The aim of this work is to evaluate simple, sensitive, effective and validated procedures for the determination of cefotaxime, cefoperazone, ceftazidime and cefadroxil. In this study, the methods based on the ability of the cited drugs to reduce Ag⁺ ions to silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) in the presence of Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone (PVP) as a stabilizing agent producing very intense surface plasmon resonance peak of Ag-NPs (λ_max. = 410-430 nm). The plasmon absorbance of the Ag-NPs allows the quantitative spectrophotometric determination of the cited drugs. The calibration curves are linear with concentration ranges of 0.4-3.2, 1-8, 0.5-4.0 and 1.5-9.0 µg/mL for cefotaxime, cefoperazone, ceftazidime and cefadroxil, respectively. Apparent molar absorptivity, detection and quantitative limits are calculated. Applications of the proposed methods to representative pharmaceutical formulations are successfully presented. The extracellular synthesis of nanoparticles is fast, and the method doesn^’t require various elaborate treatments and tedious extraction procedures.

Objective: To formulate and assess bucco-adhesive films of propranolol hydrochloride for pediatric use. Methods: Different films were formulated adopting mucin, polyvinyl alcohol, chitosan and carbopol. A drug/polymer compatibility study was conducted adopting differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The prepared films were physically investigated for variation of weight, propranolol content, thickness, surface pH, proportion of moisture, folding endurance and mucoadhesion. In vitro drug release study and kinetic analysis of the corresponding data have been conducted. The optimized formulation was selected for a bioavailability study using albino rabbits and adopting a developed HPLC method. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the drug were calculated following administration of the optimized film and the corresponding marketed oral tablets to albino rabbits. Key Finding: The compatibility study revealed the absence of drug/polymer interaction. The film formulations had suitable mucoadhesive and mechanical properties. The optimized formulation exhibited reasonable drug release that followed Higuchi diffusion pattern. The calculated AUC0-8h presented an enhancement in the bioavailability of propranolol hydrochloride from the selected film formulation by 1.9 times relative to the marketed propranolol oral tablets. Conclusion: These findings support that propranolol hydrochloride bucco-adhesive film can be considered as a proper effective dosage form for pediatric delivery.

Oral, quick response, and on demand, also known as a spontaneous oral treatment for erectile dysfunction, is highly needed by both patients and physicians. Vardenafil is selective (fewer side effects) and more effective in difficult-to-treat conditions than sildenafil. This study aims at fostering the dual objectives of using biomolecules such as artificial sweetening agents to solubilize and mask the bitterness of vardenafil loaded on biodegradable polymeric materials (PVA, MC, SA, and PVP K30) to fabricate oral, fast-dissolving films (vardenafil ODFs) in the mouth without the need for water to ingest the dosage form. Furthermore, coprecipitated-dispersed mixtures of vardenafil and three sweeteners (sorbitol, acesulfame K, and sucralose) were prepared and characterized using FTIR, DSC, and solubility studies. Moreover, eight different vardenafil ODFs were prepared using the solvent-casting method. Modified gustatory sensation test, in vitro disintegration, and release studies were performed. In addition, the optimized ODF (F8) was compared with the commercial film-coated tablets pharmacokinetically (relative bioavailability, onset, and duration of actions were estimated). The results indicated that the three sweetening agents had comparable solubilizing capacity. However, both sucralose- and acesulfame K-based ODFs have a more enhanced sweet and palatable taste than sorbitol-sweetened ODF. The SA- and PVP K30-based ODFs showed significantly faster disintegration times and release rates than MC. In conclusion, PVA has good film-forming properties, but a higher ratio of PVA adversely affected the disintegration and release characteristics. The % relative bioavailability for ODF was 126.5%, with a superior absorption rate constant (Ka) of 1.2-fold. The C_max and estimated T_max were compared to conventional film-coated tablets.