Polyionic hydrocolloids for the intestinal delivery of protein drugs: alginate and chitosan--a review.

The present invention provides solid pharmaceutical compositions for improved delivery of a wide variety of pharmaceutical active ingredients contained therein or separately administered. In one embodiment, the solid pharmaceutical composition includes a solid carrier, the solid carrier including a substrate and an encapsulation coat on the substrate. The encapsulation coat can include different combinations of pharmaceutical active ingredients, hydrophilic surfactant, lipophilic surfactants and triglycerides. In another embodiment, the solid pharmaceutical composition includes a solid carrier, the solid carrier being formed of different combinations of pharmaceutical active ingredients, hydrophilic surfactants, lipophilic surfactants and triglycerides. The compositions of the present invention can be used for improved delivery of hydrophilic or hydrophobic pharmaceutical active ingredients, such as drugs, nutritional agents, cosmeceuticals and diagnostic agents.

Solid carriers for improved delivery of active ingredients in pharmaceutical compositions

The gastrointestinal tract is a complex ecosystem that associates a resident microbiota and cells of various phenotypes lining the epithelial wall expressing complex metabolic activities. The resident microbiota in the digestive tract is a heterogeneous microbial ecosystem containing up to 1×1014 colony-forming units (CFUs) of bacteria. The intestinal microbiota plays an important role in normal gut function and maintaining host health. The host is protected from attack by potentially harmful microbial microorganisms by the physical and chemical barriers created by the gastrointestinal epithelium. The cells lining the gastrointestinal epithelium and the resident microbiota are two partners that properly and/or synergistically function to promote an efficient host system of defence. The gastrointestinal cells that make up the epithelium, provide a physical barrier that protects the host against the unwanted intrusion of microorganisms into the gastrointestinal microbiota, and against the penetration of harmful microorganisms which usurp the cellular molecules and signalling pathways of the host to become pathogenic. One of the basic physiological functions of the resident microbiota is that it functions as a microbial barrier against microbial pathogens. The mechanisms by which the species of the microbiota exert this barrier effect remain largely to be determined. There is increasing evidence that lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, which inhabit the gastrointestinal microbiota, develop antimicrobial activities that participate in the host's gastrointestinal system of defence. The objective of this review is to analyze the in vitro and in vivo experimental and clinical studies in which the antimicrobial activities of selected lactobacilli and bifidobacteria strains have been documented.

Antagonistic activities of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria against microbial pathogens

Industrial Applications of Cyclodextrins

Recent development of chitosan-based polyelectrolyte complexes with natural polysaccharides for drug delivery.

Pharmaceutical tablet consisting of a first layer containing one or more drugs with immediate or controlled release formulation, a second layer containing one or more drugs, either equal to or different from the first layer, with slow release formulation, and a low-permeability barrier-type layer coating said second layer or, alternatively, placed between the first and second layer and, if necessary, containing a drug

Pharmaceutical tablet capable of liberating one or more drugs at different release rates

Aims: To characterize and select Lactobacillus strains for properties that would make them a good alternative to the use of antibiotics to treat human vaginal infections Methods and Results: Ten Lactobacillus strains belonging to four different Lactobacillus species were analysed for properties relating to mucosal colonization or microbial antagonism (adhesion to human epithelial cells, hydrogen peroxide production, antimicrobial activity towards Gardnerella vaginalis and Candida albicans and coaggregation with pathogens) The involvement of electrostatic interactions and the influence of bacterial metabolic state in the binding of lactobacilli to the cell surface were also studied Adherence to epithelial cells varied greatly among the Lactobacillus species and among different strains belonging to the same Lactobacillus species The reduction in surface negative electric charge promoted the binding of several Lactobacillus strains to the cell membrane whereas lyophilization reduced the adhesion capacity of many isolates The antimicrobial activity of lactobacilli culture supernatant fluids was not directly related to the production of H2O2 Conclusions: Three strains (Lactobacillus brevis CD2, Lact salivarius FV2 and Lact gasseri MB335) showed optimal properties and were, therefore, selected for the preparation of vaginal tablets The selected strains adhered to epithelial cells displacing vaginal pathogens; they produced high levels of H2O2, coaggregated with pathogens and inhibited the growth of G vaginalis Significance and Impact of the Study: The dosage formulation developed in this study appears to be a good candidate for the probiotic prophylaxis and treatment of human vaginal infections

https://www.medicatrix.be/download/Lactobacilles_infection.urinaire.pdf

Characterization and selection of vaginal Lactobacillus strains for the preparation of vaginal tablets

A description is given of a pharmaceutical form for oral administration consisting of a two- or three-layers tablet, wherein at least one layer can rapidly swell by contact with biological and/or aqueous fluids, said swelling resulting in a considerable increase in the tablet volume. Said phenomenon determines a prolonged residence of the pharmaceutical form at the gastric level and therefore allows a slow release of the active ingredient from said pharmaceutical form to the stomach and/or the first tract of the intestine.

A pharmaceutical tablet characterized by a showing high volume increase when coming into contact with biological fluids

Pharmaceutical tablet, capable of delivering the active substance or the active substances, according to a predeterminable release profile, comprising a core with an external partial coating in which said core consists of 3 layers, wherein the upper layer (1) contains an amount of the active substance with suitable excipients, the intermediate layer (2) consists of polymeric material with retarding barrier function and the lower layer (3) contains the remaining amount of the active substance with suitable excipients and said external coating (4) consists of controlled permeability polymeric materials, applied by compression to the lower surface and to the lateral surface of the core

Pharmaceutical tablet suitable to deliver the active substance in subsequent and predeterminable times

Pharmaceutical tablets releasing the active substance after a definite period of time, consisting of: a core containing the active substance and polymeric substances which swell and/or gel and/or erode on contact with water or with aqueous liquids; a layer applied externally to said core, suitable to prevent the immediate release of the active substance contained in the core and to allow the release of said active substance after a definite period of time, consisting of natural and/or synthetic polymeric materials of the class of the hydrophilic polymers which erode and/or gel and/or dissolve in an aqueous medium; a possible gastroresistant and enterosoluble coating.

Lauretta Maggi

Papers

Pharmaceutical tablet capable of liberating one or more drugs at different release rates

Characterization and selection of vaginal Lactobacillus strains for the preparation of vaginal tablets

A pharmaceutical tablet characterized by a showing high volume increase when coming into contact with biological fluids

Pharmaceutical tablet suitable to deliver the active substance in subsequent and predeterminable times

Pharmaceutical tablets releasing the active substance after a definite period of time