The measurement and control of high-risk host cell proteins for polysorbate degradation in biologics formulation

Non-ionic surfactant polysorbates (PS), including PS-80 and PS-20, are commonly used in the formulation of biotherapeutic products for both preventing surface adsorption and acting as stabilizer against protein aggregation. Trace levels of residual host cell proteins (HCPs) with lipase or esterase enzymatic activity have been shown to degrade polysorbates in biologics formulation. The measurement and control of these low-abundance, high-risk HCPs for polysorbate degradation is an industry-wide challenge to achieve desired shelf-life of biopharmaceuticals in liquid formulation, especially for high-concentration formulation product development. Here, we reviewed the challenges, recent advances and future opportunities of analytical method development, risk assessment and control strategies for polysorbate degradation during formulation development with a focus on enzymatic degradation. Continued efforts to advance our understanding of polysorbate degradation in biologics formulation will help develop high-quality medicines for patients.

Flux-Based Formulation Development—A Proof of Concept Study

The work aimed to develop the Absorption Driven Drug Formulation (ADDF) concept, which is a new approach in formulation development to ensure that the drug product meets the expected absorption rate. The concept is built on the solubility-permeability interplay and the rate of supersaturation as the driving force of absorption. This paper presents the first case study using the ADDF concept where not only dissolution and solubility but also permeation of the drug is considered in every step of the formulation development. For that reason, parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) was used for excipient selection, small volume dissolution-permeation apparatus was used for testing amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs), and large volume dissolution-permeation tests were carried out to characterize the final dosage forms. The API-excipient interaction studies on PAMPA indicated differences when different fillers or surfactants were studied. These differences were then confirmed with small volume dissolution-permeation assays where the addition of Tween 80 to the ASDs decreased the flux dramatically. Also, the early indication of sorbitol’s advantage over mannitol by PAMPA has been confirmed in the investigation of the final dosage forms by large-scale dissolution-permeation tests. This difference between the fillers was observed in vivo as well. The presented case study demonstrated that the ADDF concept opens a new perspective in generic formulation development using fast and cost-effective flux-based screening methods in order to meet the bioequivalence criteria.

FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF TRIAMCINOLONE LOADED CUBOSOMES FOR TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY

Psoriasis is a chronic condition that is caused by the negative signals given by immune system, which leads to hyperproliferation and other inflammatory reactions on the skin. These conditions may adversely affect the quality of the patient’s life leading to psychological stress. Topical delivery of drug is always preferred for Psoriasis because other treatments may lead to systemic intoxication and other adverse reactions. Triamcinolone is a topical corticosteroid belonging to BCS class IV (low solubility and permeability) used to treat Psoriasis. The limitations with transdermal delivery is that only a small amount of the drug can be transferred through the skin tissue due to the barrier effects of the Stratum corneum. Therefore, Novel transdermal delivery system, Cubosomes belonging to Nanostructured lipid carriers were chosen to overcome the issues of solubility and permeability. Twelve formulations were prepared with various ratios of Glyceryl monooleate (2.5 to 5%) & Poloxamer 407 (0.5 to 2%) and the formulations were evaluated for particle size, PDI, zeta potential, entrapment efficacy, drug content and in-vitro release. The best composition of Cubosomes was selected and incorporated into transdermal patch and the formulated patches were evaluated.

Plumbagin: A potential candidate for future research and development

Plumbagin has gained a lot of attention in the field of research due to its various therapeutic actions. It is a secondary metabolite obtained from different plant families such as Plumbaginaceae, Droseraceae, and Ebenceae. Various studies on plumbagin reveals that it is a natural gift for mankind in treating chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, malaria, bacterial infection as well as controlling cardiovascular disease. However, there are several challenges to develop plumbagin as a therapeutic agent. The first and foremost is its limited solubility and oral bioavailability. The second limitation is its toxicity. Plumbagin has a narrow therapeutic window and literature reveals that the compound has moderate toxicity in animals. But data is not sufficient to prove that plumbagin is unsafe for humans. In spite of many therapeutic benefits of Plumbagin, it remains unexploited for mankind. Thus, a systematic review on its toxicity, pharmacology and safety is required to be highlighted. This review work signifies the depth of therapeutic applications proven via research, its different modes of isolation and separation of chemical constituents, and its formulation development attempts. A thorough review of promising therapeutic targets via docking studies is also presented. Different methods used to quantify Plumbagin from plant is reviewed. An overview of attempts to design novel formulations which could enhance its bioavailability is also presented. The review paper will help the scientist to exploit the drug to its optimum which will help to overcome the challenges faced during its design and developmental stages.

Formulation Development, Characterization and Antifungal Evaluation of Chitosan NPs for Topical Delivery of Voriconazole In Vitro and Ex Vivo

This study aims to develop chitosan-based voriconazole nanoparticles (NPs) using spray-drying technique. The effect of surfactants and polymers on the physicochemical properties, in vitro release, and permeation of NPs was investigated. The prepared NPs containing various surfactants and polymers (e.g., Tween 20 (T20), Tween 80 (T80), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), propylene glycol (PG), and Polyethylene glycol-4000 (PEG-4000)) were physiochemically evaluated for size, zeta potential, drug content, percent entrapment efficiency, in vitro release, and permeation across rats’ skin. A Franz diffusion cell was used for evaluating the in vitro release and permeation profile. The voriconazole-loaded NPs were investigated for antifungal activity against Candida albicans (C. albicans). The prepared NPs were in the nano range (i.e., 160–500 nm) and positively charged. Images taken by a scanning electron microscope showed that all prepared NPs were spherical and smooth. The drug content of NPs ranged from 75% to 90%. Nanoparticle formulations exhibited a good in vitro release profile and transport voriconazole across the rat’s skin in a slow control release manner. The NPs containing SLS, T80, and PG exhibited the best penetration and skin retention profile. In addition, the formulation exhibited a potential antifungal effect against C. albicans. It was concluded that the development of chitosan NPs has a great potential for the topical delivery of voriconazole against fungal infection.

FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT OF ORLISTAT NANOCRYSTALS: IN VITRO CHARACTERIZATION AND IN VIVO STUDIES

Poor solubility of orlistat limits its luminal concentration and hence needs to be administered in higher doses, leading to drug related side effects. The aim of the present research was to investigate nanocrystallization approach to increase the solubility of orlistat using melt extrusion and high-pressure homogenization (HPH) methods. The effect of factors like type and amount of polymer, homogenization pressure and time, and number of cycles on orlistat solubility was investigated. A ~10-fold increase in the solubility of orlistat was attained using OPo11N with a subsequent increase in the dissolution rate of the drug. Poloxamer 188-orlistat nanocrystals (OPo11N) as compared to pure orlistat led to a decrease in T90%(20 mins for OPo11N and 51 mins for marketed sample). In vivo studies in female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats showed that post one month of oral administration the total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins of female SD rats remained unchanged compared to the control group. The triglycerides content and high-density lipoproteins levels were significantly increased with increase in the treatment time i.e. 12 weeks compared to the group treated with pure orlistat drug. In conclusion, the NC approach could serve as an effective formulation strategy for solubility enhancement of orlistat.

Recent Trends in Assessment of Cellulose Derivatives in Designing Novel and Nanoparticulate-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Improvement of Oral Health

Natural polymers are revolutionizing current pharmaceutical dosage forms design as excipient and gained huge importance because of significant influence in formulation development and drug delivery. Oral health refers to the health of the teeth, gums, and the entire oral-facial system that allows us to smile, speak, and chew. Since years, biopolymers stand out due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity, and stability. Polysaccharides such as cellulose and their derivatives possess properties like novel mechanical robustness and hydrophilicity that can be easily fabricated into controlled-release dosage forms. Cellulose attracts the dosage design attention because of constant drug release rate from the precursor nanoparticles. This review discusses the origin, extraction, preparation of cellulose derivatives and their use in formulation development of nanoparticles having multidisciplinary applications as pharmaceutical excipient and in drug delivery, as bacterial and plant cellulose have great potential for application in the biomedical area, including dentistry, protein and peptide delivery, colorectal cancer treatment, and in 3D printable dosage forms.