained adriamycin release for 12 days and the released drug could diffuse 1 cm around the injection point. No major complications were observed except minor acute nonspecific cystitis that could be tolerated well by the animals. This study suggests the possibility of applying this system locally in treating bladder cancer..

Sustained-release drug delivery systems for the treatment of glaucoma

Glaucoma,a leading cause of irreversible blindness,affects more than 64 million people worldwide and is expected to grow in number due to the aging global population and enhanced methods of detection.Although topical therapies are often effective when used as prescribed,the drawbacks of current medical management methods include poor patient adherence,local and systemic side effects,and in some cases,limited therapeutic efficacy.Novel ocular drug delivery platforms promise to deliver differentiated drug formulations with targeted delivery leveraging patient-independent administration.Several platforms are in various stages of development with promising pre-clinical and clinical data.The Bimatoprost Sustained Release (SR) intracameral implant was approved in the United States in March of 2020,making it the first long-term injectable therapy available for the treatment of glaucoma.This review aims to provide an update on novel sustained release drug delivery systems that are available today as well as those that might be commercialized in coming years.

Sustained release of exosomes loaded into polydopamine-modified chitin conduits promotes peripheral nerve regeneration in rats

Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells are of therapeutic interest because of their important role in intracellular communication and biological regulation.On the basis of previously studied nerve conduits,we designed a polydopamine-modified chitin conduit loaded with mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes that release the exosomes in a sustained and stable manner.In vitro experiments revealed that rat mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes enhanced Schwann cell proliferation and secretion of neurotrophic and growth factors,increased the expression of Jun and Sox2 genes,decreased the expression of Mbp and Krox20 genes in Schwann cells,and reprogrammed Schwann cells to a repair phenotype.Furthermore,mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes promoted neurite growth of dorsal root ganglia.The polydopamine-modified chitin conduits loaded with mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes were used to bridge 2 mm rat sciatic nerve defects.Sustained release of exosomes greatly accelerated nerve healing and improved nerve function.These findings confirm that sustained release of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes loaded into polydopamine-modified chitin conduits promotes the functional recovery of injured peripheral nerves.

Development of composite PLGA microspheres containing exenatide-encapsulated lecithin nanoparticles for sustained drug release

This study aimed to prepare poly(D, L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres(PLGA-Ms)by a modified solid-in-oil-in-water(S/O/W) multi-emulsion technique in order to achieve sustained release with reduced initial burst and maintain efficient drug concentration for a prolonged period of time. Composite PLGA microspheres containing exenatideencapsulated lecithin nanoparticles(Ex-NPs-PLGA-Ms) were obtained by initial fabrication of exenatide-loaded lecithin nanoparticles(Ex-NPs) via the alcohol injection method,followed by encapsulation of Ex-NPs into PLGA microspheres. Compared to Ms prepared by the conventional water-in-oil-in-water(W/O/W) technique(Ex-PLGA-Ms), Ex-NPs-PLGAMs showed a more uniform particle size distribution, reduced initial burst release, and sustained release for over 60 d in vitro. Cytotoxicity studies showed that Ms prepared by both techniques had superior biocompatibility without causing any detectable cytotoxicity.In pharmacokinetic studies, the effective drug concentration was maintained for over 30 d following a single subcutaneous injection of two types of Ms formulation in rats, potentially prolonging the therapeutic action of Ex. In addition, administration of Ex-NPs-PLGA-Ms resulted in a more smooth plasma concentration-time profile with a higher area under the curve(AUC) compared to that of Ex-PLGA-Ms. Overall, Ex-NPs-PLGA-Ms prepared by the novel S/O/W method could be a promising sustained drug release system with reduced initial burst release and prolonged therapeutic efficacy.

