Branched and linear polyethylenimines (PEIs) have been studied as efficient and versatile agents for gene delivery in vitro and in vivo. PEIs exist in a linear or branched topology and are available in a wide range of molecular weight (Mw). Most studies have been done using PEIs with Mw higher than 10Kd. This study was aimed to test the transfection efficiency and the cell viability following gene delivery using PEI of Mw 2Kd, a relatively lower Mw cationic polymer. We used murine interleukin-2(mIL-2) plasmid DNA complexed with branched PEI 2Kd or 25Kd, and transfected them into a myoblast muscle cell line, C2C12. The cellular uptake of mIL-2 plasmid DNA was determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RNA transcript levels were studied in the myoblast cells. Our results show that PEI 2Kd was as effective as PEI 25Kd in celluar gene delivery and transfection efficiency in C2C12 cells. Moreover, MTT assay indicated that PEI 2Kd/DNA complexes did not significantly reduce the cell viability regardless of N/P ratios. These results suggest that PEI of Mw 2Kd might play a role as effective and low toxic nonviral vector systems for muscular cell lines.

To enhance the solubility and stability of lansoprazole (LAN), new proton pump inhibitor, we were prepared various molar ratio of inclusion complex with (HPCD) and organic alkali agent, meglumine (MEG). Inclusion complex formation of LAN with HPCD was investigated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry and X-ray diffractometry. The aqueous solubilities of inclusion complexes, and the stabilities of 1:4 and 1:5 inclusion complexes in aqueous solutions containing different concentrations of MEG were examined. The stability of 1:5 LAN-HPCD inclusion complex containing MEG, which was equaled to amount of LAN, was performed in 0.9% NaCl and 5% dextrose solution. The formation of inclusion complex of LAN with HPCD was type and the molar ratio of complex was 1:1. The stability constant was . As molar ratio of LAN to HPCD was increased, solubility of inclusion complex was increased. 1:5 LAN-HPCD inclusion complex was more stable than 1:4 LAN-HPCD inclusion complex. And as contained MEG amount in LAN solution was increased, stability of 1:4 and 1:5 LAN-HPCD inclusion complexes was improved. Also stability of 1:5 LAN-HPCD-MEG inclusion complex in 0.9% NaCl solution and 5% dextrose solution was similar to it in water at room temperature, but it was unstable at .

We have studied the effect of polarity, current density, current duration, crosslinking density, swelling ratio, and permeation enhancers on the transdermal flux of ketoprofen from acrylamide hydrogel. Hydrogel was prepared by free radical crosslinking polymerization of acrylamide. Drug loading was made just before transport experiment by soaking the hydrogel in solution containing drug. In vitro flux study using hairless mouse skin was performed at using side-by-side diffusion cell, and the drug was analysed using HPLC/UV system. The result showed that, compared to passive flux, the total amount of drug transported increased about 18 folds by the application of cathodal current. Anodal delivery with same current density also increased the total amount of drug transported about 13 folds. It seemed that the increase in flux was due to the electrorepulsion and the increase in passive permeability of the skin by the current application. Flux increased as current density, the duration of current application and loading amount (swelling duration) increased. As the cross linking density of the hydrogel increased, flux clearly decreased. The effect of hydrophilic enhancers (urea, N-methyl pyrrolidone, Tween 20) and some hydrophobic enhancers (propylene glycol monolaurate and isopropyl myristate) was minimal. However, about 3 folds increase in flux was observed when 5% oleic acid was used. Overall, these results provide some useful information on the design of an optimized iontophoretic delivery system of ketoprofen.

The pharmacokinetics of nifedipine was studied after oral coadministration of nifedipine (5 mg/kg) with quercetin (1.5, 7.5, 15 and 30 mg/kg, respectively) and 0.5 h or 3days pretreatment with quercetin (1.5 and 7.5mg/kg) in rabbits. Pretreatment of quercetin significantly (p<0.05, at 0.5 h; p<0.01, at 3 days) increased the plasma concentration of nifedipine, but not significant in coadministraiton. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and the peak concentration of nifedipine pretreated with quercetin were increased significantly (p<0.05, at 0.5 h; p<0.01, at 3 days) compared to the control. By coadministration of quercetin, only 7.5 mg/kg of quercetin increased plasma AUC and of nifedipine significantly (p<0.05) compared to the control. Plasma AUC of intravenous nifedipine (1 mg/kg) is . Pretreatment of quercetin significantly (p<0.05, at 0.5 h; p<0.01, at 3 days) increased the absolute bioavailability (AB%) of nifedipine to 23.9-29.2% compared to the control (17.8%). Coadministration of quercetin showed no significant effect on the AB% of nifedipine except for 7.5 mg/kg. It is suggested that quercetin alters disposition of nifedipine by inhibition of P-glycoprotein efflux pump and its first-pass metabolism. The dosage of nifedipine should be adjusted when it is administered chronically with quercetin in a clinical situation.

Acyclovir (ACV) is one of the most effective and selective agents against viruses of the herpes group. Because of low solubility, bioavailability of ACV has shown below 30% with oral dosage form. In our previous study, we reported that the fabrication of solid dispersion of ACV was possible and the solid dispersion of ACV and PVP was the most useful in all samples. In this study, we examined the effect of mixture ratio of polymers (PEG and PVP) to ACV. Solubility of ACV was dramatically increased up to 25 mg/ml in distilled water. So water was used as a solvent to eliminate problem of residual solvent. Spray drying method was used for the solid dispersion of ACV as solvent extraction. Different scanning calorimeter was used to check degradation of drug. Polymer carriers were PEG 6,000 and PVP. In summary, ACV-PVP (1:3) showed the best solubility in distilled water.

