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.

Preparation for Polyvinyl Alcohol Hollow Microsphere and Its Sustained Release Effect on Urea

[Objective] The aim of this study was to discuss the optimizing preparation conditions of polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)hollow microsphere and its application in the production of slow-release urea fertilizer.[Method]PVA hollow microsphere was prepared by the emulsion chemical cross-linking method,while its composition,morphology and particle size was analyzed by technologies of FT-IR,SEM and TEM respectively.Thus,factors such as rate of emulsified speed,crosslink temperature and linking agent amount with effects on morphology and particle size of hollow microsphere were also discussed in this study.Furthermore,based on the optimizing preparation conditions,PVA fertilizer carrier microsphere was prepared by coating urea to investigate its sustained release effect on urea.[Result]The optimizing preparation conditions of polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)hollow microsphere were as follows:rate of emulsified speed 6 000 r/min,crosslink temperature 35 ℃ and linking agent amount 25 ml.PVA fertilizer carrier microsphere had significant sustained release effect on urea,and the optimal cross-linking time was 3 hours.[Conclusion]This study provides theoretical basis for the development of new slow-release fertilizer.

Preparation and Pharmacokinetic Characterization of Sustained Release Melatonin Tablet

Aim To prepare the sustained release melatonin tablet with HPMC matrix and study its pharmacokinetics and bioavailatility. Methods HPMC was used as matrix to formulate the sustained release tablet. The influences of the size of melatonin, type and amount of HPMC, drug loading, type and amount of additives, and compressing pressure were investigated. Plasma concentration of melatonin in dogs after intravenous injection of two doses and oral administration of sustained release tablets and unmodified release capsules was detected by HPLC using fluorescence detector. Results The drug release from sustained release tablets was influenced by the size of melatonin, type and amount of HPMC, drug loading, and type and amount of additives. Melatonin was found to fit two compartment model after intravenous injection, AUC was proportional to doses, and t(1/2β) of two doses has no significant difference. Relative bioavailability of melatonin sustained release tablet to normal capsule was 83.8%, and absolute bioavailability was 3.75% for sustained release tablet and 4.49% for capsule. Conclusion The melatonin sustained release tablet was well formulated. The absolute bioavilability for oral administration of either sustained release tablet or unmodified release capsule of melatonin was less than 5%. The bioavailability of melatonin sustained release tablet was lower than that of unmodified release capsule, but MRT of sustained release tablet was significantly longer than that of capsule.

Study of Sustained Release Phenylpropanolamine Hydrochloride Hydrophilic Matrix Tablets Containing Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose K100M and Carbopol 971P

选用HPMC K100M和卡波普971P为骨架材料，粉末直接压片法制备骨架片，考察释放度，反相高效液相色谱法检测盐酸苯丙醇胺（PPA·HCl）的浓度。释药曲线均符合Higuchi方程（R＞0．98，P＜0．01）。运用正交设计法，以美国市场的PPA·HCl缓释片Acutrim^R为对照，相似因子f2值为指标，筛选获得了最优处方。其工艺重现性合格。研制片在0．1mol·L^-1 HCl,H2O(pH6.5)，磷酸盐缓冲液（PBS）pH5.0,6.8和7.4的介质中，以及在0.1mol·L^-1HCl中释放2h，转移至PBS6．8中释放10h，相对于对照品的f2值为63－74，表明在各介质中两制剂的释药曲线相似。释药影响因素的考察结果表明：在本实验考察的范围内，骨架片在水中的释药速率与HPMC K100M和卡波普971P的用量呈负相关。HPMC K100M和卡波普971P的比例（保持聚合物总用量相同），硬脂酸镁量和骨架片硬度对释药速率无显著性影响。

Pharmacokinetics of Moclobemide Sustained Release Tablets after Multiple Oral Dose Administration in Healthy Volunteers

To investigate the pharmacokinetic characteristics of moclobemide sustainedrelease tablets after multiple oral dose administration in healthy Chinese volunteers. MethodsMoclobemide sustained release tablets were given as a multiple oral dose regimen of 300 mg oncedaily for five consecutive days to 12 healthy volunteers. The concentrations of moclobemide inplasma were determined by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The partialpharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using 3p97 pharmacokinetic program. Results Theconcentration-time profile fitted an one-compartment model best. The steady-state pharmacokineticparameters of moclobemide sustained release tablets after multiple oral doses were as follows:C_(max) was (1 950 +- 156) μg· L^(-1), T_(max) was (6.00 +-1.55) h, T_(1/2(kel)) was (3.14 +-0.12)h, AUC_(ss 0-24) was (22 836 +- 1 842) μg·h· L^(-1), MRT was (7.68+-0.36) h, CL/F_((s)) was(20.2+-2.1) L·h^(-1), and V/F_((c)) was (91.4+-9.4) L, respectively. No marked adverse events werenoted during this study. Conclusion The formulation has a sustained-release effect and goodtolerance in the healthy volunteers, which provides useful information for clinical practice.

