title: Fabrication of drug-loaded edible carrier substrates from nanosuspensions by flexographic printing.
abstract: 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 ball-milling. 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.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University, Tykistökatu 6A, FI-20520, Turku, Finland; Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, EE-50411 Tartu, Estonia. Electronic address: mirja.palo@abo.fi.
authors.forename: Mirja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palo
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University, Tykistökatu 6A, FI-20520, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Ruzica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kolakovic
authors.affiliation: Centre for Drug Research, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, Viikinkaari 5E, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laaksonen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Natural Sciences, Åbo Akademi University, Porthaninkatu 3-5, FI-20500 Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Anni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Määttänen
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University, Tykistökatu 6A, FI-20520, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Natalja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Genina
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Industrial Physics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Turku, Vesilinnantie 5, FI-20014 Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Jarno
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salonen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Natural Sciences, Åbo Akademi University, Porthaninkatu 3-5, FI-20500 Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Jouko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peltonen
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University, Tykistökatu 6A, FI-20520, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Niklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sandler
mesh_terms: D003199:Computer Systems; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D065546:Drug Liberation; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D013535:Suspensions / Q000737:chemistry*; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D013535:Suspensions; D017964:Itraconazole; D007213:Indomethacin
keywords: Ball-milling; Flexographic printing; Indomethacin; Itraconazole; Nanoparticles