• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.119-124
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• 1996

To develop oral controlled release dosage forms, ionic interactions between polymers and drugs were evaluated. Hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose and carboxymethylene were used as model nonionic and ionic polymers, respectively. 5-fluorouracil, propranolol-HCl and sodium salicylate were selected as model nonionic, cationic and anionic, respectively. Polymer-drug mixtures were compressed into tablets and drug release kinetics from these tablets were determined. Drug release from the tablets made of the nonionic polymer was not affected by the charge of drugs, rather, was regulated by the solubility of drugs in different pH releasing media. However, drug release kinetics were significantly affected when drug-polymer ionic interactions exist. Enhanced drug release was observed from anionic drug-anionic polymer tablets due to ionic repulsion, whereas drug release was retarded in cationic drug-anionic polymer tablets owing to ionic attractive force. Therefore, the results suggested that the polymer-drug interactions are important factors in designing controlled release dosage forms.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.237-245
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• 1991

Matrix type silicone rubber devices were designed for long-term implantable drug delivery system. Release controlling agents (RCA), i.e., polypropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, were employed to control drug release from the devices. The release rate of drug from RCA dispersed silicone matrices was mainly dependent on hydrophilicity-hydrophobicity of drug and RCA. In the case of hydrophilic drug, the release from the RCA dispersed matrix was regulated by swelling kinetics. Especially when the relatively hydrophobic polypropylene glycol was used, swelling control mechanism induced zero-order release kinetics. Whereas, the release of hydrophobic drug was resulted from partition mechanism. The effect of RCA was to increase drug diffusivity.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to use a ternary polymeric matrix system for high drug loading of a highly soluble drug for controlled release delivery. The controlled drug delivery of diltiazem HCl (solubility > 50% in water at $25^{\circ}C$) with high loading dose (the final loading dose of drug was 34%) from a ternary polymeric matrix (gelatin, pectin, HPMC) was successfully accomplished. This simple monolithic system with 240 mg drug loading provided near zero-order release over a 24 hour-period by which time the system was completely dissolved. The release kinetics of diltiazem HCl tablet with high loading dose from the designed ternary polymeric system was dependent on the ratios of HPMC : pectin binary mixture. The release rate increased as pectin : HPMC ratio were increased. Swelling behavior of the ternary system and the ionic interaction of formulation components with cationic diltiazem molecule appear to control drug diffusion and the release kinetics. Comparable release profiles between commercial product and the designed system were obtained. The binding study between gelatin with diltiazem HCl showed the presence of two binding sites for drug interaction with subsequent controlled diffusion upon swelling. This designed delivery system is easy to manufacture and drug release behavior is highly reproducible and offers advantages over the existing commercial product.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.179-183
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• 1989

Drug release experiments were performed based on pH-sensitive swelling behaviors of polymethacrylic acid. 5-Fluorouracil as a nonionic model drug revealed release patterns depending solely on pH-dependent swelling kinetics of polymethacrylic acid. In contrast, release of propranolol hydrochloride as a cationic model drug was significantly affected by ionic drug-polymer interaction as well as the swelling kinetics. Accordingly, a zero-order release pattern was obtained at pH 7, which was distinguished from the general matrix type drug release pattern.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.645-650
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• 1998

The dual drug-loaded alginate beads simultaneously containing drug in inner and outer layers were prepared by dropping plain (single-layered) alginate beads into $CaCl_2$ solution. The release characteristics were evaluated in simulated gastric fluid for 2 h followed by intestinal fluids thereafter for 12 h. The surface morphology and cross section of dual drug-loaded alginate beads was also investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The poorlv water-soluble ibuprofen was chosen as a model drug. The surface of single-layered and dual drug-loaded alginate beads showed very crude and roughness, showing aggregated particles, surface cracks and rough crystals. The thickness of dual drug-loaded alginate beads surrounded by outer layer was ranged from about 57 to 329mcm. The distinct chasm between inner and outer layers was also observed. In case of single-layered alginate bead, the drug was not released in gastric fluid but was largely released in intestinal fluid. However, the release rate decreased as the reinforcing $Eudragit^{\circledR}$ polymer contents increased. When the plasticizers were added into polymer, the release rate largely decreased. The release rate of dual drug-loaded alginate beads was stable in gastric fluid for 2 h but largely increased when switched in intestinal fluid. The drug linearly released for 4 h followed by another linear release thereafter, showing a distinct biphasic release characteristics. There was a difference in the release profiles between single-layered and dual drug-loaded alginate beads due to their structural shape. However, this biphasic release profiles were modified by varying formulation compositions of inner and outer layer of alginate beads. The release rate of dual drug-loaded alginate beads slightly decreased when the outer layer was reinforced with $Eudragit^{\circledR}$ RS1OO polymers. In case of dual drug-loaded alginate beads with polymer-reinforced outer layer only, the initial amount of druc released was low but the initial release rate (slope) was higher due to more swellable inner cores when compared to polymer-reinforced inner cores. The current dual drug-loaded alginate beads may be used to deliver the drugs in a time dependent manner.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.284-288
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• 2011

The test method for biologics of lot release system is based on 'Test procedure and specification for biological products,' generally, thimerosal content is measured by chemical analysis using O.D. In this study, the comparative analysis was carried out using the gold amalgamation method for thimerosal content was compared to the existing methods, which are described above. The gold amalgamation method, which uses atomic absorption spectrophotometry, was meets all the method validation acceptance criteria. It is considered to be proper as the assay and identification test for thimerosal. In this study, the comparative analysis was performed three times. As a result, gold amalgamation method is more convenient and easy to perform as this assay doesn't have pre-treatment procedure. Also this assay showed good precision and reproducibility compared to the conventional method. Therefore, it is appropriate to alternate the assay method of thimerosal from the conventional chemical analysis to gold amalgamation method to improve the credibility of lot release system and the quality control of biologics, by standardizing test method.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.263-271
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• 1996

