• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.257-261
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• 1996

The seeds of Zizyphus Jujuba have been used as an antianxiety agent for the treatment of insomnia from the earliest times. Sanjoinine-A, isolated from the seeds of Zizyphus Jujuba, have been found to have a minor tranquilizer activity. However this drug is poorly soluble in water. In order to increase the dissolution rate of sanjoinine-A, solid dispersions with PVP-MC and inclusion complex with ${\beta}-cyclodextrin$ were prepared and evaluated. All of these systems increased the dissolution rate of sanjoinine A comparing with sanjoinine-A free base. From pH-rate profile of sanjoinine-A at $60^{\circ}C$, it was found that sanjoinine A was relatively stable in acidic solution, but unstable in basic solution.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.219-223
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• 1997

Terfenadine, antihistaminic drug, is poorly soluble in water. The purpose of this study is to investigate the possibility of using $terfenadine-{\beta}-cyclodextrin$ inclusion compound, instead of terfenadine, as the active substance of solid dosage form by improving the solubility, dissolution and anti-histaminic activity of terfenadine. The solubility and binding characteristics of $terfenadine-{\beta}-cyclodextrin$ complex in pH $1.2{\sim}6.8$ were investigated. Furthermore, the preparing method of $terfenadine-{\beta}-\;cyclodextrin$ inclusion compound was setting up and its physico-chemical characteristics such as DSC curve, solubility, dissolution and anti-histaminic activity were investigated. In conclusion, the solubility of terfenadine was increasing ${\beta}-cyclodextrin$ and with the decreasing pH. $Terfenadine-{\beta}-cyclodextrin$ inclusion compound, whose yield is almost 100%, was prepared by neutralization method. This inclusion compound was 200-times as soluble as terfenadine in pH 1.2-6.8. In addition, it had the faster dissolution and anti-histaminic activity than terfenadine. Therefore, it is used to the active substance of solid dosage form such as tablet and capsule in stead of terfenadine.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.spc
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• pp.83-95
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• 2010

Over the years, nanoparticle drug delivery systems have demonstrated versatile potentials in biological, medical and pharmaceutical applications. In the pharmaceutical industry nanotechnology research has mainly focused on providing controlled drug release, targeting their delivery to specific organs, and developing parenteral formulations for poorly water soluble drugs to improve their bioavailability. Achievement in polymer industry has generated numerous polymers applicable to designing nanoparticles. From viewpoints of product development, a nanocarrier material should meet requirements for biodegradability, biocompatibility, availability, and regulatory approval crieteria. Albumin is indeed a material that fulfills such requirements. Also, the commercialization of a first albumin-bound paclitaxel nanoparticle product (Abraxane$^{TM}$) has sparked renewed interests in the application of albumin in the development of nanoparticle formulations. This paper reviews the intrinsic properties of albumin, its suitability as a nanocarrier material, and albumin-based parenteral formulation approaches. Particularly discussed in detail are albumin-based particulate injectables such as Abraxane$^{TM}$. Information on key roles of albumin in the nab$^{TM}$ technology and representative manufacturing processes of albumin particulate products are provided. It is likely that albumin-based particulate technology would extend its applications in delivering drugs, polypeptides, proteins, vaccines, nucleic acids, and genes.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.355-361
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• 2006

Intraarticular corticosteroid injections for therapy of rheumatic arthritis are administered with the aim of optimal local anti-inflammatory effect at the injection site. Since the side effects of corticosteroidal drug, dexamethasone(DEX), administered at hish dose limited the therapeutic efficacy, there was a need to design a new drug delivery system for controlled release of dexamethasone. As a prodrug for continuous therapeutic efficacy, dexamethasone-21-palmitate(DEX-PAL) was prepared via esterification of palmitoyl chloride and dexamethasone. DEX-PAL was identified by NMR and MASS analysis. DEX-PAL or DEX was entrapped in lipid nanosphere which could be prepared by using a self emulsification-solvent evaporation method. Physicochemical characteristics such as mean particle diameter, zeta potential and drug loading efficiency of the lipid nanospheres were investigated with variation of either the kind of lipid or the lipid composition. The lipid nanospheres had a mean diameter $83{\sim}95$ nm and DEX-PAL loading efficiency of up to 95%. The drug loading efficiency increased with the increase of aliphatic chain length attached to the phospholipid. The incorporation of cationic lipid was very efficient for both reducing particle size of lipid nanospheres and enhancing drug loading efficiency. The lipid nanospheres containing DEX-PAL may be a promising novel drug carrier for the controlled release of the poorly water-soluble drugs.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.271-276
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• 2006

