Buccal films of ondanstron hydrochloride were fabricated from mucoadhesive polymer, chitosan, and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP K30) for the purpose of prolonging drug release and improving its bioavailability. All fabricated film formulations prepared were smooth and translucent, with good flexibility. The weight and thickness of all the formulations were found to be uniform. Drug content in the films ranged from 98 – 99%, indicating favorable drug loading and uniformity. The inclusion of PVP K30, a hydrophilic polymer, significantly reduced the bioadhesive strength and in vitro mucoadhesion time of the films, although the degree of swelling increased. In vitro drug release studies in simulated saliva showed a prolonged release of over five to six hours for all formulations, except C4, with 99.98% release in 1.5 hours. Kinetic analysis of the release data indicated that the best fit model with the highest correlation coefficient for all formulations was the Peppas model. In vivo studies, on selected films in rabbits, were conducted, to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters such as Cmax, Tmax, and AUC0-∞, using model-independent methods with nonlinear least-squares regression analysis. The AUC and values of Cmax of ondansetron hydrochloride were found to be significantly greater (P < 0.005) than the selected films C2 and C3, as compared to those from the oral solution, thereby confirming improved bioavailability via the buccal route. The Tmax values were also significantly greater (P < 0.005), indicating the slower release of the drug from buccal films, thereby, providing prolonged effects. Good in vitro-in vivo correlation was observed with R2 values exceeding 0.98, when the percentage of drug released was correlated with the percentage of drug absorbed.

Gel dosage forms are successfully used as drug delivery systems to control drug release and protect the medicaments from a hostile environment. The main objective is to formulate and evaluate in situ oral topical gels of clotrimazole based on the concept of pH triggered and ion activated systems. The system utilizes polymers that exhibit sol-to-gel phase transition due to change in specific physico-chemical parameters. A pH triggered system consisting of carbopol 934P (0.2-1.4% w/v) and ion triggered system using gellan gum (0.1-0.75% w/v) along with hydroxylpropylmethylcelluose E50LV was used to prolong the release of clotrimazole (0.1% w/v). Formulations were evaluated for gelling capacity, viscosity, gel strength, bioadhesive force, spreadability, microbiological studies and in vitro release. The use of carbopol as in situ gel forming system was substantiated by the property to transform into stiff gels when the pH was raised, whereas in gellan gum this transformation occurred in the presence of monovalent/divalent cations. Effect of calcium carbonate and other process parameters optimized and found that increase in calcium ions produced stronger gels. The drug content, clarity, and pH of the formulation were found to be satisfactory. The viscosity was found to be in the range 5 to 85 centipoise for the sol, whereas for the gels it was up to 16000 centipoise. The formulation showed pseudoplastic flow with thixotrophy. The maximum gel strength (using texture analyzer) and bioadhesion was found to be up to 6.5 g and 4 g, respectively. The optimized formulations were able to release the drug up to 6 h. The formulation containing gellan gum showed better sustained release compared to carbopol based gels.

The objective of the present investigation was to design a vesicular formulation of brimonidine tartrate and evaluate its ability to reduce the dosing frequency and improve the therapeutic efficacy of the drug. Nano-vesicles of brimonidine tartrate were prepared by film hydration method. The prepared vesicles were evaluated for photomicroscopic characteristics, entrapment efficiency, in vitro, and ex-in vitro drug release and in vivo intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering activity. The methods employed for preparation of vesicles produced nano vesicles of acceptable shape and size. The in vitro, and ex-in vitro drug release studies showed that there was slow and prolonged release of the drug, which followed zero-order kinetics. The IOP-lowering activity of nano vesicles was determined and compared with that of pure drug solution and showed that the IOP-lowering action of nano-vesicles sustained for a longer period of time. Stability studies revealed that the vesicle formulations were stable at the temperature range of 2-8°C, with no change in shape and drug content. The results of the study indicate that it is possible to develop a safe and physiologically effective topical formulation that is also convenient for patients.

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Purpose: This study was designed to develop and evaluate chitosan films containing ciprofloxacin and diclofenac sodium for the topical treatment of periodontitis. Methods: Chitosan films containing ciprofloxacin alone and in combination with diclofenac sodium were prepared by solvent casting method. Some of the drug-loaded films were crosslinked with 2% gluteraldehyde for 2 and 4 h, respectively. The films were then evaluated for their physicochemical properties including weight variation, thickness, tensile strength, in vitro release, stability and antibacterial activity. Results: Mean weight and thickness data showed that the different films were uniform. Tensile strength was maximum for drug-free films and minimum for films containing the highest amount of drug(s). In vitro drug release data indicate that the films showed an initial burst release followed by sustained release of the drug(s). Films stored at refrigerated conditions exhibited slower degradation rate. The drug-loaded films that were crosslinked for 4 h had inhibitory effect on Staph mutans for up to 24 days. Conclusion: The study suggests that crosslinked chitosan film containing ciprofloxacin and diclofenac is a potential drug delivery device for the topical treatment of periodontitis. Good physicochemical properties were shown by the films.

A selected active pharmaceutical ingredient must be incorporated into a cargo carrier in a particular manner so that it achieves its goal. An amalgamation of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) should be conducted in such a manner that it is simple, professional, and more beneficial. Lipids/polymers that are known to be used in nanocarriers for APIs can be transformed into a vesicular formulation, which offers elegant solutions to many problems. Phospholipids with other ingredients, such as ethanol and water, form suitable vesicular carriers for many drugs, overcoming many problems related to poor bioavailability, poor solubility, etc. Ultraflexible liposomes are novel carriers and new frontiers of drug delivery for transdermal systems. Auxiliary advances in vesicular carrier research have been made, enabling polymer-coated ethanolic liposomes to avoid detection by the body’s immune system—specifically, the cells of the reticuloendothelial system. Ultraflexible liposomes act as a cargo system and a nanotherapeutic approach for the transport of therapeutic drugs and bioactive agents. Various applications of liposome derivatives in different diseases are emphasized in this review.

The results showed that developed formulation could be promising one in the topical delivery of clove oil for the treatment of cutaneous candidiasis.

Silymarin, a phyto-constituent derived from the plant Silybum marianum, has been widely acknowledged for its hepatoprotective activities. Nevertheless, its clinical utility is adversely hampered by its poor water-solubility and its limited oral bioavailability. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of phospholipid-based phytosomes for enhancing the oral bioavailability of silymarin. The phytosomes were prepared using the solvent evaporation technique and were optimized using a full factorial design. The optimized silymarin phytosomal formulation was then characterized for particle size, surface morphology, aqueous solubility, and in vitro drug release. Furthermore, in vivo antioxidant activity, hepatoprotective activity and oral bioavailability of the optimized formula were investigated in a rat model. The prepared silymarin phytosomes were discrete particles with a porous, nearly smooth surface and were 218.4 ± 2.54 nm in diameter. In addition, the optimized silymarin phytosomal formulation showed a significant improvement in aqueous solubility (~360 µg/mL) compared to pure silymarin and manifested a higher rate and extent of silymarin release from the optimized formula in dissolution studies. The in vivo assessment studies revealed that the optimized silymarin phytosomal formulation efficiently exerted a hepatoprotective effect in a CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity rat model via restoring the normal levels of antioxidant enzymes and ameliorating cellular abnormalities caused by CCl4-intoxication. Most notably, as compared to pure silymarin, the optimized silymarin phytosomal formulation significantly improved silymarin oral bioavailability, as indicated by a 6-fold increase in the systemic bioavailability. Collectively, phytosomes might represent a plausible phospholipid-based nanocarrier for improving the oral bioavailability of phyto-constituents with poor aqueous solubility.