A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Fabrication of drug-loaded edible carrier substrates from nanosuspensions by flexographic printing
Authors: Palo M, Kolakovic R, Laaksonen T, Maattanen A, Genina N, Salonen J, Peltonen J, Sandler N
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
Publication year: 2015
Journal: International Journal of Pharmaceutics
Journal name in source: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
Journal acronym: INT J PHARMACEUT
Volume: 494
Issue: 2
First page : 603
Last page: 610
Number of pages: 8
ISSN: 0378-5173
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2015.01.027
The main goal of the current work was to investigate the possible use of flexographic printing for the conversion of nanosuspensions into solid dosage forms. Aqueous nanosuspensions of indomethacin (IND) and itraconazole (ITR) with Poloxamer 407 as the stabilizer agent were prepared by wet ballmilling. The nanosuspensions were flexographically printed on three different substrates, including two commercially available edible substrates. The printed formulations were characterized with X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, dissolution studies for the printed IND and ITR formulations were conducted. The mean particle size of milled nanosuspensions of IND and ITR was 422.6 +/- 7.7 nm and 698.1 +/- 14.0 nm, respectively. The SEM imaging showed even distribution of nanosuspensions on the substrates after printing without any evident agglomeration. The printed formulations contained drug at least partially in crystalline form. The drug dissolution rate from the prepared formulations was improved compared to the pure drug. The drug release from the preparations on edible substrates was slightly slower due to the incorporation of the drug particles into the substrate matrix. In conclusion, the results indicated that flexographic printing can be considered as a promising fabrication method of solid nanoparticulate systems with enhanced dissolution behavior. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.