Sulconazole nitrate(SCN), an imidazole derivative which has been effective in the treatment of dermatophytosis, tinea versicolor and candidiasis, was formulated as a gel containing drug, poloxamer 407, ethanol and propylene glycol. The resulting SCN gels were evaluated with respect to their viscosity, drug release rate, skin permeation rate. The apparent viscosity of SCN gel increased in proportion to poloxamer 407, drug and propylene glycol concentration. In case ethanol was added, the apparent viscosity decreased. The drug release rate of SCN gel increased in proportion to temperature and ethanol concentration. But the drug release rate decreased as the concentration of poloxamer 407 increased. The increase of drug concentration induced nonlinear increase of drug release rate. When propylene glycol was added at the level of 10%, the drug release rate increased but from 15% it decreased. The skin permeation rate decreased in high concentration of poloxamer 407. The skin permeation rate of SCN gel containing 15% ethanol increased about twice than that of gel without ethanol. The increase of drug concentration induced nonlinear increase of skin permeation rate. When propylene glycol was added at the level of 10%, the skin permeation rate increased but from 15% it decreased.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2000

Various release test methods have been applied for the evaluation of nicotine release in vitro from commercial patches. However, whether and how the release data reflect the permeation of nicotine across the skin, is not fully elucidated. To predict in vivo bioavailability from in vitro release tests, correlation between in vitro release and in vitro skin permeation was assessed in the present study. Release of nicotine from three commercial patches was measured for 24 hours under nine experimental conditions which were classified depending on the apparatus (i.e., paddle over disk, cylinder and reciprocating holder) and dissolution media (i.e., phosphate buffer pH 7.4, water and the 1 % phosphoric acid pH 1.5). In vitro permeation of nicotine from the patches across the human cadaver skin was also measured using a diffusion cell. The release of nicotine was better explained by the Higuchi's equation rather than by the first order rate equation. Correlation between the release rate and the in vitro skin permeation differed among the patches. However, in general, the cylinder method, in which water is used as a dissolution medium, showed the highest correlation among the nine release test conditions.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.183-188
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• 1995

Polymeric reinforcement and coatings of alginate beads were carried out to control the release rate of drug from alginate beads. A poorly water-soluble ibuprofen (IPF) was selected as a model drug. A commercially available $Eudragit^{\circledR}$ RS100 was also used as a polymer. Effects of polymeric contents, the presence of plasticizers and amount of drug loading on the release rate of drug were investigated. The release rate of drug from alginate beads in the simulated gastric fluid did not occur within 2 h but released immediately when dissolution media were switched to the simulated intestinal fluid. No significant difference of release rate from polymer-reinforced alginate bead without plasticizers was observed when compared to plain (simple) beads. However, the release rate of drug from polymer-reinforced alginate beads was further sustained and retarded when aluminium tristearate (AT) as a plasticizer was added to polymer. However, polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400) did not change the release rate of drug from alginate beads although PEG400 was used to improve dispersion of polymer and sodium alginate, and plasticize $Eudragit^{\circledR}$ RS100 polymer. The presence of plasticizer was crucial to reinforce alginate gel matrices using a polymer. As the amount of drug loading increased, the release rate of drug increased as a result of decreasing effects of polymer contents in matrices. The significantly sustained release of drug from polymer-coated alginate beads occurred as the amount of polymer increased because the thickness of coated membrane increased so that cracks and pores of the outer surface of alginate beads could be reduced. The sustained and retarded action of polymer-reinforced and coated beads may result from the disturbance of swelling and erosion (disintegration) of alginate beads. From these findings, polymeric-reinforcement and coatings of alginate gel beads can provide an advanced delivery system by retarding the release rate of various drugs.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.453-460
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• 2005

4-Aminopyridine (AP) is a potassium channel blocker used in the treatment of neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer disease. AP‘s window of therapeutic effect appears to correlate with its plasma halflife (3.5 hours). It demonstrates pH-dependent solubility because of a weakly basic drug. In addition, the resulting release from conventional matrix tablets decreases with increasing pH-milieu of the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study is to design sustained release matrix tablet containing AP, overcoming this problem. $Eudragit^{\circledR}$ L 100 (EuL) and sodium alginate were used in an effort to achieve pH independent drug release. The effect of sodium alginate and EuL on drug release from matrix tablet was investigated. The drug release behavior from the different tablets was analyzed by $t_{20%},\;t_{40%},\;t_{60%}$, The exponential diffusion coefficient n, kinetic constant K were calculated according to the Korsmeyer-Peppas equation. The drug release from matrix tablets prepared with sodium alginate was decreased with increasing the content of sodium alginate in pH 7.4 while there is no significant difference in pH 1.2. The exponent n values were determined to be approximately 0.5 and 0.8 respectively, in both pH 1.2 and 7.4. These values indicate diffusion-based anomalous mechanism and erosion-based anomalous mechanism, respectively. The drug release from sodium alginate matrix tablets prepared with solid dispersion of EuL containing drug showed a slow drug release in an acidic medium and a more fast drug release in phosphate medium, compared with sodium alginate matrix tablets prepared with physical mixture. These results may be attributed to the gel forming ability of sodium alginate and pH dependent solubility of EuL. Therefore, sustained-release AP matrix tablets using sodium alginate and EuL were successfully prepared.