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Gastro retention using polymer cocoons.

Gastro retention using polymer cocoons.

Artificial cells, nanomedicine, and biotechnology (2014-08-01)

Julien Arnold, David Hunkeler

ABSTRACT

A gastro-retentive capsule has been prepared which is retained in the stomach for a period of 24h, providing a vehicle for the controlled delivery to the upper intestines. These "gastro cocoons" can resist passage through the sphincter of the stomach, and can retain a high drug payload (30%). They are made from oppositely charged polyelectrolytes and can swell to twice their initial volume. They are strong and also can resist 550 N of compressive force. They are based on filled pharmaceutical capsules which are visible to X-rays. Using ambroxol hydrochloride as a model drug linear, zero-order, release curves were obtained.

MATERIALS

Product Number

Brand

Product Description

Ambroxol hydrochloride, European Pharmacopoeia (EP) Reference Standard

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrogen chloride, ReagentPlus^®, ≥99%

Sigma-Aldrich

Chloromethane, ≥99.5%

Supelco

Ambroxol hydrochloride, analytical standard

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrochloric acid solution, 32 wt. % in H₂O, FCC

USP

Acetone, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Reference Standard

Supelco

Acetone, Pharmaceutical Secondary Standard; Certified Reference Material

Sigma-Aldrich

Acetone, AR, ≥99.5%

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrochloric acid solution, 0.1 N

Sigma-Aldrich

Acetone, LR, ≥99%

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrochloric acid, AR, 35-37%

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrochloric acid, LR, 35-38%

Sigma-Aldrich

Acetone, ACS reagent, ≥99.5%

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrochloric acid, meets analytical specification of Ph. Eur., BP, NF, fuming, 36.5-38%

Sigma-Aldrich

Acetone, Laboratory Reagent, ≥99.5%

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrochloric acid, puriss. p.a., ACS reagent, reag. ISO, reag. Ph. Eur., fuming, ≥37%, APHA: ≤10

Sigma-Aldrich

Acetone, ACS reagent, ≥99.5%

Sigma-Aldrich

Acetone, puriss., meets analytical specification of Ph. Eur., BP, NF, ≥99% (GC)

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrochloric acid, 37 wt. % in H₂O, 99.999% trace metals basis

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrochloric acid, ACS reagent, 37%

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrochloric acid, ACS reagent, 37%

Sigma-Aldrich

Acetone, puriss. p.a., ACS reagent, reag. ISO, reag. Ph. Eur., ≥99.5% (GC)

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrochloric acid, puriss., 24.5-26.0%

Sigma-Aldrich

Acetone, histological grade, ≥99.5%

Sigma-Aldrich

Acetone, suitable for HPLC, ≥99.9%

Sigma-Aldrich

Acetone, suitable for HPLC, ≥99.8%

Sigma-Aldrich

Acetone, HPLC Plus, for HPLC, GC, and residue analysis, ≥99.9%

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrochloric acid, 36.5-38.0%, BioReagent, for molecular biology

Supelco

Hydrochloric acid solution, volumetric, 0.1 M HCl (0.1N), endotoxin free

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrochloric acid solution, 1.0 N, BioReagent, suitable for cell culture