• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.528-533
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• 2000

This study was to develop an effective itraconazole liquid preparation which exhibits an enhanced bioavailability. The solubility of itraconazole was increased (72-fold) in itraconazole liquid preparation as compared with itraconazole powder. The dissolution rate of itraconazole was higher for itraconazole liquid preparation filled into a hard gelatin capsule with 90% release within 20 min as compared to 55% for $Sporanox^{\circledR}$capsules. The oral absorption of itraconazole liquid preparation and $Sporanox^{\circledR}$tablets were studied in the rat. The area under the concentration-time curve $(AUC_{0-24hr})$ of itraconazole liquid preparation ($90.25\;{\pm}\;8.36\;{\mu}g{\cdot}hr/ml$) increased by 6.2 times compared to that of Sporanox tablets ($14.58\;{\pm}\;1.26\;{\mu}g{\cdot}hr/ml$) after oral administration of itraconazole 15 mg/rat each. $C_{max}$ also increased to $6.87\;{\pm}\;1.15\;{\mu}g/ml$ after administration of liquid preparation $1.58\;{\pm}\;0.16\;{\mu}g/ml$ of $Sporanox^{\circledR}$tablets. These results indicate that in vivo bioavailability of itraconazole liquid preparation was significantly enhanced as compared with $Sporanox^{\circledR}$tablets.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.217-222
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• 2011

Itraconazole is a triazole antifungal agent to inhibit most fungal pathogens. To improve the oral absorption and dissolution of poorly water-soluble itraconazole, microsponge system composed of $Eudragit^{(R)}$ E100 and polyvinyl alcohol(PVA) formulated by quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method, and its physicochemical properties and pharmacokinetic parameters of itraconazole were studied. The microsponge of itraconazole were discrete free flowing micro sized particles with perforated orange peel like morphology as visualized by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results showed that the drug loading efficiency, production yield, and particle size of itraconazole microsponge were affected by drug to polymer ratio, the volume of internal phase containing methylene chloride, stirring rate and the concentration of PVA used. Also, the results showed that the dissolution rate of itraconazole from the microsponges was affected by drug to polymer ratio. In other words, the release rate of itraconazole from microsponges was increased from at least 27.43% to 64.72% after 2 h. The kinetics of dissolution mechanism showed that the dissolution data followed Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Therefore, these results suggest that microsponge system can be useful for the oral delivery of itraconazole by manipulating the release profile.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.676-681
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• 1999

Itraconazole is an important drug for oral treatment of histoplasmosis and blastomycosis. ltraconazole has been the targets of many synthetic efforts due to their diverse antifungal activities. ln this study, an efficient synthetic route for Itraconazole intermediates has been developed using new procedures. Also, ltraconazole analogues introducing 2- and 3-methoxy group instead of ltraconazole intermediates with 4-methoxy group were synthesized.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.215-222
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• 1991

The absorption characteristics of itraconazole, which is an antifungal agent, from intestinal segments in the anesthetized rat i1l situ were investigated in order to design an effective oral drug delivery system. The pH-solubility profile of itraconazole, the rate and extent of absorption of itraconazole, the optimal absorption site(s) of itraconazole and the absorption enhancing effect of sodium cholate on itraconazole were examined in the present study. In situ single-pass perfusion method and recirculating perfusion technique using duodenum(D), jejunum(J) and ileum(I) were employed for the calculation of apparent permeability(Pe) and apparent first-order rate constant(Kobs). respectively. The results of this study were as follows; (1) Itraconazole showed appreciable aqueous solubility only at pH values of below 2.0. (2) pe(cm/sec) decreased in the following order: $D(10.24{\pm}1.78{\times}10^{-4})>J(8.86{\pm}0.79{\times}10^{-4})>I(3.78{\pm}0.13 X 10^{-4})$. (3) $Kobs(min^{-1})$ decreased in the following order: $J(17.12{\pm}3.19{\times}10^{-3})>D(13.37{\pm}0.6{\times}10^{-3})>I(11.05{\pm}0.91{\times}10^{-3})$. (4) The solubility of itraconazole markedly increased with the increase of the concentration of sodium cholate. (5) The addition of 10 mM sodium cholate significantly increased the apparent first-order rate constant of itraconazole in the ileum by a factor of 6.8.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.110-117
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• 2005

In this work, solid-state inclusion complex powders of itraconazole and $2-hydroxypropyl-{\beta}-cyclodextrin(HP-{\beta}-CD)$ were produced by a supercritical anti-solvent (SAS) process. In order to evaluate the degree of complexation, the thermal behavior of the microparticulate complexes was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. The experimental results obtained for the solubility and dissolution rate of the microparticulate inclusion complexes in a buffer solution of pH 1.2 showed that the complexation of itraconazole with $HP-{\beta}-CD$ results in a significant increase in the solubility and dissolution rate of itraconazole. The particle size of the SAS-produced inclusion complexes was dramatically reduced ($<0.1-0.5{\mu}m$) compared with untreated itraconazole ($30-50{\mu}m$) and $HP-{\beta}-CD$ ($50-100{\mu}m$). The solubility of itraconazole was increased with the increase of pressure at a constant temperature to ca. $758.6{\mu}g/mL$ in an aqueous medium of pH 1.2. The dissolution rate of itraconazole was observed to be significantly improved and about 90% of itraconazole was found to be dissolved within 5-10 min.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.167-171
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• 2007