Felodipine, a calcium-antagonist of dihydropyridine type, is a poorly water soluble drug and has very low bioavailability. As preceding studies, use of solid dispersion systems and surfactants(solubilizers) has been suggested to increase dissolution and to improve bioavailability of felodipine. But in case of solid dispersion systems, large amount of toxic organic solvents should be used and manufacturing process time become longer than conventional process. In case of using surfactants, as time elapsed, decreasing of dissolution rate of felodipine due to crystallization has been reported. In this study, Copovidon as a hydrophilic polymer and $Transcutol^{\circledR}$ as a surfactant were combined to formulations if order to increase dissolution of felodipine and conventional wet granulation process were applied to manufacturing of formulations. The effect of Copovidon and $Transcutol^{\circledR}$ on the dissolution oi felodipine was investigated in-vitro. When Copovidon and $Transcutol^{\circledR}$ used simultaneously, the dissolution rate of felodipine was prominently increased compared with when used separately and the maximum increase in the dissolution of felodipine was 5.8 fold compared to control. This is most probably due to synergy effect by combination of Copovidon and $Transcutol^{\circledR}$. Felodipine sustained release tablets were successfully formulated using several grades of HPMC as a release retarding agent. The stability of felodipine sustained release tablet was evaluated after storage at accelerated condition($40^{\circ}C/75%\;RH$) for 6months in HDPE(High density polyethylene) bottle. Neither significant degradation nor change of dissolution rate for felodipine was observed after 6months. In conclusion, felodipine sustained release tablet was successfully formulated and dissolution of felodipine, poorly water soluble drug, was prominently increased and also stability was guaranteed by using combination system of hydrophilic polymer and surfactant.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.284-284
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• 1996

Titrated Extract of Centella asiatica (TECA) is a poorly water-soluble extract from the Centella asiatica. Despite excellent wound preparation causes pain due to a low aqueous solubility and high hypertonicity and therefore, the patient's compliance of this drug is low. The objective of this study is to design a formulation of TECA with an improved therapeutic applicability via an adequate solubilization. A mixture of propylene glycol and ethoxylated hydrogenated caster oil achieved an acceptable solubilization of TECA (i.e. 10%) via a formulation of micelle. A preparation of extemporaneous TECA micelle was achieved by a dilution of the original micellar formulation with either water or saline. An estimated distribution of particle size was between 15.9 and 32.6 ㎜. The osmotic pressure of the formulation was found to be much lower than that found In a commercially available injectable (i.e. Madecassole). The erthrocytic hemolysis of micellar solution was lower than that with the conventional dosage form, consistent with the osmotic pressure data. Pain score after an injection of the micellar solution was assessed by the hind-paw writhing test using ICR mice and compared with that found with the conventional injectable. The data indicated that the injection of the micellar solution was a significantly less painful. These results indicated that a micellar solubilization, followed by an extemporaneous dilution, is a novel formulation of TECA with an improved therapeutic applicability.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.359-366
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• 2009

