Recent Advances in Drug Delivery and Formulation - Volume 15, Issue 1, 2021

Background: There is no single-component excipient that fulfills all the requisite performance to allow an active pharmaceutical ingredient to be formulated into a specific dosage form. Co-processing is a novel concept that incorporates a combination of two or more excipients, that is advantageous and cannot be achieved using a physical admixture. Objective: This review provides an overview of co-processed excipients, recent patents granted and filed in this field and the commercial patented technology platforms based on these excipients. Methods: Various online patent databases were used for collecting the information on recent patents and patented co-processed excipient technologies. The recent patents such as single-step coprocessing by dry coating, novel co-processed excipients for oily drugs and novel silica-coated compositions have been discussed. Results: Co-processed excipients are evolving as a current and future trend of excipient technology in pharmaceutical manufacturing, which is evident by the increasing number of patents based on these excipients. Among various techniques, the maximum number of patents is based on the spray drying technique. Conclusion: In this work, the authors have focussed on recent patents and commercial technologies on co-processed excipient. A better understanding of this will help researchers and pharmaceutical industries to select the appropriate platform, or to develop new innovative co-processed excipients with improved tableting characteristics.

Co-crystal is an attractive alternative and a new class of solid forms because that can be engineered to have desired physicochemical properties. Co-crystals have gained considerable attention from the generic pharmaceutical industry after the USFDA released its finalized guidlines in the year 2018 on the regulatory classification of co-crystals. In this review, we discussed how co-crystals could be explored as a potential alternative solid form for the development of a generic product that meets the legal, regulatory, and bioequivalence requirements. In the contents, we discussed in detail concepts such as the selection of coformers, various ways of making co-crystals, the strategy of characterization to discriminate between co-crystal and salt, polymorphism in co-crystals, the aspects of intellectual property and, finally, the regulatory aspects of co-crystals.

L-asparaginase (L-asparagine amino hydrolase, E.C.3.5.1.1) is the most important chemotherapeutic drug used in treating Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), decreasing blood asparagine rates causing apoptosis in tumor cells. However, pharmacological drugs cause several side effects making treatments difficult. Thus, searches for new sources of L-asparaginase or enzyme modifications focus on discovering new products to use in therapy. This article reviewed published patents from 2000 to 2020 related to the treatment of ALL using L-asparaginase. Many organisms have been shown as potential viable L-asparaginase producers for use in the treatment of ALL. However, this patent review shows that few of these organisms are gaining attention to becoming bioproducts for the market. It is expected that drugs in the testing phase and patents related to the treatment of ALL and other cancers will become real products. Besides, a treatment using an amino acid depletion approach, now referring to asparagine, altogether with a compound that directly interferes with the expression of the asparagine synthase gene, is more suitable for the treatment of ALL and possibly to other cancers.

At the present time, designing of defined release dosage forms, either controlled, sustained, modified, are gaining much importance. For the development of such delivery systems, proper blend of polymers is required so that drug release occurs by polymer erosion, swelling, diffusion/ dissolution. HPMC (Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose) is the most commonly used cellulosic polymer available in various grades to develop such types of systems. Depending upon the molecular weight and viscosity chosen, it can be applied for emulsification, adhesion, bonding, thickening, suspension, film forming and gelation. It consists of polymeric units linked together, which retain water, thereby acting as an excellent hydrophilic gel forming polymer. It generally hydrates on the outer surface to form a gelatinous layer. It swells, expands upon contact with water and releases the drug in predetermined manner initially and then forms viscous gel to control the release further. The objective of the present review is to overview the recent patents and articles of HPMC, its properties, grades and its use in various drug delivery systems and as a binder, dispersing agent, bioavailability enhancer and as capsule forming material have been identified and reviewed.

Background: The application of nanotechnology has been considered a powerful platform in improving the current situation in drug delivery and cancer therapy, especially in targeting the desired site of action. Objective: The main objective of the patent review is to survey and review patents from the past ten years that are related to the two particular areas of nanomedicines. Methods: The patents related to the nanoparticle-based inventions utilized in drug delivery and cancer treatment from 2010 onwards were browsed in databases like USPTO, WIPO, Google Patents, and Free Patents Online. After conducting numerous screening processes, a total of 40 patents were included in the patent analysis. See the PRISMA checklist 2020 checklist. Results: Amongst the selected patents, an overview of various types of nanoparticles is presented in this paper, including polymeric, metallic, silica, lipid-based nanoparticles, quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, and albumin-based nanomedicines. Conclusion: Nanomedicines' advantages include improvements in terms of drug delivery, bioavailability, solubility, penetration, and stability of drugs. It is concluded that the utilization of nanoparticles in medicines is essential in the pursuit of better clinical practice.