Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy 

About: Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy is an academic journal published by Marcel Dekker. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Dosage form & Solubility. It has an ISSN identifier of 0363-9045. Over the lifetime, 6613 publications have been published receiving 146568 citations.

Alginate in drug delivery systems.

Abstract: Alginates are established among the most versatile biopolymers, used in a wide range of applications. The conventional use of alginate as an excipient in drug products generally depends on the thickening, gel-forming, and stabilizing properties. A need for prolonged and better control of drug administration has increased the demand for tailor-made polymers. Hydrocolloids like alginate can play a significant role in the design of a controlled-release product. At low pH hydration of alginic acid leads to the formation of a high-viscosity "acid gel." Alginate is also easily gelled in the presence of a divalent cation as the calcium ion. Dried sodium alginate beads reswell, creating a diffusion barrier decreasing the migration of small molecules (e.g., drugs). The ability of alginate to form two types of gel dependent on pH, i.e., an acid gel and an ionotropic gel, gives the polymer unique properties compared to neutral macromolecules. The molecule can be tailor-made for a number of applications. So far more than 200 different alginate grades and a number of alginate salts are manufactured. The potential use of the various qualities as pharmaceutical excipients has not been evaluated fully, but alginate is likely to make an important contribution in the development of polymeric delivery systems. This natural polymer is adopted by Ph.Eur. It can be obtained in an ultrapure form suitable for implants. This review discusses the present use and future possibilities of alginate as a tool in drug formulation.

Pharmaceutical Applications of Hot-Melt Extrusion: Part I

Abstract: 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.

Chitosan: A Unique Polysaccharide for Drug Delivery

Abstract: The aim of this review is to give an insight into the many potential applications of chitosan as a pharmaceutical drug carrier. The first part of this review concerns the principal uses of chitosan as an excipient in oral formulations (particularly as a direct tableting agent) and as a vehicle for parenteral drug delivery devices. The use of chitosan to manufacture sustained-release systems deliverable by other routes (nasal, ophthalmic, transdermal, and implantable devices) is discussed in the second part.

Factors influencing nebulizing efficiency

Abstract: In recent years, the use of nebulisers to generate aerosols has been greatly extended because of their numerous advantages. Two types of nebulisers are commonly used, each based on a different principle : - jet nebulisers, based on the Venturi effect to fragment liquid preparations into small droplets. - ultrasonic nebulisers, using the vibrations of a quartz to produce aerosol. The use of nebulisers lacks standardisation, which may account for certain inefficiency. First of all, we defined the parameters required to evaluate nebulisation efficiency. Although droplet size is a commonly used parameter, it is not sufficient to forecast efficiency. It must be associated with the quantity of drug nebulised and nebulisation time. Secondly, we listed factors influencing nebulisation efficiency.

Preparation techniques and mechanisms of formation of biodegradable nanoparticles from preformed polymers.

Abstract: The techniques available to prepare biodegradable nanoparticles (nanospheres and nanocapsules) from preformed polymers are reviewed. Although there is abundant literature on this topic, only a few focus on the thorough analysis of preparative procedures. In particular, four techniques are discussed in terms of their technological advantages and drawbacks: emulsification evaporation, solvent displacement, salting-out, and emulsification diffusion. The proposed mechanism of nanoparticle formation for each technique is described from a physicochemical perspective. The effects of preparative variables on nanoparticle size and drug-entrapment efficiency are also discussed.