No abstract

A synthetic poly(amino acid), poly(aspartic acid) modified with thioethyl side groups, was studied as an in situ gelling and mucoadhesive dosage form. The chemical structure and the controllable, large thiol content of the polymer were confirmed using 1 H NMR spectroscopy and Ellman's assay. In situ gelation of aqueous polymer solutions was induced by oxidation and monitored using oscillation rheometry. The strength of mucoadhesion towards excised mucosa was characterised by tensile tests in ex vivo experiments. Release kinetics of ophthalmic antibiotic ofloxacin was studied from an in situ crosslinked hydrogel and a liquid formulation to prove the sustained release of the former.

No abstract

Thiolated poly(aspartic acid) is known as a good mucoadhesive polymer in aqueous ophthalmic formulations. In this paper, cyclodextrin-modified thiolated poly(aspartic acid) was synthesized for the incorporation of prednisolone, a lipophilic ophthalmic drug, in an aqueous in situ gellable mucoadhesive solution. This polymer combines the advantages of cyclodextrins and thiolated polymers. The formation of the cyclodextrin-drug complex in the gels was analyzed by X-ray powder diffraction. The ocular applicability of the polymer was characterized by means of physicochemical, rheological and drug diffusion tests. It was established that the chemical bonding of the cyclodextrin molecule did not affect the complexation of prednisolone, while the polymer solution preserved its in situ gellable and good mucoadhesive characteristics. The chemical immobilization of cyclodextrin modified the diffusion profile of prednisolone and prolonged drug release was observed. The combination of free and immobilized cyclodextrins provided the best release profile because the free complex can diffuse rapidly, while the bonded complex ensures a prolonged action.

PurposeThe formulation of topical ophthalmic products with appropriate therapeutic effect and patient compliance is a major challenge. To increase the efficiency of the ocular delivery of the drug, the enhancement of water solubility and the contact time of the drug on the surface of the cornea are necessary. In this work, prednisolone (PR)-containing eye drops were formulated with antimicrobial, mucoadhesive biopolymer and PR–cyclodextrin inclusion complex. This approach can be used for the development of innovative ophthalmic formulations.Materials and methodsAfter adjusting the optimal physiological parameters, the amount of the required cyclodextrin for the highest penetration of PR was determined by dialysis membrane diffusion study. The viscosity, surface tension and mucoadhesion of the eye drops were measured. The microbiological effectiveness of zinc-hyaluronate (ZnHA) was investigated by a standard method of the European Pharmacopoeia.ResultsIn this case, no significant difference of surface tension was measured in products with different amounts of cyclodextrin. According to the results of the tensile test, ZnHA as a mucoadhesive biopolymer improves the mucoadhesion of ophthalmic products. The antimicrobial stability of formulations preserved by ZnHA meets requirement B of the European Pharmacopoeia.ConclusionIt can be stated that the innovative PR-containing compositions are suitable for producing mucoadhesive, properly preserved aqueous ophthalmic solutions with increased bioavailability attributes.