• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.241-247
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• 2008

Paclitaxel is a taxane diterpene amide, which was first extracted from the stem bark of the western yew, Taxus brevifolia. This natural product has proven to be useful in the treatment of a variety of human neoplastic disorders, including ovarian cancer, breast and lung cancer. Paclitaxel is a highly hydrophobic drug that is poorly soluble in water. It is mainly given by intravenous administration. Therefore, The pharmaceutical formulation of paclitaxel ($Taxol^{(R)}$; Bristol-Myers Squibb) contains 50% $Cremophor^{(R)}$ EL and 50% dehydrated ethanol. However the ethanol/Cremophor EL vehicle required to solubilize paclitaxel in $Taxol^{(R)}$ has a pharmacological and pharmaceutical problems. To overcome these problems, new formulations for paclitaxel that do not require solubilization by $Cremophor^{(R)}$ EL are currently being developed. Therefore this study utilized a supercritical fluid antisolvent (SAS) process for cremophor-free formulation. To select hydrophilic polymers that require solubilization for paclitaxel, we evaluated polymers and the ratio of paclitaxel/polymers. HP-${\beta}$-CD was used as a hydrophilic polymer in the preparation of the paclitaxel solid dispersion. Although solubility of paclitaxel by polymers was increased, physical stability of solution after paclitaxel/polymer powder soluble in saline was unstable. To overcome this problem, we investigated the use of surfactants. At 1/20/40 of paclitaxel/hydrophilic polymer/ surfactant weight ratio, about 10 mg/mL of paclitaxel can be solubilized in this system. Compared with the solubility of paclitaxel in water ($1\;{\mu}g/mL$), the paclitaxel solid dispersion prepared by SAS process increased the solubility of paclitaxel by near 10,000 folds. The physicochemical properties was also evaluated. The particle size distribution, melting point and amophorization and shape of the powder particles were fully characterized by particle size distribution analyzer, DSC, SEM and XRD. In summary, through the SAS process, uniform nano-scale paclitaxel solid dispersion powders were obtained with excellent results compared with $Taxol^{(R)}$ for the physicochemical properties, solubility and pharmacokinetic behavior.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.520-524
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• 2006

Ibuprofen-loaded gelatin microcapsule, a solid form of microcapsules simultaneously containing ethanol and ibuprofen in water-soluble gelatin shell was previously reported to improve the dissolution of drug. In this study, to retard the initial high dissolution of ibuprofen from gelatin microcapsule, the ibuprofen-loaded cross-linked gelatin microcapsule was prepared by treating an ibuprofen-loaded gelatin microcapsule with glutaraldehyde and its dissolution was evaluated compared to ibuprofen powder and gelatin microcapsule. The ibuprofen-loaded crosslinked microcapsule treated with glutaraldehyde for 10 and 60 sec gave significantly higher dissolution rates than did ibuprofen powder. Furthermore, the dissolution rate of ibuprofen from the cross-linked microcapsule treated for 10 sec was similar to that from gelatin microcapsule. However, the dissolution rate of ibuprofen from the cross-linked microcapsule treated for 60 sec decreased significantly compared to gelatin microcapsule, suggesting that the treatment of gelatin microcapsule with glutaraldehyde for 60 sec could cross-link the gelatin microcapsule. Furthermore, the cross-linking of gelatin microcapsule markedly retarded the release rate of ibuprofen in pH 1.2 simulated gastric fluid compared to gelatin microcapsule. However, the cross-linking of gelatin microcapsule with glutaraldehyde hardly changed the size of gelatin microcapsules, ethanol and ibuprofen contents encapsulated in gelatin microcapsule. Thus, the ibuprofen-loaded cross-linked gelatin microcapsule could retard the initial high dissolution of poorly water-soluble ibuprofen.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.267-275
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• 2002

A self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) was developed to increase the dissolution rate, solubility, and ultimately bioavailability of a poorly water soluble drug, lovastatin. SMEDDS was thε mixtures of oils, surfactants, and cosurfactants, which emulsify under conditions of gentle agitation, similar to those which would be encountered in the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract. Various types of self-emulsifying formulations were prepared using four types of oil (Capryol 90, Lauroglycol 90, Labrafil M 1944 CS and Labrafil M 2125), two surfactants (Cremophor EL and Tween 80), and three cosurfactants (Carbitol, PEG 400 and propylene glycol). Thε efficiency of emulsification was studied using a laser diffraction size analyzer to determine particle size distributions of the resultant emulsions. Optimized formulations selected for bioavailability assessment were Carpryol 90 (40%), Cremophor EL (30%) and Carbitol (30%). SMEDDS containing lovastatin (20 mg and 5 mg) were compared to a conventional lovastatin tablet $(Mevacor^{\circledR},\;20\;mg/tab)$ by the oral administration as prefilled hard gelatin capsules to fasted beagle dogs for in vivo study. The arεa under the serum concentration-time curve from time zero to the last measured time in serum, $AUC_{0{\rightarrow}24h}$, was significantly greater in SMEDDS, suggesting that bioavailability increase 130% and 192% by the SMEDDS, respectively. The self-emulsifying formulations of lovastatin afforded the improvement in absolute oral bioavailability relative to previous data of lovastatin tablet formulation. These data indicate the utility of dispersed self-emulsifying formulations for the oral delivery of lovastatin and potentially other poorly absorbed drugs.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2011

