Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles as drug delivery devices

The manufacturing techniques of various drug loaded biodegradable poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) devices.

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Degradable Controlled-Release Polymers and Polymeric Nanoparticles: Mechanisms of Controlling Drug Release

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1021/js980403l

Solid dispersion of poorly water‐soluble drugs: Early promises, subsequent problems, and recent breakthroughs

In medicine, nanotechnology has sparked a rapidly growing interest as it promises to solve a number of issues associated with conventional therapeutic agents, including their poor water solubility (at least, for most anticancer drugs), lack of targeting capability, nonspecific distribution, systemic toxicity, and low therapeutic index. Over the past several decades, remarkable progress has been made in the development and application of engineered nanoparticles to treat cancer more effectively. For example, therapeutic agents have been integrated with nanoparticles engineered with optimal sizes, shapes, and surface properties to increase their solubility, prolong their circulation half-life, improve their biodistribution, and reduce their immunogenicity. Nanoparticles and their payloads have also been favorably delivered into tumors by taking advantage of the pathophysiological conditions, such as the enhanced permeability and retention effect, and the spatial variations in the pH value. Additionally, targeting ligands (e.g., small organic molecules, peptides, antibodies, and nucleic acids) have been added to the surface of nanoparticles to specifically target cancerous cells through selective binding to the receptors overexpressed on their surface. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that multiple types of therapeutic drugs and/or diagnostic agents (e.g., contrast agents) could be delivered through the same carrier to enable combination therapy with a potential to overcome multidrug resistance, and real-time readout on the treatment efficacy. It is anticipated that precisely engineered nanoparticles will emerge as the next-generation platform for cancer therapy and many other biomedical applications.

Engineered Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery in Cancer Therapy

Preparation of microspheres by the solvent evaporation technique

Interest in hot-melt extrusion techniques for pharmaceutical applications is growing rapidly with well over 100 papers published in the pharmaceutical scientific literature in the last 12 years. Hot-melt extrusion (HME) has been a widely applied technique in the plastics industry and has been demonstrated recently to be a viable method to prepare several types of dosage forms and drug delivery systems. Hot-melt extruded dosage forms are complex mixtures of active medicaments, functional excipients, and processing aids. HME also offers several advantages over traditional pharmaceutical processing techniques including the absence of solvents, few processing steps, continuous operation, and the possibility of the formation of solid dispersions and improved bioavailability. This article, Part I, reviews the pharmaceutical applications of hot-melt extrusion, including equipment, principles of operation, and process technology. The raw materials processed using this technique are also detailed and the physicochemical properties of the resultant dosage forms are described. Part II of this review will focus on various applications of HME in drug delivery such as granules, pellets, immediate and modified release tablets, transmucosal and transdermal systems, and implants.

Pharmaceutical Applications of Hot-Melt Extrusion: Part I

Solvent selection in the preparation of poly(dl-lactide) microspheres prepared by the solvent evaporation method

Physicochemical properties and mechanism of drug release from ethyl cellulose matrix tablets prepared by direct compression and hot-melt extrusion.

The present invention includes a hot-melt extruded film and method of preparation thereof. The film is made from a precursor composition containing at least a water soluble or water swellable thermoplastic polymer, preferably HPC and/or PEO, and a bioadhesive polymer. The film can also contain a therapeutic agent, preservative, buffering agent, antioxidant, super-disintegrant or absorbent, flavorant, colorant, water insoluble polymer, organic acid, surfactant, film modifier, and/or cross-linking agent. The film does not contain a conventional plasticizer or a material which is generally recognized in the art as a plasticizer for extruded films. The film can be sized and shaped to provide a controlled delivery of a therapeutic agent to the buccal, rectal, uterine, vaginal, abdominal, cranial, ophthalmic, nasal, sinus, or otic cavities. The film can also be used for the treatment of wounds.

James W. McGinity

Papers

Preparation of microspheres by the solvent evaporation technique

Pharmaceutical Applications of Hot-Melt Extrusion: Part I

Solvent selection in the preparation of poly(dl-lactide) microspheres prepared by the solvent evaporation method

Physicochemical properties and mechanism of drug release from ethyl cellulose matrix tablets prepared by direct compression and hot-melt extrusion.

Bioadhesive hot-melt extruded film for topical and mucosal adhesion applications and drug delivery and process for preparation thereof