Rheological behaviour of pharmaceutical semisolid preparations significantly affects manufacturing process, administration, stability, homogeneity of incorporated drug, accuracy of dosing, adhesion in the place of application, drug release, and resulting therapeutic effect of the product. We performed test of consistency by penetrometry, rotational, oscillation and creep tests, and squeeze and tack tests of model samples to introduce methods suitable for characterization and comparison of semisolids in practice. Penetrometry is a simple method allowing sorting the semisolids to low and high stress-resistant materials but deficient for rheological characterization of semisolids. Value of yield stress, generally considered to be appropriate feature of semisolids, is significantly influenced by the method of testing and the way of evaluation. The hysteresis loops of model semisolids revealed incomplete thixotropy, therefore, three-step thixotropy test was employed. Semisolids showed nonlinear response in the creep phase of tests and partial recovery of structure by storing energy in the recovery phase. Squeeze and tack tests seem to be convenient ways for comparison of semisolids. Our study can contribute to a better understanding of different flow behaviour of semisolids given by different physicochemical properties of excipients and can bring useful approaches to evaluation and comparison of semisolids in practice.

Although the systemic administration of terbinafine is quite well tolerated, topical treatment of the local infections is often preferred. New formulation strategies in topical antifungal therapy represent the polymeric nanoparticles (NPs). We successfully employed the originally synthesized PLGA derivatives of branched architectures of various molar masses, branching ratio, and high number of terminal hydroxyl or carboxyl groups for compounding of terbinafine loaded nanoparticles by nanoprecipitation method. Employing the polymers with tailored properties allowed us to formulate the NPs with desired particle size, loading capacity for drug, mucoadhesive properties, and drug release profile. The hydrophobicity and the polyester concentration revealed the main impact on the NPs size ranging from 100 to 600 nm. The stability of the nanosuspension is demonstrated by zeta potential greater than 25 mV, and polydispersity index values lower than 0.2. We used terbinafine in its less dissolved form of the base to increase the drug loading and delay the release. Cationic surfactant as stabilizer give the NPs high positive surface charge enhancing the adhesion to the mucosal surfaces. All formulations provided prolonged sustained release of terbinafine for several days. Antimicrobial potential has been proven by agar-well diffusion method.

Although progress is evident in the effective treatment of joint replacement-related infections, it still remains a serious issue in orthopedics. As an example, the local application of antibiotics-impregnated bone grafts supplies the high drug levels without systemic side effects. However, antibiotics in the powder or solution form could be a risk for local toxicity and do not allow sustained drug release. The present study evaluated the use of an antibiotic gel, a water-in-oil emulsion, and a PLGA microparticulate solid dispersion as depot delivery systems impregnating bone grafts for the treatment of joint replacement-related infections. The results of rheological and bioadhesive tests revealed the suitability of these formulations for the impregnation of bone grafts. Moreover, no negative effect on proliferation and viability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells was detected. An ex vivo dissolution test of vancomycin hydrochloride and gentamicin sulphate from the impregnated bone grafts showed a reduced burst and prolonged drug release. The PLGA-based formulation proved to be particularly promising, as one-day burst release drugs was only 15% followed with sustained antibiotics release with zero-order kinetics. The results of this study will be the basis for the development of a new product in the Tissue Section of the University Hospital for the treatment of bone defects and infections of joint replacements.

Commercially available antibacterial semisolid preparations intended for topical application provide only short-term drug release. A sustained kinetics is possible by exploitation of a biodegradable polymer carrier. The purpose of this work is to formulate a mucoadhesive system with aciclovir (ACV) based on a solid molecular dispersion of this drug in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) branched on tripenterythritol (PLGA/T). The ACV incorporation into PLGA/T was carried out either by solvent method, or melting method, or plasticization method using various plasticizers. The drug–polymer miscibility, plasticizer efficiency and content of residual solvent were found out employing DSC. Viscosity was measured at the shear rate range from 0.10 to 10.00 s⁻¹ at three temperatures and data were analyzed by Newtonian model. The mucoadhesive properties were ascertained in the tensile test on a mucin substrate. The amount of ACV released was carried out in a wash-off dissolution test. The DSC results indicate a transformation of crystalline form of ACV into an amorphous dissolved in branched polyester carrier, and absence of methyl formate residuals in formulation. All the tested plasticizers are efficient at T_g depression and viscosity decrease. The non-conventional ethyl pyruvate possessing supportive anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated as the most suitable plasticizer. The ACV release was strongly dependent on the ethyl pyruvate concentration and lasted from 1 to 10 days. The formulated PLGA/T system with aciclovir exhibits increased adhesion to mucosal hydrophilic surfaces and prolonged ACV release controllable by degradation process and viscosity parameters.