Prescription filling in powder form is performed in community pharmacy practice to adjust dose for children and patients who cannot swallow whole tablet. However, there are few reports regarding the stability of the active ingredient and possible microbial growth after the medication is dispensed to powder form. This study examined the stability of atenolol, an antihypertensive agent, and microbial growth in the unit dose pouches dispensed at twenty-one community pharmacies located in Taegu area. Randomly chosen first unit dose pouch contained 77.4% of the prescribed dose of the drug and there were only four community pharmacies that dispensed the drug within 10% deviation from the dose prescribed by physician. Surprisingly, there were three community pharmacies that dispensed the drug with greater than 40% deviation, which may pose a major concern regarding the efficacy and safety of the drug prescribed for the treatment of hypertension. Atenolol content during a month did not indicate significant change, showing 5.4%, 4.3%, and 3.3% of decrease in 50%, 80%, and 90% relative humidity conditions, respectively. Microbiological examination during a month showed less than 0.5 microorganism in high power field (hpf) in all the relative humidity conditions tested. Based on this study, pharmacy practice in community pharmacy needs to be rigorously regulated to ensure that the dose of the prescribed drug is properly incorporated into the unit dose pouch dispensed as powder form.

This study was to prepare the anionic liposomes which were to release anticancer drug (doxorubicin) at the hyperthermia temperature and to stabilize in bovine serum solution at . The vesicle size and zeta potential of liposomes in Tris-HCl buffered solution (pH 7.4) were measured by an electrophoretic light scattering spectrophotometer. To estimate the stability of liposomes, liposome size was measured in bovine serum solution at for 72 h. The release of doxorubicin from liposome was determined by measuring the fluorescence intensity using fluorescence spectrophotometry with temperature and time. The size of liposomes was from 120 to 160 nm and zeta potential was from to . Anionic liposome was stabilized in bovine serum solution at within 72 h. Additionally, the release transition temperature of doxorubicin from liposomes was increased by increasing mole % of anionic phospholipid.

A bioequivalence study of capsules (DAEWOONG Pharmaceutical Co., Korea) to capsules (Dong Wha Pharm. Ind. Co., Korea) was conducted according to the guideline of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Twenty four healthy male Korean volunteers received each medicine at the amoxicillin dose of 500 mg in a crossover study. There was a one-week wash out period between the doses. Plasma concentrations of amoxicillin were monitored by a high-performance liquid chromatography for over a period of 8 hours after the administration. (the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to 8 hr) was calculated by the linear trapezoidal rule method. (maximum plasma drug concentration) and (time to reach ) were compiled from the plasma concentration-time data. Analysis of variance was carried out using logarithmically transformed and . No significant sequence effect was found for all of the bioavailability parameters indicating that the crossover design was properly performed. The 90% confidence intervals of the ratio and the ratio for were and , respectively. These values were within the acceptable bioequivalence intervals of . Thus, our study demonstrated the bioequivalence of and with respect to the rate and extent of absorption.

A bioequivalence of tablets (Yuhan corporation) and tablets (Kuhnil Pharm. Co., Ltd.) was evaluated according to the guideline of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Single 200 mg dose of etodolac of each medicine was administered orally to 24 healthy male volunteers. This study was performed in a crossover design. Concentrations of etodolac in human plasma were monitored by a high-performance liquid chromatography. (the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to 24 hr) was calculated by the linear trapezoidal rule method. (maximum plasma drug concentration) and (time to reach ) were compiled from the plasma concentration-time data. Analysis of variance was performed using logarithmically transformed and . No significant sequence effect was found for all of the bioavailability parameters. The 90% confidence intervals of the ratio and the ratio for were 1.01-1.10 and 0.87-1.06, respectively. This study demonstrated a bioequivalence of and with respect to the rate and extent of absorption.

A simple HPLC method with ultraviolet detection of ciprofloxacin in human plasma was developed and validated. After protein precipitation with trichloroacetic acid, chromatographic separation of ciprofloxacin in plasma was achieved at with a column and methanol-phosphate mixture (pH 2.5), as mobile phase. Quantitative determination was performed by ultraviolet detection at 278 nm. The method was specific and validated with a limit of quantification of 100 ng/ml. The intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation were between 1.67% and 10.55% and accuracy between 92.01 % and 106.09%. The method has been successfully applied in a bioavailability study of 250 mg ciprofloxacin hydrochloride tablet.

A new medical system of separation of dispensary from medical practice was started in 2000 in Korea. To expand bioequivalence-proven drug products and to ensure the credibility of the therapeutic equivalence of generic drug are hot issues in Korea. The KFDA also has a plan to revise the pharmaceutical affairs law that bioequivalence reports of all the generic prescription drugs should be submitted to the KFDA in the application for drug approval. Therefore, it becomes more necessary to develop bioequivalence-demonstrating methods for specific preparations such as topical drug products. There are some differences between US and Japanese guidances of bioequivalence studies of generic drug products for topical use. In this paper, we examined the recently published Japanese guideline, Guideline for Bioequivalence Studies of Generic Products For Topical Uses, and Q&A of the guideline, which will be references to make a guidance on bioequivalence studies of topical drug products in Korea.