Current Issue : July-September Volume : 2025 Issue Number : 3 Articles : 5 Articles
Background: The pharmaceutical industry is shifting from end-product testing towards real-time release testing. This approach is based on the continuous collection of process data and product information, which is finally utilized for the release decision. For continuous direct compression, spectroscopic technologies are preferred due to their short acquisition time and non-destructive nature. Methods: Here, the feasibility of the CIELAB color space was demonstrated for porosity and tensile strength. Five different formulations were processed, varying in particle size and deformation behavior. The compression forces were varied from 3 to 18 kN and the CIELAB color space was measured in-line using a UV/Vis probe implemented in the ejection position of the tablet machine. Results: Increasing the main compression force during tableting decreases the tablet surface roughness and porosity. In addition, the tablet tensile strength increases. These changes affected the reflection behavior of radiation on the tablet surface, resulting in a change in the chroma value C*. These dependencies were utilized for the in-line monitoring of porosity and tensile strength. Linear relations were observed for all formulations as exemplary, indicated by sufficient coefficients of determination and verification runs. Conclusions: Finally, UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in combination with a CIELAB color space transformation was demonstrated to be a suitable real-time release tool....
Objectives: Thermo-gelling hydrophilic polymers like PLGA–PEG–PLGA are known as injectable sustained-release depots for biologics, but they face challenges due to the occurrence of severe burst release. This study aimed to develop a strategy to avoid the initial burst release by pre-encapsulating proteins in polysaccharide microparticles through an aqueous–aqueous emulsion mechanism, thereby enhancing therapeutic retention and linear release kinetics. Methods: Five model proteins (G-CSF, GM-CSF, IGF-1, FVIII, BSA) were encapsulated in dextran microparticles, using an organic solvent-free aqueous–aqueous emulsion method. These particles were dispersed in a 23% (w/w) PLGA– PEG–PLGA solution and injected into a 37 ◦C release buffer to form a gel depot. The in vitro release profiles were quantified using ELISA and MicroBCA assays over 9–42 days. The bioactivity of the proteins was validated using cell proliferation assays (NFS-60, TF-1, MCF-7) and chromogenic kits. The in vivo pharmacokinetics of the FVIII-loaded formulations were evaluated in Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 5/group) over 28 days. Results: Protein-loaded dextran particles retained their structural integrity within the hydrogel and exhibited minimal burst release (≤5% within 30 min vs. >25% for free proteins). Sustained near-linear release profiles were observed for all the proteins, with complete release by day 9 (G-CSF, GM-CSF, BSA) or day 42 (FVIII). Rats administered with the thermal gel with FVIII–dextran particles showed a significantly lower peak plasma concentration (Cmax: 88.25 ± 30.21 vs. 132.63 ± 66.67 ng/mL) and prolonged therapeutic coverage (>18 days vs. 15 days) compared to those administered with the thermal gel with the FVIII solution. The bioactivity of the released proteins remained at ≥90% of the native forms. Conclusions: Pre-encapsulation in dextran microparticles effectively mitigates burst release from thermosensitive hydrogels, while preserving protein functionality....
Objectives: This study explores the development and evaluation of a bilayer sustained-release (SR) tablet formulation of ruxolitinib. As a BCS Class 1 drug, ruxolitinib requires twice-daily dosing due to its short half-life. We designed a bilayer tablet that integrates immediate-release (IR) and SR components in varying ratios to achieve sustained plasma concentrations, which we evaluated using discriminative analysis. Methods: Bilayer tablets combining IR and SR components were prepared in different ratios. In vitro dissolution tests and pharmacokinetic studies were conducted using Beagle dogs, followed by the evaluation of in vivo–in vitro correlation (IVIVC), along with a discriminative pharmacokinetic analysis focused on the SR layer. Results: A discriminative pharmacokinetic and IVIVC analysis was applied to all bilayer tablets, offering clearer insights into the plasma concentration and dissolution profiles. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that test formulation F4, which has a 20:20 IR-to-SR ratio, is expected to provide a similar area under the curve (AUC) while prolonging exposure compared to the reference IR tablet. Conclusions: This study highlights the potential of a bilayer tablet approach, combined with discriminative pharmacokinetic and IVIVC analysis, for creating a sustained-release dosage form of ruxolitinib....
Background/Objectives: Ambroxol hydrochloride (AMB) is a promising chaperone for treating neurological manifestations in Gaucher disease type 3 (GD3). The Amsterdam University Medical Center planned to conduct an n-of-1 clinical trial using high-dose AMB (25 mg/kg/day). As an adequate commercial AMB formulation is unavailable for this high target dosage, we aimed to develop high-dose AMB capsules and assess the formulated capsule’s quality. Methods: AMB API was sourced and tested according to the requirements of the European Pharmacopoeia. Capsule formulations of 75 mg and 200 mg AMB were developed. Drug product specifications were set following international guidelines (ICH Q6A) and the European Pharmacopoeia. Analytical methods were developed and validated, and three validation batches of each capsule strength were produced and analyzed. Results: The contents and the Acceptance Values (AVs) of the initial AMB batches (both strengths) varied between 89.1% to 92.7% (specification: 90% to 110%) and 12.4 to 17.6 (specification ≤ 15.0), respectively, indicating non-uniform AMB distribution. Consequently, the production of 200 mg capsules was discontinued, and modifications were made to the 75 mg capsule formulation, followed by the production of three optimized 75 mg validation batches. These batches met the specified criteria, with an AMB content and AV values ranging from 93.9% to 96.5% and 12.4 to 14.9, respectively. Furthermore, rapid dissolution profiles were observed (>80% dissolution within 15 min). No degradation products or microbiological impurities were detected after production. Conclusions: The optimized formulation of 75 mg AMB capsules formulated within the hospital pharmacy setting resulted in qualitative and uniform capsules which can be used in clinical trials....
Background/Objectives: The accurate prediction of drug release profiles from Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-based drug delivery systems is a critical challenge in pharmaceutical research. Traditional methods, such as the Korsmeyer-Peppas and Weibull models, have been widely used to describe in vitro drug release kinetics. However, these models are limited by their reliance on fixed mathematical forms, which may not capture the complex and nonlinear nature of drug release behavior in diverse PLGA-based systems. Method: In response to these limitations, we propose a novel approach—DrugNet, a data-driven model based on a multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network, aiming to predict the drug release data at unknown time points by fitting release curves using the key physicochemical characteristics of PLGA carriers and drug molecules, as well as in vitro drug release data. We establish a dataset through a literature review, and the model is trained and validated to determine its effectiveness in predicting different drug release curves. Results: Compared to the traditional Korsmeyer–Peppas and Weibull semiempirical models, the MSE of DrugNet decreases by 20.994 and 1.561, respectively, and (R2) increases by 0.036 and 0.005. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that DrugNet has a stronger ability to fit drug release curves and better capture nonlinear relationships in drug release data. It can deal with the nonlinear change of data better, has stronger adaptability and advantages than traditional models, and overcomes the limitations of the mathematical expressions in traditional models....
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