• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.211-216
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• 2011

The chitosan-coated liposomes (chitosomes) were designed to improve the stability in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and to enhance the efficacy for oral drug delivery of liposomes. The phosphatic acid (PA)-incorporated anionic liposomes were surface-coated with water soluble chitosan (WSC) by electro-ionic interaction. The shape of the chitosomes observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was spherical in all the formulations and the coating layer by WSC could be founded through TEM images. The mean size and the zeta potential values of the chitosomes increased significantly with depending on the content of WSC added for coating the liposomes. The stability of the chitosomes in the GI tract was confirmed through the change of relative turbidity of the liposomal suspension. The plain liposomes (plasomes) suspension without adding WSC clearly showed the change of relatively turbidity in simulated gastric fluid (SGF), while the change degree of turbidity of the chitosomes in the SGF decreased as increasing of WSC content added for coating liposome. In the 5-CF release study from the plasomes and chitosomes, the plasomes released >90% of the initial 5-CF content at 4 h of release measurement. In contrast, the chitosomes released below 40% of initial content of 5-CF. In conclusion, these results indicate that the chitosomes can be used as a potential carrier for effective oral drug delivery.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.99-103
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• 1999

Self-Emulsifying System(SES), an isotropic mixture of oil and surfactant which forms oil-in-water emulsion, is expected to improve in vitro drug dissolution and enhance in vivo drug absorption. A poorly water soluble drug, ibu-profen(IBP) was incorporated into the SES to improve absorption, and enhance bioavailability of drug. Medium chain triglyceride, glyceryl tricaprylate(GTC) as an oil, and Tween 85 as a surfactant were used to formulate SES. To characterize SESs with various concentrations of Tween 85, the phase separation and solubility of IBP-SEDDS containing IBP as a function of Tween 85 concentration were conducted, and the particle size was measured using photon correlation spectroscopic method. The SES with optimal concentration of Tween 85(35%(w/w)) was selected based on its high drug loading, small particle size and low surfactant concentration. After an oral administration of IBP-SEDDS and IBP suspension in methyl cellulose equivalent to 40.0 mg/kg to rats, the pharmacokinetic parameters were compared. The $C_{max}(163.17\;vs\;88.82\;{\mu}g/ml)$, $AUC(12897.01\;vs\;8751.13\;{\mu}g\;min/ml)$ and Bioavailability(86.44 vs 58.65%) significantly increased but $T_max(10\;vs\;20\;min)$ was significantly advanced. The current SEDDS containing IBP provide an alternative to improve an oral bio-availability of IBP.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.339-345
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• 2010

Fenofibrate has been used for many years to lower cholesterol levels and its pharmacokinetic profile is well understood. However, due to its low solubility in water, it has low bioavailability after oral administration. In order to improve the dissolution rate, fenofibrate was formulated into a self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems (SMEDDS). We used pseudo-ternary phase diagrams to evaluate the area of microemulsification, and an in vitro dissolution test was used to investigate the dissolution rate of fenofibrate. The optimized formulation for in vitro dissolution assessment consisted of Lauroglycol FCC (60%), Solutol HS 15 (27%), and Transcutol-P (13%). The mean droplet size of the oil phase in the microemulsion formed from the SMEDDS was about 130 nm. The dissolution rate of fenofibrate from SMEDDS was significantly higher than that of the reference tablet. Our studies suggested that the fenofibrate containing SMEDDS composition can effectively increase the solubility and oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.347-354
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• 2011

Repeated oral administration of loxoprofen can induce many side effects such as gastric disturbances and acidosis. Therefore, we considered alternative routes of administration for loxoprofen to avoid such adverse effects. The aim of this study was to develop an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) matrix system containing a permeation enhancer for enhanced transdermal delivery of loxoprofen. The EVA matrix containing loxoprofen was fabricated and the effects of drug concentration, temperature, enhancer and plasticizer on drug release were studied from the loxoprofen-EVA matrix. The solubility of loxoprofen was highest at 40% (v/v) PEG 400. The release rate of drug from drug-EVA matrix increased with increased loading dose and temperature. The release rate was proportional to the square root of loading dose. The activation energy (Ea), which was measured from the slope of log P versus 1000/T, was 5.67 kcal/mol for a 2.0% loaded drug dose from the EVA matrix. Among the plasticizer used, diethyl phthalate showed the highest release rate of loxoprofen. Among the enhancers used, polyoxyethylene 2-oleyl ether showed the greatest enhancing effect. In conclusion, for the enhanced controlled transdermal delivery of loxoprofen, the application of the EVA matrix containing plasticizer and penetration enhancer could be useful in the development of a controlled drug delivery system.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.407-414
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• 2010

New biological treatments were being developed at a record place, but their potential could be compromised by a significant obstacle: the delivery of these drugs into a body. Pharmaceutical delivery is now nearly as important as product. New systems are being developed, and Drug Delivery Markets Series cover these new systems. Transdermal Delivery System(TDS) is often used as a method of drug dosage into the epidermic skin. An approach used to delivery drugs through the skin for therapeutic use as an alternative to oral, intravascular, subcutaneous and transmucosal routes. Various transdermal drug delivery technologies are described including the use of suitable formulations, carriers and penetration enhancers. The most commonly used transdermal system is the skin patch using various types of technologies. Compared with other methods of dosage, it is possible to use for a long term. It is also possible to stop the drug dosage are stopped if the drug dosage lead to side effect. Polysaccharides, such as karaya gum and glucomannan, were selected as base materials of TDS. Also, these polymers were characterized in terms of enhancers, drug contents. Among these polysaccharide, the permeation rate of karaya gum matrix was fastest in fibric acid(ciprofibrate) such as lipophilic drug in vitro. We used glycerin, PEG400 and PEG800 as enhancers. Since dermis has more water content(hydration) than the stratum corneum, skin permeation rate at steady state was highly influenced when PEG400 was more effective for lipophilic drug. Proper selection of the polymeric materials which resemble and enhance properties of the delivering drug was found to be important in controlling the skin permeation rate. Especially, this result suggests a possible use of polysaccharide gel ointment matrix as a transdermal delivery system of anti-hyperlipoproteinemic agent.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.191-195
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• 2004