Sustained release donepezil loaded PLGA microspheres for injection:Preparation,in vitro and in vivo study

The purpose of this study was to develop a PLGA microspheres-based donepezil(DP)formulation which was expected to sustain release of DP for one week with high encapsulation efficiency(EE).DP derived from donepezil hydrochloride was encapsulated in PLGA microspheres by the O/W emulsion-solvent evaporation method.The optimized formulation which avoided the crushing of microspheres during the preparation process was characterized in terms of particle size,morphology,drug loading and EE,physical state of DP in the matrix and in vitro and in vivo release behavior.DP microspheres were prepared successfully with average diameter of 30m,drug loading of 15.92±0.31%and EE up to 78.79±2.56%.Scanning electron microscope image showed it has integrated spherical shape with no drug crystal and porous on its surface.Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction results suggested DP was in amorphous state or molecularly dispersed in microspheres.The Tg of PLGA was increased with the addition of DP.The release profile in vitro was characterized with slow but continuous release that lasted for about one week and fitted well with first-order model,which suggested the diffusion governing release mechanism.After single-dose administration of DP microspheres via subcutaneous injection in rats,the plasma concentration of DP reached peak concentration at 0.50 d,and then declined gradually,but was still detectable at 15 d.A good correlation between in vitro and in vivo data was obtained.The results suggest the potential use of DP microspheres for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease over long periods.

Preparation and Characterization of Potassium Monopersulfate/Ethyl Cellulose Microcapsules and Their Sustained Release Performance

Environmental cleaning is an important aspect of bacteria control.Ethyl cellulose microcapsules containing potassium monopersulfate(PMCM)were prepared by emulsified solvent diffusion method.The chemical structure and microstructure of the obtained PMCM was characterized by methods of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR),optical microscopy,scanning electron microscopy and X-ACT energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.The SEM micrographs of the PMCM containing 21.6%of C,46.8%of O,10.7%of S and 19.4%of K was relatively smooth.Thermal stability,sustained release performance,and antimicrobial activity of PMCM were investigated.The results showed that the drug loading and encapsulation efficiency of PMCM were 30.3%and 42.6%respectively.Potassium monopersulfate was fully released after 8 h,following a Fickian diffusion mechanism.Results showed that the microcapsules prepared with a high concentration of potassium monopersulfate solution showed a good antimicrobial effect.The microcapsule wall of the resulting PMCM increased with increasing ethyl cellulose content and had high thermal stability from the data of 69%residue rate.The excellent thermal stability and high sustained release performance of PMCM showed high application value.

Preparation and evaluation of sustained-release diltiazem hydrochloride pellets

In this study,diltiazem hydrochloride(DTZ)pellets were prepared successfully by extrusionespheronization method.Then methacrylic acid and ethylcellulose coating formulations were employed to make the DTZ pellets sustained release.The pellets with different coatings were investigated by in vitro dissolution tests.At last,the pellets with the best coating copolymer were subjected to pharmacokinetic studies in beagle dogs.The dissolution profiles of pellets coated with Eudragit
NE30D were similar to Herbesser
,one of the marketed sustained release capsules.In the bioavailability study,the principal pharmacokinetic parameters of self-made pellets and the marketed ones were comparable;the relative bioavailability of DTZ sustained release capsules compared with Herbesser
was 98.5
36.4%.All the data indicated self-made sustained pellets could prolong the release of DTZ,decrease the fluctuation of drug level in vivo,and increase the compliance of patients.

Alginate encapsulated mesoporous silica nanospheres as a sustained drug delivery system for the poorly water-soluble drug indomethacin

We applied a combination of inorganic mesoporous silica material,frequently used as drug carriers,and a natural organic polymer alginate(ALG),to establish a sustained drug delivery system for the poorly water-soluble drug Indomethacin(IND).Mesoporous silica nanospheres(MSNs)were synthesized using an organic template method and then functionalized with aminopropyl groups through postsynthesis.After drug loading into the pores of aninopropyl functionalized MSNs(AP-MSNs),IND loaded AP-MSNs(IND-AP-MSNs)were encapsulated by ALG through the ionic interaction.The effects of surface chemical groups and ALG layer on IND release were systematically studied using scanning electron microscopy(SEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),nitrogen adsorption,zetapotential analysis and TGA analysis.The surface structure and surface charge changes of the ALG encapsulated AP-MSNs(ALG-AP-MSNs)were also investigated.The results showed that sustained release of IND from the designed drug delivery system was mainly due to the blockage effect from the coated ALG.We believe that this combination will help designing oral sustained drug delivery systems for poorly water-soluble drugs.