Influence of Preparation Factors on the Sustained Release of Nifedipine from Eudragit RL/RS Microspheres

Sustained release Eudragit RL/RS microspheres encapsulating nifedipine were prepared using the acetone/liquid paraffin emulsion solvent evaporation method. The influence of different preparation factors on release of the drug in vitro was investigated. The release rate of nifedipine from the microspheres increased with increasing Eudragit RL/RS ratio and stirring rate during the preparation, and with decreasing the polymer concentration of internal phase and microsphere size. It was found that a linear relationship existed between the microsphere size and the time of 50% drug release. The drug release rate increased with increasing nifedipine content from 4.2 to 16.7% and was more rapid than the dissolution rate of pure nifedipine particles. However, the release rate of the microspheres with 26.6% drug content decreased significantly and was slower than the dissolution rate of pure drug particles. This was attributed mainly to the nifedipine dispersion state in the microspheres as confirmed by the differential thermal analysis and X ray diffraction study, which showed that nifedipine was present in an amorphous or molecular state in the microspheres with 4.2, 9.4 and 16.7% drug, whereas partly in the crystalline state in the microspheres with 26.6% drug. The amounts released for less than 70% nifedipine can be fitted to Higuchi square root of time model, independent of polymer ratio, drug content and microsphere size.

Evaluation of gum mastic(Pistacia lentiscus) as a microencapsulating and matrix forming material for sustained drug release

In this study, a natural gum mastic was evaluated as a microencapsulating and matrixforming material for sustained drug release. Mastic was characterized for its physicochemical properties. Microparticles were prepared by oil-in-oil solvent evaporation method. Matrix tablets were prepared by wet and melt granulation techniques. Diclofenac sodium(DFS) and diltiazem hydrochloride(DLTZ) were used as model drugs. Mastic produced discrete and spherical microspheres with DLTZ and microcapsules with DFS. Particle size and drug loading of microparticles was in the range of 22–62 μm and 50–87%, respectively. Increase in mastic:drug ratio increased microparticle size, improved drug loading and decreased the drug release rate. Microparticles with gum: drug ratio of 2:1 could sustain DLTZ release up to 12 h and released 57% DFS in 12 h. Mastic produced tablets with acceptable pharmacotechnical properties. A 30% w/w of mastic in tablet could sustain DLTZ release for 5 h from wet granulation,and DFS release for 8 h and 11 h from wet and melt granulation, respectively. Results revealed that a natural gum mastic can be used successfully to formulate matrix tablets and microparticles for sustained drug release.

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.

Light-induced ZnO/Ag/rGO bactericidal photocatalyst with synergistic effect of sustained release of silver ions and enhanced reactive oxygen species

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) can effectively address the issue of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections to reduce the potential toxicity of Ag NPs. Although challenging, it is, therefore, necessary to achieve the sustainable release of Ag+ ions from a finite amount of Ag NPs. This study aims at designing an efficient and benign antimicrobial silver-based ternary composite composed of photocatalysis zinc oxide (ZnO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as a carrier, in which the reactive oxygen species (ROS) excited from ZnO and Ag+ ions released from the Ag NPs cooperate to realize an effective antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. The constant effective bacterial performance of the ternary photocatalyst with minimum Ag content can be attributed to the increase in the available quantity of ROS, which results from the enhanced separation efficiency of the photogenerated carriers. The proposed system notably realized the long-term sustainable release of Ag+ ions with low concentration for 30 days when compared with an equivalent amount of silver nitrate. Moreover, the use of the composite prevents biotoxicity and silver wastage, and imparts enhanced stability to the long-lasting antibacterial 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.

Development and characterization of ethylcellulose based microsphere for sustained release of nifedipine

This article introduced the work of ethylcellulose based polymeric microsphere loaded with nifedipine for reduction in frequency of administration with low solubility in aqueous medium and high rate of absorption in the stomach. The non-aqueous polymeric suspension was put dropwise into an aqueous medium containing polyvinyl alcohol as a surfactant for the synthesis of microsphere by solvent evaporation. The microspheres were characterized by different techniques, namely, XRD, SEM, and NMR. The formation of microspheres was confirmed by SEM. XRD analysis revealed the semi-crystallinity nature of microspheres. The NMR study indicated the presence of hetero-aromatic nucleus in the microsphere.

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 in vitro Release Performance of Sustained-release Captopril/Chitosan-gelatin Net-polymer Microspheres

The captopril/Chitosan-gelatin net-polymer microspheres(CTP/CGNPMs) were prepared using Chitosan(CTS) and gelatin(GT) by the methods of emulsification,cross-linked reagent alone or in combination and microcrystalline cellulose(MCC) added in the process of preparation of microspheres,which aimed to eliminate dose dumping and burst phenomenon of microspheres for the improvement of the therapeutic efficiency and the decrease of the side effects of captopril(CTP). The results indicated that CTP/CGNPMs had a spherical shape,smooth surface and integral structure inside but no adhesive phenomena in the preparation. The size distribution ranged from 220 μm to 280 μm. The CTP release test in vitro demonstrated that CTP/CGNPMs played the role of retarding the release of CTP compared with ordinary CTP tablets. The release behaviors of CGNPMS were influenced by preparation conditions such as experimental material ratio(EMR) and composition of cross linking reagents. Among these factors,the EMR(1/4),CLR(FA+SPP) and 0.75% microcrystalline cellulose(MCC) added to the microspheres constituted the optimal scheme for the preparation of CTP/CGNPMs. The ER,DL and SR of CTP/CGNPMs prepared according to the optimal scheme were 46.23±4.51%,9.95±0.77% and 261±42%,respectively. The CTP/CGNPMs had the good characteristics of sustained release of drug and the process of emulsification and cross-linking were simple and stable. The CGNPMs are likely to be an ideal sustained release formulation for water-soluble drugs.

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.

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.

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 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.