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Dapsone (DPS) is a unique sulfone with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory activity. Owing to its dual action, DPS has a great potential to treat acne. Topical DPS application is expected to be effective in treatment of mild to moderate acne conditions. Invasomes are novel vesicles composed of phosphatidylcholine, ethanol, and one or mixture of terpenes of enhanced percutaneous permeation. In this study, DPS-loaded invasomes were prepared using the thin film hydration technique. The effect of different terpenes (Limonene, Cineole, Fenchone, and Citral) in different concentrations on the properties of the prepared DPS-loaded invasomes was investigated using a full factorial experimental design, namely, the particle size, drug entrapment, and release efficiency. The optimized formulation was selected for morphological evaluation which showed spherical shaped vesicles. Further solid-state characterization using differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffractometry revealed that the drug was dispersed in an amorphous state within the prepared invasomes. Finally, the ability of the prepared DPS-loaded invasomes to deliver DPS through the skin was investigated in vivo using wistar rats. The maximum in vivo skin deposition amount of DPS was found to be 4.11 mcg/cm for invasomes versus 1.71 mcg/cm for the drug alcoholic solution, representing about 2.5-fold higher for the invasomes compared to the drug solution. The AUC0-10 calculated for DPS-loaded invasomes was nearly 2-fold greater than that of DPS solution (14.54 and 8.01 mcg.h/cm for the optimized invasomes and DPS solution, respectively). These results reveal that the skin retention of DPS can be enhanced using invasomes.

Unmodified magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) lack antibacterial potential. We investigated MNPs surface modifications that can impart antibacterial activity. Six MNPs species were prepared and characterized. Their antibacterial and antibiofilm potentials, surface affinity, and cytotoxicity were evaluated. Prepared MNPs were functionalized with citric acid, amine group, amino-propyl trimethoxy silane (APTMS), arginine, or oleic acid (OA) to give hydrophilic and hydrophobic MNPs with surface charge ranging from −30 to +30 mV. Prepared MNPs were spherical in shape with an average size of 6-15 nm. Hydrophobic (OA-MNPs) and positively charged MNPs (APTMS-MNPs) had significant concentration dependent antibacterial effect. OA-MNPs showed higher inhibitory potential against S. aureus and E. coli (80%) than APTMS-MNPs (70%). Both particles exhibited surface affinity to S. aureus and E. coli. Different concentrations of OA-MNPs decreased S. aureus and E. coli biofilm formation by 50-90%, while APTMS-MNPs reduced it by 30-90%, respectively. Up to 90% of preformed biofilms of S. aureus and E. coli were destroyed by OAMNPs and APTMS-MNPs. In conclusion, surface positivity and hydrophobicity enhance antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of MNPs.

A modified RP-HPLC method was developed for the quantitative determination of recombinant human insulin in bulk and pharmaceutical dosage form with reduced retention time. Study of the effects of the column temperature, pH of the mobile phase and presence of vial additives (phenol andm-cresol), or impurities (A-21 Disamido) on the accuracy of the assay were assessed. Separation was achieved using a Hypersil BDS C-18 column and the mobile phase was composed of solution A (aqueous solution of 28.3 anhydrous Na2SO4g/L, pH 2.3) and solution B (28.5 g anhydrous Na2SO4g/L in 50:50 mixture of water and acetonitrile, pH 2.3) in a ratio 48:52 (v/v) at 45–50°C. The column temperature was 40°C, the flow rate was 1 mL/min and detection was performed at 216 nm. The procedures were validated according to international conference on harmonization (ICH) guidelines. Recovery study was done applying standard addition technique for further validation of the procedure. The retention time of recombinant human insulin was 19.7 min as compared to 29 min obtained by the reference method. Analytical conditions fluctuations or presence of vial additives or impurities did not show any significant effect on the accuracy of the method. The prepared standard insulin solution in 0.01 N HCl was found to be stable for 5 days. Statistical comparison showed no significant difference between the described method and reference method regarding the accuracy and precision. The modified method can be applied for routine quality control applications for determination of recombinant human insulin.

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of anti-epileptic drugs (AED) is a routine application. Carbamazepine (CRB) is monitored as the parent drug while oxcarbazepine (OXC) and eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) are monitored as their active metabolite (eslicarbazepine; MHD). We have developed a UPLC-MS/MS method for determining CRB, OXC, ESL and MHD in plasma or serum with a simplified extraction protocol. The developed method detects sildenafil (SLD), which clinically interferes with AED and is likely to be co-administered in epileptic patients suffering from sexual insufficiency (60%). MHD was prepared in-house. AED were simultaneously determined in presence of SLD using gatifloxacin as an internal standard (IS). Separation was achieved using acetonitrile, methanol and 100 mm ammonium acetate in water (32:3:65, v/v/v) on an Intersil RP-HPLC column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm). A one-step extraction was performed by simultaneous protein and phospholipids precipitation. Detection was done by tandem mass spectrometry. No relative matrix effect was observed. The method was linear (0.5-40 μg/mL for CRB, ESL and MHD and 0.05-4 μg/mL for OXC), accurate and selective. Recoveries were 64.41 ± 5.07, 45.62 ± 1.73, 61.41 ± 4.77 and 60.33 ± 1.36 for CRB, OXC, ESL and MHD, respectively. The method was successfully applied for TDM of AED.

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