Enhanced delivery efficiency and sustained release of biopharmaceuticals by complexation-based gel encapsulated coated microneedles:rhIFNα-1b example

Coated microneedles(MNs) are widely used for delivering biopharmaceuticals. In this study, a novel gel encapsulated coated MNs(GEC-MNs) was developed. The water-soluble drug coating was encapsulated with sodium alginate(SA) in situ complexation gel. The manufacturing process of GEC-MNs was optimized for mass production. Compared to the water-soluble coated MNs(72.02% ± 11.49%), the drug delivery efficiency of the optimized GEC-MNs(88.42% ± 6.72%) was steadily increased, and this improvement was investigated through in vitro drug release. The sustained-release of BSA was observed in vitro permeation through the skin. The rhIFN α-1 b GEC-MNs was confirmed to achieve biosafety and 6-month storage stability. Pharmacokinetics of rhIFN α-1 b in GEC-MNs showed a linearly dosedependent relationship. The AUC of rhIFN α-1 b in GEC-MNs(4.51 ng/ml ·h) was bioequivalent to the intradermal(ID) injection(5.36 ng/ml ·h) and significantly higher than water-soluble coated MNs(3.12 ng/ml ·h). The rhIFN α-1 b elimination half-life of GEC-MNs, soluble coated MNs, and ID injection was 18.16, 1.44, and 2.53 h, respectively. The complexation-based GECMNs have proved to be more efficient, stable, and achieve the sustained-release of watersoluble drug in coating MNs, constituting a high value to biopharmaceutical.

The preparation and the in-vitro pharmacodynamics study of the intracapsular sustained-release preparations for the prevention of posterior capsule opacification

Docetaxel-loaded sustained-release preparation based on 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate(HEMA)and Methyl methacrylate(MMA)cross-linked copolymer(P(HEMA-co-MMA))was prepared to examine the potential use for preventing posterior capsule opacification(PCO).The preparations were prepared by polymerizing the mixture of HEMA,MMA,cross-linking agent(EGDMA),initiator(AIBN)and docetaxel.The influence factors and mechanism of drug release were studied in the experiments.FT-IR,X-RD and SEM methods were used to characterize the polymer(P(HEMA-co-MMA))and docetaxel-loaded sustained-release preparations.Biocompatibility of P(HEMA-co-MMA)and in-vitro effect of docetaxel-loaded sustained-release preparations were also evaluated.The results showed that docetaxel could release sustainedly from these preparations prepared by cross-linking polymerization.And the release rate could be accelerated by increasing the MMA ratio or EGDMA ratio of the polymer.Release mechanism of docetaxel fitted the Higuchi model well.The results of IR and X-RD showed that only a hydrogen bond was formed between docetaxel and P(HEMA-co-MMA).Docetaxel dispersed in P(HEMA-co-MMA)in amorphous form.The elution test showed that P(HEMA-co-MMA)had good biocompatibility and the in-vitro pharmacodynamics study proved that docetaxel could release stably from the preparations and inhibit HLECs’proliferation.The docetaxel-loaded sustained-release preparations proved to be a promising therapy for preventing PCO.These results also lay a theoretical and experimental foundation for the future.

Preparation and Characterization in vitro of Sustained-release Captopril/ Chitosan-gelatin Net-polymer Microspheres(Cap/CGNPMs)

The captopril/ Chitosan-gelatin net-polymer microspheres （ Gap/ CGNPMs ） were prepared using Chitosan （ CS ） and gelatin （ Gel ） by the methods of emulsification. A cross linked reagent alone or in combination with microcrystalline cellulose （ MCC ） was added in the process of preparation of microspheres to eliminate dose dumping and burst phenomenon of microspheres for the improvemeat of the therapeutic efficiency and the decrease of the side effects of captopril （ Cap ）. The results indicate that Cap/ CGNPMs have a spherical shape , smooth surface roorphology and integral inside structure and no adhesive phenomena and good roobility , and the size distribution is mairdy from 220 to 280 μm. Researches on the Cap release test in vitro demonstrate that Cap/ CGNPMs are of the role of retarding release of Cap compared with Cap ordinary tablets （COT）, embedding ratio （ER） , drug loading （ DL ）, and swelling ratio （ SR ）, and release behaviors of CGNPMS are influenced by process conditions of preparation such as experimental material ratio （EMR） , composition of cross linking reagents. Among these factors , the EMR（1/4）, CLR （ FOR ＋ TPP） and 0.75% microcrystulline cellulose （MCC） added to the microspheres are the optimal scheme to the preparation of Cap/CGNPMs. The Cap/CGNPMs have a good characteristic of sustained release of drug, and the process of emulsifieation and crossinking process is simple and stable. The CGNPMs is probable to be one of an ideal sustained release system for water-soluble drugs.