Itraconazole is one of the most potent antifungal agents available in the market today. However, the low bioavailability due to its poor-water solubility calls for an alternative formulation to the current oral type. A topical itra-conazole-containing formulation may be of use for several reasons including the opportunity to reduce adverse events and generate high local tissue levels, more rapid drug delivery, and lower systemic exposure. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the vehicles for topical skin delivery of itraconazole. The effect of formulations on the hairless mouse skin permeation and deposition of itraconazole was determined using Franz diffusion cells at $37^{\circ}C$. Benzyl alcohol in micro-emulsion significantly increased the solubility of itraconazole, thereby increasing the skin permeation rate. However, lipo-some formulation showed the lowest solubility and permeation rate of itraconazole. Although the solubility of itraconazole in hydrogel formulation was lower than that in microemulsion, skin permeation rate was significantly higher probably due to its adhesive property. Therefore, microemulsion-based hydrogel formulation is expected to synergistically increase the skin permeation rate and skin deposition of itraconazole.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1055-1060
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to formulate itraconazole semisolid dosage forms and characterize their physicochemical properties. Itraconazole and excipients such as polysorbate 80, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, oils and organic acids were melted at $160^{\circ}C$. The fused solution was then cooled immediately at $-10^{\circ}C$ to make wax-like semisolid preparations. Their physicochemical attributes were first characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. The solubility of itraconazole in semisolid preparations and their dispersability in the simulated gastric fluid were also determined. Our semisolid preparations did not show any distinct endothermic peak of a crystalline form of itraconazole around $160-163^{\circ}C$. This suggested that it was changed into amorphous one, when it was formulated into semisolid preparations. In addition, the distinctive functional peaks and chemical shifts of itraconazole were well retained after processing into semisolid preparations. It could be inferred from the data that itraconazole was stable during incorporation into semisolid preparations by the hot melt technique. In particular, itraconazole semisolid preparations composed of polysorbate 80, fatty acids and organic acids showed good solubility and dissolution when dispersed in an aqueous medium. It was anticipated that the semisolid dosage forms would be industrially applicable to improving the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.204-214
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and types of the adverse events (AEs) associated with oral fluconazole and itraconazole and factors associated with specific types of AEs. Methods: We analyzed AEs reported by community pharmacies nationwide over 10 years using the Korea Adverse Event Reporting System database. Various AE terms were categorized into 18 types, and concomitant medications were classified by drug-drug interaction (DDI) severity. The relationship between the specific type of AE and age, sex, and number of concomitant medications was investigated using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 879 AE reports of fluconazole and 401 reports of itraconazole were analyzed; of these reports, 321 and 83 reports of fluconazole and itraconazole, respectively, described concomitant drug administration categorized as DDI severity of contraindicated or major. Women had a higher risk of psychiatric AEs associated with fluconazole use (OR, 1.587; p=0.042). Polypharmacy increased the risk for psychiatric AEs (OR, 3.598; p<0.001 for fluconazole and OR, 2.308; p=0.046 for itraconazole). In dermatologic AEs, the mean age of patients who received itraconazole was lower than that of patients who received fluconazole (46.3±16.8 vs. 54.9±15.4; p<0.001). Co-administration of fluconazole with 1-3 drugs increased the risk of neurological AEs (OR, 1.764; p=0.028). Conclusion: When using fluconazole and itraconazole, psychiatric AEs should be noted, particularly in women and in case of polypharmacy; moreover, when fluconazole is co-administered with other drugs, attention should be paid to the occurrence of neurological AEs.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.387-391
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• 2002

The oral absorption and disposition of itraconazole were studied in rats, rabbits and dogs. Serum levels of itraconazole and its active metabolite, hydroxyitraconazole, were determined by a validated HPLC method. The absorption of itraconazole was relatively rapid in rats and dogs but was slower in rabbits. The terminal elimination half-life ($T_{1/2,{\lambda}z}$), time to the peak concentration ($T_{max}$), dose and weight normalized area under the curve (AUC) and the peak concentration ($C_{max}$) of itraconazole found in the dog were comparable to those reported in humans. As in humans, the metabolite to parent drug AUC ratios in rats and dogs were greater than unity but was less in rabbits. The dog appears to be an appropriate animal model while the rat, not the rabbit, may be used as an alternative animal model in predicting the oral absorption of itraconazole in humans.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.866-874
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• 2005

The objective of this study was to elucidate the feasibility to improve the solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble itraconazole via solid dispersions by using supercritical fluid (SCF). Solid dispersions of itraconazole with hydrophilic polymer, HPMC 2910, were prepared by the aerosol solvent extraction system (ASES) under different process conditions of temperature/pressure. The particle size of solid dispersions ranged from 100 to 500 nm. The equilibrium solubility increased with decrease (15 to 10 MPa) in pressure and increase (40 to $60^{\circ}C$) in temperature. The solid dispersions prepared at $60^{\circ}C$/15 MPa showed a slight increase in equilibrium solubility (approximately 27-fold increase) when compared to pure itraconazole, while those prepared at $60^{\circ}C$/10MPa showed approximately 610-fold increase and no endothermic peaks corresponding to pure itraconazole were observed, indicating that itraconazole might be molecularly dispersed in HPMC 2910 in the amorphous form. The amorphous state of itraconazole was confirmed by DSC/XRD data. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the ASES-processed solid dispersions, such as $T_{max},\;C_{max},\;and\;AUC_{0-24h}$ were almost similar to $Sporanox_{\circledR}$ capsule which shows high bioavailability. Hence, it was concluded that the ASES process could be a promising technique to reduce particle size and/or prepare amorphous solid dispersion of drugs in order to improve the solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs.