• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 1998

Low toxicity, reverse thermal gelation and high drug loading capabilities suggest that poloxamer 407 gels have great potential as a topical drug delivery system. Kojic acid (KA) is an antimelanogenic agent which has been widely used in cosmetics to whiten the skin color. However, it has the drawbacks of skin irritancy due to its acidic pH. Poloxamer gels of different polymer contents were formulated to overcome the problem and compared to the cream type formulations of either w/o/w multiple emulsion cream or o/w type emulsion cream. Using Franz diffusion cells mounted with a synthetic cellulose membrane (MWCO 12,000), drug release characteristics of the formulations were evaluated by the HPLC assay of KA concentration in the receptor compartment of pH 7.4 phosphate buffered saline solutions. Drug release from w/o/w multiple emulsion cream was controlled by oil membrane, showing the apparent zero order release kinetics. The KA release from the poloxamer gels was also controlled by the gel matrix, showing that drug release increased linearly as KA contents increase, but decreased exponentially as the polymer contents increase. In the skin irritancy test, the primary irritancy index(PII) of poloxamer gel base was lower than those of multiple emulsion cream base and o/w cream. Depending on KA contents or polymer contents in the gel. PH values in poloxamer gels were ranged from 1.3 to 2.0, which are interpreted as low or negligible irritation on skin. There was a good correlation between the log value of flux in drug release and PII value in skin irritation. It was possible to conclude that the poloxamer gels containing KA might be a good candidate for an antimelanogenic topical delivery system by virtue of the controlled release of the drug and the reduced skin irritancy.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.133-137
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• 1992

A novel oral controlled release tablet which may offer more uniform drug level in the body than simple zero-order was developed. The tablet is composed of three layers; outer film layer, middle part compression-coated hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) matrix layer, and inner core layer. Each layer contains nicardipine HCl as a model drug. In vitro dissolution test showed that the tablet released the drug in clear three steps; a rapid initial release, followed by a constant rate of release, and then a second phase of fast release of drug. The dissolution characteristics could be modified easily by changing the grade of HPMC, thickness of matrix layer, content of methylcellulose in matrix layer, content of active ingredient in each layer. The pH of dissolution medium did not affect the release profile. This three-step release system is expected to raise the blood concentration rapidly to effective level and to maintain effective blood level longer than simple slow-release systems.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 1998

Kojic acid (KA) is an antimelanogenic agent which has been widely used in cosmetics to whiten the skin color. However, it has the drawbacks of the skin irritancy and the instability against the pH, temperature, and light. In order to overcome these problems, various topical gels and multiple emulsion creams which can control the release of active ingredient, KA, were formulated employing cream bases of mineral oil with caprylic capric triglyceride and hydrophilic polymers such as chitosan, carbopol. and pluronics. Using Franz diffusion cells mounted with a synthetic cellulose membrane (MWCO 12,000), drug release characteristics of the formulations were evaluated by the HPLC assay of KA concentration in the receptor compartment of pH 7.4 phosphate buffered saline solution. Drug release from chitosan-based gels (ChitoGel) obeyed to the first order kinetics with a rapid release especially in the initial period. However, pluronic-based gels (PluGel) and carbopol-based gels (CarboGel) revealed controlled release of drug to some extent, followed by the square root-time kinetics. Moreover, the release of KA was further controlled with the W/O/W multiple emulsion creams (MultiCream), showing the apparent zero order release kinetics by virtue of dynamic ratecontrolling membrane of the oil layer. The flux $(J,\;{\mu}g/cm^2/hr)$ of ChitoGel. CarboGel. PluGel. and MultiCream in the initial period of 6hr were 73.30, 28.67. 24.04 and 7.72, respectively. On the other hand, the skin irritancy score of ChitoGel and MultiCream were observed as 2.5 and 2.3 respectively, in the rabbit skin irritation test. Although there were insignificant differences at p<0.05 between those formulations, it was possible to conclude that the W/O/W multiple emulsion creams containing KA might be a good candidate for an antimelanogenic drug delivery system due to the controlled release of acidic drug molecules.

• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.13-25
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• 2014

In the current study, a drug-eluting stent coated with biodegradable polymers and sirolimus was developed by using an ultrasonic nanocoater and characterized in aspects of surface smoothness and coating thickness. In addition, in vitro release profiles of sirolimus by changing top coating layer with different biodegradable polymers were investigated. Smooth surfaces with variable thickness could be fabricated by optimizing polymer concentration, flow rate, nozzle-tip distance, gas pressure, various solvents and ultrasonic power. Smooth surface could be generated by using volatile solvents (acetone, chloroform, and methylene chloride) or post-treating with solvent vapor. Coating thickness could be controlled by varying injection volume or polymer concentration, and higher concentration could reduce the coating time while obtaining the same thickness. The thickness measurement was the most effectively performed by a conventional cutting method among three different methods that were investigated in this study. Release profiles of sirolimus were effectively controlled by changing polymers for top layer. PLGA made the release rate 3 times faster than PDLLA and PLLA and all top layers prevented burst release at the initial phase of profiles. Our results will provide useful and informative knowledge for developing drug-eluting stents, especially coated with biodegradable polymers.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.217-225
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• 2011

