Publications (22) View all
-
Article: Inhibition of skin inflammation in mice by diclofenac in vesicular carriers: liposomes, ethosomes and pevs.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Diclofenac-loaded phospholipid vesicles, namely conventional liposomes, ethosomes and PEVs (Penetration Enhancer-containing Vesicles) were developed and their efficacy in TPA (phorbol ester) induced skin inflammation was examined. Vesicles were made from a cheap and unpurified mixture of phospholipids and diclofenac sodium; Transcutol(®) P and propylene glycol were added to obtain PEVs, and ethanol to produce ethosomes. The structure and lamellar organization of the vesicle bilayer were investigated by Transmission Electron Microscopy and Small and Wide Angle X-ray Scattering, as well as the main physico-chemical features. The formulations, along with a diclofenac solution and commercial Voltaren Emulgel(®), were tested in a comparative trial for anti-inflammatory efficacy on TPA-treated mice dorsal skin. Vesicles were around 100nm, negatively charged, able to encapsulate diclofenac in good yields, and disclosed different lamellarity, as a function of the formulation composition. Vesicular formulations promoted drug accumulation and reduced the permeation. Administration of vesicular diclofenac on TPA-inflamed skin resulted in marked attenuation of oedema and leukocyte infiltration, especially using PEVs. Histology confirmed the effectiveness of vesicles, since they provided an amelioration of the tissual damage induced by TPA. The proposed approach based on vesicular nanocarriers may hold promising therapeutic value for treating a variety of inflammatory skin disorders.International journal of pharmaceutics 01/2013; · 2.96 Impact Factor -
Article: Photostability and solubility improvement of β-cyclodextrin-included tretinoin
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: In this work, we investigated the influence of β-cyclodextrin on the photostability of tretinoin and compared the photo-chemical stability of tretinoin, either in methanol or complexed with β-cyclodextrin, when exposed both to UV and fluorescent light. The physico-chemical characterization of tretinoin-β-cyclodextrin complexes, prepared by the freeze-drying process, using different tretinoin:β-cyclodextrin molar ratios (1:1 and 1:3), was carried out in solution by phase solubility studies, 1H-NMR spectroscopy, and in solid state by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR); these analyses confirmed the existence of an inclusion compound. Solubility study results showed that tretinoin solubility was enhanced by inclusion in β-cyclodextrin as a function of increasing concentrations of β-cyclodextrin in aqueous solution at different pH values (i.e., 3.0, 5.5, and 7.0). Moreover, the complexation of the tretinoin with β-cyclodextrin effectively protected the photolabile drug and reduced the degradation of tretinoin induced by UV and fluorescent light, improving its photo-chemical stability in comparison with free drug in methanol. Indeed, dissolved tretinoin in methanol degraded very quickly and completely, while β-cyclodextrin-included tretinoin decomposition was delayed and, after 30days under UV exposure, the percentage of remaining drug was about 20–25% (depending on the tretinoin concentration). The photodegradation of tretinoin in methanol under fluorescent light was slower: after 5days of irradiation it reached a photostationary state and intact tretinoin remained constant (6.6%). In conclusion, the β-cyclodextrin complexation always led to a reduction of degradation, depending on the tretinoin:β-cyclodextrin molar ratio and on the drug concentration (0.2mg/ml or 0.4mg/ml).Journal of Inclusion Phenomena 04/2012; 59(3):293-300. · 1.89 Impact Factor -
Article: Drug silica nanocomposite: preparation, characterization and skin permeation studies.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The aim of this work was to evaluate silica nanocomposites as topical drug delivery systems for the model drug, caffeine. Preparation, characterization, and skin permeation properties of caffeine-silica nanocomposites are described. Caffeine was loaded into the nanocomposites by grinding the drug with mesoporous silica in a ball mill up to 10 h and the efficiency of the process was studied by XRPD. Formulations were characterized by several methods that include FTIR, XRPD, SEM and TEM. The successful loading of caffeine was demonstrated by XRPD and FTIR. Morphology was studied by SEM that showed particle size reduction while TEM demonstrated formation of both core-shell and multilayered caffeine-silica structures. Solid-state NMR spectra excluded chemical interactions between caffeine and silica matrix, thus confirming that no solid state reactions occurred during the grinding process. Influence of drug inclusion in silica nanocomposite on the in vitro caffeine diffusion into and through the skin was investigated in comparison with a caffeine gel formulation (reference), using newborn pig skin and vertical Franz diffusion cells. Results from the in vitro skin permeation experiments showed that inclusion into the nanocomposite reduced and delayed caffeine permeation from the silica nanocomposite in comparison with the reference, independently from the amount of the tested formulation.Pharmaceutical Development and Technology 02/2012; · 1.36 Impact Factor -
Article: Liposomes coated with chitosan-xanthan gum (chitosomes) as potential carriers for pulmonary delivery of rifampicin.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The aim of this work was to develop new microparticles for drug delivery to lungs by coating liposomes with chitosan (CH)-xanthan gum (XG) polyelectrolyte complexes to obtain chitosomes. To this purpose, two groups of liposomes were prepared using a mixture of soy phosphatidylcholine and hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine in two different concentrations to evaluate their capability to entrap appropriate amounts of the model drug rifampicin. The obtained vesicles were then coated with different CH-XG weight ratios and liposomes and chitosomes were characterized in terms of morphology, size, size distribution, zeta potential, drug entrapment, and rheological properties. The efficiency of chitosomes and liposomes during nebulization was also studied. Results of this study indicated that nebulization and rheological properties of chitosomes are affected by the CH-XG weight ratio. In particular, CH-XG 1:0.5 (w/w) coating was able to greatly improve drug total mass output and drug deposition in the lower stages of the impinger.Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 02/2012; 101(2):566-75. · 3.06 Impact Factor -
Article: Metronidazole prodrugs: synthesis, physicochemical properties, stability, and ex vivo release studies.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study was to develop a colon targeted delivery system for metronidazole using polymeric prodrug formulation. Two chitosan amide conjugates of metronidazole were prepared by using two different spacers to covalently link the drug to the amino group of the chitosan glucosamine units. Glutaric and succinic hemiesters of metronidazole were thus prepared and then coupled to chitosan to obtain metronidazole-glutaryl- and metronidazole-succinyl-chitosan conjugates. Polymeric prodrugs were characterized by solid state NMR method, namely carbon 13 cross polarization magic angle spinning ((13)C NMR CPMAS). Prodrug stability study was carried out in acid (pH = 1.2) and in alkaline (pH = 7.4) buffers in a thermostatic bath at 37 °C. Drug release from the two prodrugs was studied by incubating each of them with 10% w/v cecal and colonic content of rats. Obtained results showed that both prodrugs were adequately stable in acid environment, while the succinyl conjugate was more stable than the glutaryl one in alkaline buffer. Both the prodrugs released the drug in cecal and colonic content, showing that the two systems could serve as colon specific delivery systems of metronidazole.European journal of medicinal chemistry 07/2011; 46(9):4142-50. · 3.27 Impact Factor