Characterization of physiochemical and biological properties of spherical protein crystals for sustained release

This study presents an exploration on extending the action of therapeutic proteins by crystallization strategy without new molecular entities generation.Recombinant human interferon a-2b(rhIFN),a model protein drug in this case,was crystallized using a hanging drop vapor diffusion method.A novel chelating technique with metal ions was employed to promote crystals formation.The physico-chemical characterization of the protein crystals,including morphology,particle size,X-ray diffraction,circular dichroism and biological potency evaluations were performed.In addition,the in vitro release behavior of rhIFN from crystal lattice suggested an exciting possibility of protein crystals as a longacting formulation.The work described here demonstrates the possibility of spherical crystals of biomacromolecules for controllable delivery application of therapeutic proteins.

Formation of composite hydrogel of carboxymethyl konjac glucomannan/gelatin for sustained release of EGCG

Development of functional bioinspired hydrogels that have good releases control character is necessary for the application of these materials in biomedical engineering.Herein,we report a composite hydrogel prepared from several biocompatible carboxymethyl konjac glucomannan(CKGM)/gelatin(G)/tannic acid(TA)functional nano-hydroxyapatite(TA@n-HA),which has good biodegradability and pH sensitivity.The mechanism of interaction between hydrogels was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,X-ray diffraction,Scanning electron microscopy and Thermogravimetric analysis.The physico-chemical properties of CKGM/G hydrogels have been significantly improved through the incorporation of TA@n-HA within the matrix.Studies in the sustained release of epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG)demonstrated that the TA@n-HA/CKGM/G hydrogels exhibit not only better pH sensitive properties,but also enhanced biocompatibility and encapsulation in comparison to the matrix devoid of TA@n-HA.Consequently,TA@n-HA/CKGM/G hydrogels using EGCG as a drug release model show the potential for drug delivery.

Efficacy of Metoprolol Succinate Sustained Release Tablets Combined with Wenxin Granules in the Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease Arrhythmia

Objective:To explore the effect of metoprolol succinate sustained-release tablets combined with Wenxin Granules in the treatment of coronary heart disease patients with arrhythmia.Methods:The research objects were 50 patients with arrhythmia who were treated in our hospital from September 2019 to September 2020.According to different treatment methods,they were divided into observation group(Wenxin Granule+metoprolol succinate treatment)and control group(metoprolol succinate treatment),25 cases in each group.The curative effects of the two groups were compared.Results:After treatment,there was no significant difference in rnn50,RMSSD,sdnni and SDANN between the two groups(P>0.05).Compared with the control group,the SDNN in the observation group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05);Before treatment,there was no significant difference in the above indexes between the two groups(P>0.05);The effective rates of the observation group and the control group were 92.00%and 68.00%respectively,and the curative effect of the observation group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05);There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:In the treatment of patients with coronary heart disease and arrhythmia,Wenxin Granule Combined with metoprolol succinate sustained-release tablets has significant effect,which can effectively improve the dynamic electrocardiogram indexes of patients,improve the clinical efficacy,and has high safety.

Incorporation of Carvedilol into PAMAM-functionalized MWNTs as a sustained drug delivery system for enhanced dissolution and drug-loading capacity

The purpose of this study was to develop poly(amidoamine)(PAMAM)-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWNTs)loaded with a poorly water-soluble drug,intended to improve the drug-loading capacity,dissolution and design a sustained release system.MWNTs were modified with a carboxyl group by acid treatment and then complex with PAMAM.PAMAM-MWNTs were investigated as a scaffold for loading the model drug,Carvedilol(CAR),using three different methods(the fusion method,the incipient wetness impregnation method,and the solvent method).The effects of different pore size,specific surface area and physical state were systematically studied using FT-IR,TGA,SEM,DSC,nitrogen adsorption,XPS and XRD.All the samples made by PAMAM-MWNTs to load the drug had a marked effect on the drug-loading capacity as well as drug dissolution,especially theⅡ-30%.