Efficient Praziquantel Encapsulation into Polymer Microcapsules and Taste Masking Evaluation Using an Electronic Tongue

Author(s)

Machado, Jaison C. ^[1] ; Shimizu, Flavio M. ^[2] ; Ortiz, Manoel ^[1] ; Pinhatti, Marina S. ^[1] ; Carr, Olivia ^[2] ; Guterres, Silvia S. ^[1] ; Oliveira Jr, Osvaldo N. ; Volpato, Nadia M. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Rio Grande do Sul, Programa Posgrad Ciencias Farmaceut, Av Ipiranga 2752, Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sao Carlos Inst Phys, POB 369, BR-13560970 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BULLETIN OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN; v. 91, n. 6, p. 865-874, JUN 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Taste masking is an important strategy for improving adherence of patients, especially children, who have to take pharmaceutical drugs with a bitter taste, as is the case of praziquantel (PZQ) used to treat schistosomiasis. In this work, a modified interfacial polymer deposition method was used to prepare polymer microcapsules and microspheres to encapsulate PZQ, where formulations were optimized to fulfill the stringent requirements for controlled drug release. In vitro release tests confirmed the suitability of the formulation with microcapsules of the anionic copolymer L30D, in which the loading of PZQ was larger than 90% in solutions that were stable at low pH but released PZQ under enteric conditions. We also show that the encapsulation was effective in terms of masking PZQ taste through the analysis with an electronic tongue. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/14262-7 - Nanostructured films from biologically-relevant materials
• Grantee: Osvaldo Novais de Oliveira Junior
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/15543-7 - Biosensors to detect Escherichia coli using the concept of an extended electronic tongue
• Grantee: FLAVIO MAKOTO SHIMIZU
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral