• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.271-276
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• 2006

Felodipine, a calcium-antagonist of dihydropyridine type, is a poorly water soluble drug and has very low bioavailability. As preceding studies, use of solid dispersion systems and surfactants(solubilizers) has been suggested to increase dissolution and to improve bioavailability of felodipine. But in case of solid dispersion systems, large amount of toxic organic solvents should be used and manufacturing process time become longer than conventional process. In case of using surfactants, as time elapsed, decreasing of dissolution rate of felodipine due to crystallization has been reported. In this study, Copovidon as a hydrophilic polymer and $Transcutol^{\circledR}$ as a surfactant were combined to formulations if order to increase dissolution of felodipine and conventional wet granulation process were applied to manufacturing of formulations. The effect of Copovidon and $Transcutol^{\circledR}$ on the dissolution oi felodipine was investigated in-vitro. When Copovidon and $Transcutol^{\circledR}$ used simultaneously, the dissolution rate of felodipine was prominently increased compared with when used separately and the maximum increase in the dissolution of felodipine was 5.8 fold compared to control. This is most probably due to synergy effect by combination of Copovidon and $Transcutol^{\circledR}$. Felodipine sustained release tablets were successfully formulated using several grades of HPMC as a release retarding agent. The stability of felodipine sustained release tablet was evaluated after storage at accelerated condition($40^{\circ}C/75%\;RH$) for 6months in HDPE(High density polyethylene) bottle. Neither significant degradation nor change of dissolution rate for felodipine was observed after 6months. In conclusion, felodipine sustained release tablet was successfully formulated and dissolution of felodipine, poorly water soluble drug, was prominently increased and also stability was guaranteed by using combination system of hydrophilic polymer and surfactant.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제26권12호
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• pp.1002-1008
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• 2003

Ferulic acid (3-methoxy, 4-hydroxy cinnamic acid) is a flavoid component possessing antioxidant property. The compound is currently under development as a new drug candidate for the treatment of the dementia. The objective of this preformulation study was to determine the physicochemical properties of ferulic acid. The n-octanol to water partition coefficients of ferulic acid were 0.375 and 0.489 at the pHs of 3 and 10, respectively. Accelerated stability study for ferulic acid indicated that the t 90 value for the drug was estimated to be 459 days at $25^{\circ}C$. Ferulic acid was also found to be unstable under the relative humidity of more than 76%, probably because of the hygroscopic nature of the drug. In order to study compatibility of ferulic acid with typical excipients, potential change in differential scanning calorimetry spectrum was studied in 1: 1 binary mixtures of ferulic acid and typical pharmaceutical excipients (e.g., Aerosil, Avicel, CMC, Eudragit, lactose, PEG, PVP, starch and talc). Avicel, CMC, PVP and starch were found to be incompatible with ferulic acid, indicating the addition of these excipients may complicate the manufacturing of the formulation for the drug. Particle size distribution of ferulic acid powder was in the size range of 10-190 $\mu$m with the mean particle size of 61 $\mu$m. The flowability of ferulic acid was apparently inadequate, indicating the granulation may be necessary for the processing of the drug to solid dosage forms. Two polymorphic forms were obtained by recrystallization from various solvents used in formulation. New polymorphic form of ferulic acid, Form II, was obtained by recrystallization from 1,4-dioxane. The equilibrium solubility for Form I was approximately twice of that for Form II. The dissolution rate of Form II was higher than that of Form I in the early phase (<6 min). Therefore, these physicochemical information has to be taken in the consideration for the formulation of ferulic acid.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제26권7호
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• pp.526-531
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• 2003

KR-31378 is a new drug candidate intended for the use in the prevention of ischemia-reperfusion damage. The objective of this preformulation study was to determine the physicochemical properties of KR-31378. The n-octanol to water partition coefficients of KR-31378 were 0.0504 at pH 3 and 0.8874 at pH 10. Accelerated stability of KR-31378 in solution and solid state was studied at 5, 40, $60^{\circ}C$. The stability testing indicated that the t90 for the drug in solid was estimated to be 2 years and 128.6 days at $25^{\circ}C$, while the that in aquesou solution was 68.6 days at $25^{\circ}C$. The KR-31378 was also found to be unstable under the relative humidity of 76%, probably because of the hygroscopic nature of the drug. In order to study compatibility of KR-31378 with typical excipients, potential change in differential scanning calorimetry spectrum was studied in 1:1 binary mixtures of KR-31378 and Aerosil, Avicel, Eudragit, lactose, PEG, talc, CMC, PVP, starch. As a result, CMC, PVP, and starch were found to be incompatible with KR-31378, indicating the addition of these excipients may complicate the manufacturing of the formulation for the drug. Particle size distribution of KR-31378 powder was in the size range of 9-93 $\mu$ m with the mean particle size of 37.9 $\mu$ m. The flowability of KR-31378 was apparently inadequate, indicating the granulation may be necessary for the processing of the drug to solid dosage forms. Crystallization of the drug with a number of organic solvents did not lead a crystalline polymorphism. In addition, dissolution of the drug from the powder was adequately rapid at $37^{\circ}C$ in water.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.259-266
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• 2000

Vitamin A palmitate, an oily drug which has low chemical stability and is poorly absorbed in the intestine, was formulated into a novel powdered dosage form. This is designated as a redispersible dry emulsion by freeze-drying technique. Before preparing a dry emulsion, vitamin A palmitate oil in solid in water (O/S/W) emulsion with soybean oil and coconut oil using Aerosil 200 as an emulsion stabilizer and polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene-blockcopolymer (Pluronic F68) as a surfactant was prepared. The resultants of the stability tests indicated that vitamin A palmitate O/S/W emulsion was improved on increasing the oil content of the formulation. The resultant dry emulsion particles have a good stabilities and free flow properties and readily released the oily droplets to form stable emulsions on rehydration. The drug releasing property from the resultant dry emulsion particles was dependent on factors such as amount of oily carrier(soybean oil) and surfactant(Pluronic F68) formulated. Above 80% of vitamin A palmitate content was released from the dry emulsion for 1 hour. It was deduced that vitamin A palmitate dry emulsion was definitely suitable for oral administration, since small droplets of vitamine A palmitate from the dry emulsion may alter the drug absorption profile resulting in bioavailability enhancement.