Mastic is a bleed resin formed in pistacia lentiscus tree extract form the anacatdiaceae family. Mastic is used as a food ingredient in the Mediteraanean resin, and has been used by local inhabitants as a traditional medicine for relief of upper abdominal discomfort, dyspepsiaand peptic ulcer. Clinically, mastic has been effective in the treatment of benign gastric and duodenal, ulcers, giving symptomatic relief and endoscopically proven healing. In this study, to enhance activiteies of poorly water soluble Mastic with oils, surfactants and cosurfactants and then the mixure was microemulsified in aqueous media under condition of gentle agitation and digestive motility that would be encountered in the gastrointestinal tract. Formulation development and screening were based on phase diagrams and characteristics of resultant microemulsion. For optimum mastic formulation, microemulsions with various ratio (w/w%) of mastics, oils, surfactants and cosurfactants were prepared and their solubility was evaluated by monitoring particles size in their buffer through visual asessment and electrophoretic light scattering spectrophotomerter (ELS). In vitro activity of self microemulsified mastic (SME mastic) was determined by minimum ingibition concentration (MIC) test against a panel of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) clinical strains. Additionally, in vivo activity of SME masitc was investigated us mouse infected by CH275 of H. pylori. The mean diameter of SME mastic was less then 100 nm in water and SME mastic was showed similar antiboisis effect compared to tometronidazole, clarithromycin and omeproazole. Consequently, SME mastic would be effective system to exterminate H. pylori. If mastic were dose with combined treatment, mastic might augur well for effect of H. pylori eradication as good remedy.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.339-347
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• 2007

SMEDDS is mixture of oils, surfactants, and cosurfactants, which are emulsified in aqueous media under conditions of gentle agitation and digestive motility that would be encountered in the gastro-intestinal(GI) tract. The main purpose of this work is to prepare self-microemulsifying drug delivery system(SMEDDS) for oral bioavailability enhancement of a poorly water soluble drug, atorvastatin calcium. Solubility of atorvastatin calcium was determined in various vehicles. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed to identity the efficient self-emulsification region and particle size distributions of the resultant micro emulsions were determined using a laser diffraction sizer. Optimized formulations for in vitro dissolution and bioavailability assessment were $Capryol^{(R)}$ 90(50%), Tetraglycol(16%), and $Cremophor^{(R)}$ EL(32%). The release rate of atorvastatin from SMEDDS was significantly higher than the conventional tablet ($Lipitor^{(R)}$), 2-fold. Our studies illustrated the potential use of SMEDDS for the delivery of hydrophobic compounds, such as atorvastatin calcium by the oral route.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.291-299
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• 2016

In this study, Indomethacin, the poorly water soluble drug, was selected and prepared dispersing oral disintegrating films according to the molecular weight of polyethylene glycol (PEG) which are sort of dispersing agents. Also the molecular weight and content of PEG were evaluated effect on the degree of dispersion, physical property and dissolution when making oral dispersing film containing indomethacin to find appropriate condition and suggested guidelines of making oral dispersing film. The appropriate dispersing ratio of the amount of surfactants and dispersing agent were 1% and 4%, also the stability dropped in the PEG molecular weight of 4000 or more. Drying time of oral dispersing film was $90^{\circ}C$ for 10 minutes to 12 minutes that dispersing film's property about flexibility, detachability were very good. The oral dispersion film's content used PEG 400 was $98.6{\pm}0.5%$ and the most uniform. As the molecular weight of PEG increased, dissolution time also increased. On the basis of evaluation parameter, PEG with 400~600 of molecular weight was selected as good dispersing agent in oral dispersing film. Therefore, it can be suggested guideline of preparation application study in oral dispersing film.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.604-611
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• 2005