Drug delivery systems that are based on pectin have been studied for colon specific delivery using the specific activity of colon microflora. The aim of this study was to design a novel method of manufacturing pectin microspheres without oils and surfactants and to investigate the potential use of the pectin microspheres as an oral colon-specific drug carrier. The pectin microspheres were successfully formed using the spray drying method and crosslinking with calcium chloride. From the crosslinked pectin microspheres, indomethacin (IND) release was more suppressed than its release from non-crosslinked microspheres. In a low pH (pH 1.4) environment, the pectin microspheres released IND at an amount of about 18${\pm}$2% of the total loaded weight for 24 h while the release rate of IND was stimulated at neutral pH (pH 7.4). IND release from the pectin microspheres was increased by the addition of pectinase. The results clearly demonstrate that the pectin microspheres that were prepared by the spray drying and crosslinking methods are potential carriers for colon-specific drug deliveries.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.161-164
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• 2003

Oral drug delivery system using pectin gel was developed for colon-targeting of peptide drug. BSA(bovine serum albumin)-loaded pectin and pectin-alginate beads were prepared for drug release properties in vitro. Morphological studies by electron microscopy indicated that pectin and pectin-alginate beads were spherical in shape and approximately 1.0 mm. In order to find the suitable beads, effects of cross-linking agents (calcium chloride or zinc acetate) and drying temperature of beads were investigated. Drug release decreased with concentration of cross-linking agents and drying temperature. For colonic drug delivery from pectin and pectin-alginate beads, pectin degradable enzymes were added at 5 hrs from the beginning of drug release. After addition of enzymes, drug release was suddenly increased against free enzymes. Therefore, pectin and pectin-alginate beads can be promised as useful drug release carriers for colon-targeted delivery.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.255-259
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• 2008

The present study aimed to investigate the in-vitro characteristics of N4-amino acid derivatives of cytarabine for the oral delivery of cytarabine. After the synthesis of L-Ile-cytarabine, L-Leu-cytarabine and L-Arg-cytarabine, the gastrointestinal stability of each prodrug was examined using artificial gastric juice and intestinal fluids. The cellular uptake characteristics of prodrugs were also examined in Caco-2 cells. While L-Ile-cytarabine and L-Leu-cytarabine appeared to be stable in all the tested biological media during 4-hr incubation, L-Arg-cytarabine was rapidly disappeared within 5 min. Accordingly, the cellular uptake of L-Ile-cytarabine and L-Leu-cytarabine was significantly higher than that of its parent drug, cytarabine in Caco-2 cells but the cellular uptake of L-Arg-cytarabine was similar to that from its parent drug. The cellular uptake of L-Ile-cytarabine and L-Leu-cytarabine appeared to be saturable as drug concentration increased from 0.4 to 4 mM. Collectively, L-Ile-cytarabine and L-Leu-cytarabine could be promising candidates to improve the oral absorption of cytarabine via a saturable transport pathway.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.795-799
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• 2006

Peptides, although high efficacy and specificity in their physiological function, usually have low therapeutical activities due to their poor bioavailability when administrated orally. Nanoparticles have been regarded as a useful vector for targeted drug delivery system because they can protect drug from being degraded quickly and pass the gastrointestinal barriers. Here we described a novel oral N-trimethyl chitosan nanoparticles formulation containing thymopentin (Tp5-TMC-NP). N-trimethyl chitosan (TMC) was synthesized and then used to prepare Tp5-TMC-NP by ionotropic gelation. A three-factor, five-level CCD (Central Composite Design) design was used in the optimization procedure, with HPLC as the analyzing method. The resulting Tp5-TMC-NP had a regular spherical surface and a narrow particle size range with a mean diameter of 110.6 nm. The average entrapment efficiency was 78.8%. The lyophilized Tp5-TMC-NP formulation was stable in $4^{\circ}C\;or\;-20^{\circ}C$ after storage of 3 months without obvious changes in morphology, particle size, pH and entrapment ratio. The results of the flow cytometer determination showed that the ratio of $CD4^+/CD8^+$ of Wistar female rat given Tp5-TMC-NP (ig) was 2.59 time that of the group given Tp5 (ig).

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.964-968
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• 2002

Colon drug delivery is advantageous in the treatment of colonic disease and oral delivery of drugs unstable or suceptible to enzymatic degradation in upper GI tract. In this study, multilayer coated system that is resistant to gastric and small intestinal conditions but can be easily degraded by colonic bacterial enzymes was designed to achieve effective colon delivery of prednisolone. Variously coated tablets containing prednisolone were fabricated using chitosan and cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) as coating materials. Release aspects of prednisolone in simulated gastrointestinal fluid and rat colonic extracts (CERM) were investigated. Also, colonic bacterial degradation study of chitosan was performed in CERM. From these results, a three layer (CAP/Chitosan/CAP) coated system exhibited gastric and small intestinal resistance to the release of prednisolone in vitro most effectively. The rapid increase of prednisolone in CERM was revealed as due to the degradation of the chitosan membrane by bacterial enzymes. The designed system could be used potentially used as a carrier for colon delivery of prednisolone by regulating drug release in stomach and the small intestine.