The aim of this work was to prepare porous osmotic pump tablets for controlled delivery of Aceclofenac. Aceclofenac solid dispersion was prepared to improve the solubility by using the drug - carrier (Mannitol) ratio of 1:1. The osmotic pump tablets were prepared using the solid dispersed product of Aceclofenac. The formulation contains potassium chloride as osmotic agent, cellulose acetate as semipermeable membrane, poly ethylene glycol (PEG 4000) as pore former and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) as solubility enhancer. The formulations were designed by the general factors such as osmotic agent and pore former. All formulations were evaluated for various physical parameters and, the in vitro release studies were conducted as per USP. The drug release kinetic studies such as zero order, first order, and Higuchi and Korsmeyer peppas were determined and compared. All the formulations gave more controlled release compared to the marketed tablet studied. Numerical optimization techniques were applied to found out the best formulation by considering the parameter of in vitro drug release kinetics and dissolution profile standards. It was concluded that the porous osmotic pump tablets (F7) composed of Aceclofenac solid dispersion/Potassium chloride/Lactose/Sodium lauryl sulphate/Magnesium Stearate (400/40/95/10/5, mg/tab) and coating composition with Cellulose acetate/ PEG 4000 (60/40 %w/w) is the most satisfactory formulation. The porous osmotic pump tablets provide prolonged, controlled, and gastrointestinal environment-independent drug release.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.237-245
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• 1991

Matrix type silicone rubber devices were designed for long-term implantable drug delivery system. Release controlling agents (RCA), i.e., polypropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, were employed to control drug release from the devices. The release rate of drug from RCA dispersed silicone matrices was mainly dependent on hydrophilicity-hydrophobicity of drug and RCA. In the case of hydrophilic drug, the release from the RCA dispersed matrix was regulated by swelling kinetics. Especially when the relatively hydrophobic polypropylene glycol was used, swelling control mechanism induced zero-order release kinetics. Whereas, the release of hydrophobic drug was resulted from partition mechanism. The effect of RCA was to increase drug diffusivity.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.326-331
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• 2001

With the aim of developing of pH-sensitive controlled drug release system, a poly(Llysine) (PLL) based cationic semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) has been synthesized. This cationic hydrogel was designed to swell at lower pH and de-swell at higher pH and therefore be applicable for achieving regulated drug release at a specific pH range. In addition to the pH sensitivity, this hydrogel was anticipated to interact with an ionic drug, providing another means to regulate the release rate of ionic drugs. This semi-IPN hydrogel was prepared using a free-radical polymerization method and by crosslinking of the polyethylene glycol (PEG)-methacrylate polymer through the PLL network. The two polymers were penetrated with each other via interpolymer complexation to yield the semi-IPN structures. The PLL hydrogel thus prepared showed dynamic swelling/de-swelling behavior in response to pH change, and such a behavior was influenced by both the concentrations of PLL and PEG-methacrylate. Drug release from this semi-IPN hydrogel was also investigated using a model protein drug, streptokinase. Streptokinase release was found to be dependent on its ionic interaction with the PLL backbones as well as on the swelling of the semi-IPN hydrogel. These results suggest that a PLL semi-IPN hydrogel could potentially be used as a drug delivery platform to modulate drug release by pH-sensitivity and ionic interaction.

• 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 Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.79-88
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• 1990

A numerical model for diffusion and dissolution controlled transport from dispersed matrix is presented. The rate controlling process for transport is considered to be diffusion of drug through a concentration gradient coupled with time-dependent surface change and/or disappearance of the dispersed drug in response to the dissolution. The transport behavior of drug was explained in terms of ${\nu}$ parameter: ${\nu}$ value means a ratio of diffusion time constant and dissolution time constant. This general model has wide range of application from where release is controlled by the diffusion rate to where release is governed by the dissolution rate. Based on this model, theoretical drug concentration, particle size distributions in the polymer matrix system and the resulting release rate were also investigated.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.63-66
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• 2010

The "Guidance Document for Bioequivalence Study" was revised for adding to bioequivalence studies of controlled-release products after meal(Korea Food & Drug Administration Notification #2008-22, 2008.5.7). The bioequivalence study design for controlled-release products is $2{\times}2$ crossover under fast and fed condition in respect. For studies of controlled-release products under fed study, the same high-fat diet should be taken within 20 minutes in at least a 10-hour fasting state. The drug products should be administered 30 minutes after the meal started. A high-fat(more than 35 percent of total caloric content of the meal) and high-calorie(over 900 calories) meal is recommended as a test meal for fed BE studies.