In this study, paclitaxel-loaded lipid nanosuspension (PxLN) was prepared and the in vivo profiles after intravenous administration in rats were investigated. We compared the manufacturing processes depending on the temperature: PxLN-H for a hot homogenization process and PxLN-C for solidification of lipid-drug mixtures by liquid nitrogen. Both formulations showed submicron size distribution and the similar drug loading efficiency of about 70%. In vitro release of PxLNs and Taxol$^{(R)}$ performed by a dialysis diffusion method showed similar pattern for PxLN-H and Taxol$^{(R)}$, but the reduced release profile for PxLN-C. PxLN or Taxol$^{(R)}$ was intravenously administered to the rats at a dose of 5 mg/kg as paclitaxel. The drug in blood samples were assayed by the HPLC/MS/MS method. The AUC$_t$ of PxLN-H was 3.4-fold greater than that of Taxol$^{(R)}$. PxLN-H gave higher biodistribution in all tissues than did Taxol$^{(R)}$. In addition, it maintained the higher drug concentration for 12 h. This lipid nanosuspension might be a promising candidate for an alternative formulation for the parenteral delivery of poorly water-soluble paclitaxel.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2008

Solid dispersions of poorly water-soluble drug, sibutramine, were prepared with hydrophilic polymer, poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone (PVP), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) and organic acid, citric acid, to improve the solubility of drug. Physicochemical variation and shape of microsphere were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Microspheres containing additives showed more spherical shape than non additive microspheres. In vitro release behavior of microspheres presented at simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2) and simulated intestinal fluid (pH 6.8). The solid dispersion form transformed the drug into an amorphous state and dramatically improved its dissolution rate. These data suggest that the solid dispersion technique is an effective approach for developing the appetite depressant drug products and various pharmaceutical excipients are able to control the release behaviors.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.171-176
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• 2008

Talniflumate is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which has been used treat of rheumatoid diseases, is insoluble in water, therefore it has low bioavailability after oral administration. The purposes of this study were to prepare O/W or W/O microemulsions for solubilization of poorly water soluble drug, talniflumate and to formulate into other dosage form. For this purpose, we made O/W or W/O microemulsion with oil(soybean oil, IPM), surfactant (Cremophor $EL^{(R)}$, Tween 80) and water or propylene glycol and evaluated solubility of talniflumate. The microemulsion systems were very stable and showed transmittance above 95% without flocculation or aggregation. Especially, the solubility of talniflumate in the formulation B-1 containing 18% of isopropyl myristate and 71% of tween 80 was 10 times higher than that of other O/W microemulsions. The addition of propylene glycol and N-methylglutamine to the fomulation B-1 showed excellent capacity on the solubilization of talniflumate and the percentage was almost 2.0%. These results suggest that the microemulsion system may be promising for the solubility improvement of talniflumate.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2002

To improve the solubility of poorly water-soluble drug and to develop a sustained release tablets, the need for the technique, the formation of solid dispersion with polymeric materials that can potentially enhance the dissolution rate and extent of drug absorption was considered in this study. The 1:1, 1:4, and 1:5 solid dispersions were prepared by spray drying method using PVP K30, ethanol and methylene chloride. The dissolution test was carried out at in phosphate buffer solution at $37^{\circ}C$ in 100 rpm. Solid dispersed drugs were examined using differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy, wherein it was found that felodipine is amorphous in the PVP K30 solid dispersion. Felodifine SR tablets were prepared by direct compressing the powder mixture composed of solid dispersed felodipine, lactose, Eudragit and magnesium stearate using a single punch press. In order to develop a sustained-release preparation containing solid dispersed felodipine, a comparative dissolution study was done using commercially existing product as control. The dissolution rate of intact felodipine, solid dispersed felodipine and its physical mixture, respectively, were compared by the dissolution rates for 30 minutes. The dissolution rates of felodipine for 30 minutes from 1:1, 1:4, 1:5 PVP K30 solid dispersion were 70%, 78% and 90%. However, dissolution rate offelodipine from the physical mixture was 5% of drug for 30 minutes. Our developed product Felodipine SR Tablet showed dissolution of 17%, 50% and 89% for 1, 4, and 7 hours. This designed oral delivery system is easy to manufacture, and drug releases behavior is highly reproducible and offers advantages over the existing commercial product. The dissolution rate of felodipine was significantly enhanced, following the formation of solid dispersion. The solid dispersion technique with water-soluble polymer could be used to develop a solid dispersed felodipine SR tablet.