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000-based solid dispersions (SDs), by incorporating various pharmaceutical excipients or microemulsion systems, were prepared using a fusion method, t o compare the dissolution rates and bioavailabilities in rats. The amorphous structure of the drug in SDs was also characterized by powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The ketoconazole (KT), as an antifungal agent, was selected as a model drug. The dissolution rate of KT increased when solubilizing excipients were incorporated into the PEG-based SDs. When hydrophilic and lipophilic excipients were combined and incorporated into PEG-based SDs, a remarkable enhancement of the dissolution rate was observed. The PEG-based SDs, incorporating a self microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) or microemulsion (ME), were also useful at improving the dissolution rate by forming a microemulsion or dispersible particles within the aqueous medium. However, due to the limited solubilization capacity, these PEG-based SDs showed dissolution rates, below 50% in this study, under sink conditions. The PEG-based SD, with no pharmaceutical excipients incorporated, increased the maximum plasma concentration (C$_{max}$) and area under the plasma concentration curve (AUC$_{0-6h}$) two-fold compared to the drug only. The bioavailability was more pronounced in the cases of solubilizing and microemulsifying PEG-based SDs. The thermograms of the PEG-based SDs showed the characteristic peak of the carrier matrix around 60$^{\circ}C$, without a drug peak, indicating that the drug had changed into an amorphous structure. The diffraction pattern of the pure drug showed the drug to be highly crystalline in nature, as indicated by numerous distinctive peaks. The lack of the numerous distinctive peaks of the drug in the PEG-based SDs demonstrated that a high concentration of the drug molecules was dissolved in the solid-state carrier matrix of the amorphous structure. The utilization of oils, fatty acid and surfactant, or their mixtures, in PEG-based SD could be a useful tool to enhance the dissolution and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs by forming solubilizing and microemulsifying systems when exposed to gastrointestinal fluid.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.249-254
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• 2008

Solid dispersions of poorly water-soluble drug, atorvastatin, were prepared with Eudragit L100 to improve the solubility by spray dryer. To investigate the correlation between physicochemical properties and dissolution rate of solid dispersions, the samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). SEM and DSC were found that atorvastatin is amorphous in the Eudragit L100 solid dispersion. FT-IR was used to analyze the salt formation by interaction between atorvastatin and Eudragit L100. The dissolution rate of solid dispersed atorvastatin was markedly increased compared to drug powder in stimulated intestinal juice (pH 6.8). Thus, the solid dispersed atorvastatin using the spray drying method with Eudragit L100 may be effective for the bioavailability.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.411-416
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• 2017

Paclitaxel (PTX) is a effectively chemotherapeutic agent which is extensively able to treat the non-small cell lung, pancreatic, breast and other cancers. But it is a practically insoluble drug with water solubility less than $1{\mu}g/mL$, which restricts its therapeutic application. To overcome the problem, hyaluronic acid-complexed paclitaxel nanoemulsions (HPNs) were prepared by ionic complexation of paclitaxel (PTX) nanoemulsions and hyaluronic acid (HA) to specifically target non-small cell lung cancer. HPNs were composed of ${\small{DL}}-{\alpha}$-tocopheryl acetate, soybean oil, polysorbate 80, ferric chloride, and HA and fabricated by high-pressure homogenization. The HPNs were $85.2{\pm}7.55nm$ in diameter and had a zeta potential of $-35.7{\pm}0.25mV$. The encapsulation efficiency was almost 100%, and the PTX content was 3.0 mg/mL. We assessed the in vivo antitumor efficacy of the HPNs by measuring changes in tumor volume and body weight in nude mice transplanted with CD44-overexpressing NCI-H460 xenografts and treated with a bolus dose of saline, $Taxol^{(R)}$, PTX nanoemulsions (PNs), or HPNs at a dose of 25 mg/kg. Suppression of cancer cell growth was higher in the PN- and HPN-treated groups than in the $Taxol^{(R)}$ group. In particular, HPN treatment dramatically inhibited tumor growth, likely because of the specific tumor-targeting affinity of HA for CD44-overexpressed cancer cells. The loss of body weight and organ weight did not vary significantly between the groups. It is suggest that HPNs should be used to effective nanocarrier system for targeting delivery of non-small cell lung cancer overexpressing CD44 and high solubilization of poorly soluble drug.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2015

Olmesartan affiliated to biopharmaceutics classification system class 2 is a poorly water soluble drug. For this reason, olmesartan showed a low bioavailability and a lot of difficulties in the process of designing the pharmaceutical formulation. We prepared the solid dispersions of olmesartan. We confirmed the dissolution rate of drug which was prepared by manufacturing. The pharmaceutical formulation of solid dispersions was designed by using PVP as water soluble polymer. We analyzed morphological feature of solid dispersion by employing a scanning electron microscope. Then, the crystalline property of solid dispersion was confirmed through X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimeter. Also, the chemical change of solid dispersion was confirmed by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In vitro dissolution test was used to analyze the dissolution rate of solid dispersion. The prepared solid dissolution olmesartan confirmed the dissolution rate in the pH 1.2. It was compared with olmetec and improved dissolution rate through solid dispersion.