Current Issue : April-June Volume : 2026 Issue Number : 2 Articles : 5 Articles
The pineapple stem, a byproduct of the pineapple plant, contains a high starch content suitable for conversion into the super disintegrant sodium starch glycolate (SSG). The starch content of pineapple stems can be modified into the super-disintegrant sodium starch glycolate (SSG). This study aims to explore the potential of modified pineapple stem starch as SSG, evaluate its physicochemical characteristics, and determine the optimal tablet. Pineapple stem starch was modified into SSG through crosslinking and carboxymethylation. Tablets were then prepared using the wet granulation method, followed by physical evaluations of tablets (weight and size uniformity, disintegration time, hardness, and friability). Four formulations with varying super disintegrant concentrations were tested: F0 (4% imported SSG, control), F1 (2% pineapple stem SSG), F2 (4% pineapple stem SSG), and F3 (6% pineapple stem SSG). The tablet evaluations for all formulations met standard requirements for each test. The study's results concluded that pineapple stem starch can be modified into SSG, exhibiting a faster swelling ability compared to natural starch. The typical functional groups of SSG appear at peaks of 1410 cm-1, 1411 cm-1, and 1415 cm-1. The best formula, F3, which is based on the physical properties of the tablets, has met the requirements with the fastest disintegration time....
The synthesis of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) from lignocellulosic pineapple stubble provides a renewable alternative to conventional cellulose sources for pharmaceutical applications. This study aimed to obtain NaCMC from pineapple biomass, characterize it according to pharmacopoeial specifications, and formulate hydrogels as a physicochemical proof-of-concept for future drug delivery and tissue regeneration applications. NaCMC was successfully synthesized and met the requirements of the Mexican Pharmacopoeia. Hydrogels were prepared by blending NaCMC with gelatin and crosslinking with citric acid. Spectroscopic, morphological, and thermal analyses confirmed the structural equivalence between pineapple-derived NaCMC (NaCMC-Pi) and commercial NaCMC (NaCMC-Co). Swelling and gel fraction studies showed that NaCMC-Pi hydrogels exhibited a higher gel fraction, indicating a more crosslinked network, which corresponded to lower swelling capacity but higher thermal stability compared to NaCMC-Co hydrogels. Overall, these results demonstrate that pineapple stubble is a viable source of pharmaceutical-grade NaCMC and that the resulting hydrogels provide a robust physicochemical basis for future biomedical validation. The use of agro-industrial residues additionally offers a complementary sustainability benefit without compromising pharmaceutical performance....
Background: Powdered mucilages are increasingly being used as natural excipients in pharmaceutical formulations, functioning as binders, disintegrants, thickeners, suspending agents, and film formers. Their swelling, viscosity-enhancing, and biocompatible properties also make them useful in controlled-release systems and tablet production. This study aimed to produce spray-dried Cydonia oblonga (CO) mucilage, examine how drying parameters influence yield, and determine its physicochemical and rheological characteristics to evaluate its suitability for pharmaceutical applications. Methods: Powdered CO mucilage was obtained by spray drying. The obtained powders were characterized on yield, particle size and morphology, moisture content, loss on drying, flow properties and swelling index. Results: The obtained powders show yields of 10.6–16.4%, particle sizes of 4.5–5.39 μm, and moisture contents of 2–3%. Their flowability is limited despite satisfactory angle of repose, Hausner ratio, and Carr index values, yet all powders exhibit excellent swelling properties. Conclusions: Model CM6 of the obtained powdered CO seeds hydrocolloid stands out as the best spray-dried hydrocolloid, combining high drying efficiency, low residual moisture, uniform particle formation, and excellent swelling capacity despite its limited flowability. These properties make it a strong candidate for use as a biopolymer or excipient in pharmaceuticals....
Lipid nanocarriers present an opportunity to improve conventional drug delivery. In addition, the concomitant use of naturally occurring products with conventional medicines is garnering traction in therapeutic and cosmetic applications. Despite these advances, the rational design of lipid nanoparticles, including lipid selection, remains a challenge. We previously validated the use of Hansen solubility parameter (HSP) predictions for selecting synthetic lipids for utilization in lipid nanocarrier manufacture. Herein, we aimed to validate the use of HSP data to predict minoxidil solubility in natural and/or essential oils with known hair growth activity. We employed a dual-tiered screening strategy that integrated HSP predictions and experimental validation. Experimentally, minoxidil showed the highest solubility in shea butter, stearic acid, and rosemary oil. Further, the latter two lipids exhibited the lowest drug-lipid solubility parameter differences (ΔδT = 6.8 and 6.1 MPa1/2, respectively) and Relative Energy Difference values (1.28 and 1.61, respectively), aligning with the abovementioned laboratory experimental determinations. These findings provide a platform for the streamlined selection of natural oils which can enhance the solubility of minoxidil, in turn having implications for drug loading and/or encapsulation efficiency in formulation of lipidic carriers with potential synergistic hair growth potential. Moreover, this work adds to our understanding of reduced empirical excipient selection for potential decreased associated material costs during formulation development of lipid nanocarriers....
The influence of the chemical nature of excipients (magnesium stearate, povidone, microcrystalline cellulose, lactose, crospovidone, and talc) on the degradation of metformin and vildagliptin was tested by forced degradation, using acid hydrolysis, base hydrolysis, oxidation, and thermal degradation. The quantification of the content of metformin and vildagliptin before and after degradation was performed using the reversed-phase HPLC method. This method demonstrated good selectivity and specificity, with no interference from the peaks of degraded excipients on the peaks of metformin and vildagliptin, or excipient-excipient interaction. An alternative degradation pathway was discovered for vildagliptin with povidone and with magnesium stearate, as well as for metformin with povidone. Based on the results, recommendations were made regarding desirable and undesirable excipients. For vildagliptin, it is desirable to add lactose, while povidone and magnesium stearate should be avoided. Microcrystalline cellulose is recommended for metformin, whereas povidone should be avoided due to the impurities it introduces, which can lead to oxidative degradation of metformin. In the case of the combination of metformin and vildagliptin, lactose should not be included in the formulation, as it accelerates the degradation of the active substances. An exception is in the case of base hydrolysis, where lactose has a stabilising effect, absorbing moisture, thus reducing the degradation of both metformin and vildagliptin....
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