Robert Vlad - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Robert Vlad

American Journal of Applied Sciences, 2013

A simple, selective, sensitive and precise, simultaneous high performance liquid chromatographic ... more A simple, selective, sensitive and precise, simultaneous high performance liquid chromatographic analysis of tablets containing amlodipine and atorvastatin was described. Good chromatographic separation was achieved using a Perfectsilr Target ODS-3 (4.6 cm × 250 mm, 5 µm) and a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrilephosphate buffer pH 4.5 (55:45, v/v) at a flow rate 1ML min −1. The ultraviolet detector was set at wavelength 237 nm. Amlodipine and atorvastatin were measured at 1.071 and 3.765 min, respectively. The linear ranges for amlodipine and atorvastatin were 1-10 and 5-50 µg mL −1 , respectively. The recoveries of amlodipine and atorvastatin in pharmaceutical preparation were all greater than 98.5% and their relative standard deviations were less than 2.0%. The limits of detection were 0.19 and 1.25 µg mL −1 for amlodipine and atorvastatin, respectively.

Pharmaceutics

Orodispersible tablets (ODTs) are pharmaceutical formulations used to obtain fast therapeutic eff... more Orodispersible tablets (ODTs) are pharmaceutical formulations used to obtain fast therapeutic effects, usually recommended for geriatric and pediatric patients due to their improved compliance, bioavailability, ease of administration, and good palatability. This study aimed to develop ODTs with cannabidiol (CBD) phytocannabinoid extracted from Cannabis sativa used in the treatment of Lennox–Gastaut and Dravet syndromes. The tablets were obtained using an eccentric tableting machine and 9 mm punches. To develop CBD ODTs, the following parameters were varied: the Poloxamer 407 concentration (0 and 10%), the type of co-processed excipient (Prosolv® ODT G2—PODTG2 and Prosolv® EasyTab sp—PETsp), and the type of superdisintegrant (Croscarmellose—CCS, and Soy Polysaccharides—Emcosoy®—EMCS), resulting in eleven formulations (O1–O11). The following dependent parameters were evaluated: friability, disintegration time, crushing strength, and the CBD dissolution at 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 30 min. ...

Romanian Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice

Starting from the premise that a reduced number of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are u... more Starting from the premise that a reduced number of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are used to treat hypotension, the aim of this study consisted of developing new formulations of caffeine-orodispersible tablets (CAFODTs). The formulation variables were the type of disintegrant and its concentration. The CAF-ODTs were prepared by direct compression, (CAF1, CAF2 and, CAF3) each of them containing 100 mg of CAF / tablet. The proposed formulations were analyzed from a pharmacotechnical point of view. For the formulations developed the tablets’ physical appearance, resistance to crushing, friability, disintegration behaviour, and the in vitro caffeine release were evaluated. White tablets, with a resistance to crushing decreasing in the following order CAF1 > CAF2 > CAF3 were obtained. The friability test showed that all the formulations are respecting the in-force European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur. 10) requirements with values less than 1 %. The disintegration time for all...

Acta Marisiensis - Seria Medica, 2021

Soy polysaccharides represent a multipurpose class of chemicals that include both therapeutical a... more Soy polysaccharides represent a multipurpose class of chemicals that include both therapeutical and technological properties. Since they have been first time introduced in the pharmaceutical field, Soy polysaccharides were used in two different pharmaceutical formulations; sublingual tablets and in colon drug delivery. For the sublingual tablets, Soy polysaccharides under the brand name of Emcosoy© - were used as a superdisintegrant in concentrations between 4-8% showing comparable results with the artificial superdisintegrants (sodium starch glycolate, sodium croscarmellose, and polyvinylpyrrolidone). The second technological field where Soy polysaccharides were used is represented by colon drug delivery where it was used in combination with ethylcellulose showing a prolonged lag time compared to the results found in the literature. The medicinal effect of these polysaccharides consists of treating diarrhea. As it will be presented in the article, these chemical compounds tend to d...

Romanian Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice, 2020

Objectives. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) and... more Objectives. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) and its concentrations on the rheological characteristics of Ultrez-21 1% gel, in order to develop and optimize formulations easy to prepare in the pharmacy, for various pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications. Material and methods. A series of gels containing 5-29.5% H 2 O 2 were analysed and compared to the gel base in terms of rheological properties induced by the action of forces applied either with constant intensity (adhesiveness, consistency, extensibility, viscosity) or with variable intensity (viscous structural flow, thixotropy). Perhydrol has been selected as a source of H 2 O 2 , as it is a product commonly used in pharmacy, and which, being a concentrated solution (30% m/m H 2 O 2), can be very easily diluted by mixing with water to obtain the desired concentration in gels. Outcomes. Even if the presence of H 2 O 2 causes changes in adhesiveness, consistency, extensibility and viscosity of gels, they do not correlate with the H 2 O 2 contents, each gel having its own specific behaviour. The gels have a lower flow threshold when are sheared at D = 0.33 s-1 than the gel base. Differences between shear flows are statistically significant both in terms of the deviation from linearity (Runs test) and the deviation from zero value (F test). The slopes of the regression lines have positive values in all cases, but statistically different (p <0.0001, Anova test). Gels containing >15% H 2 O 2 decrease the thixotropic capacity of the Ultrez-21 gel with comparable values (32, 38, 35 and 28%). Conclusions. All the studied gels have a plastic-thixotropic behaviour which changes both with the presence and the concentration of hydrogen peroxide. The differences in consistency, adhesion and extensibility between the gels cannot be attributed to the viscosity, but rather to the degree of homogeneity and / or strength of the dispersed system formed by hydrogen peroxide in the Ultrez-21 gel. The flow behaviour of the gels correlates with the variation of pH, consistency and adhesiveness, and less with the spreading properties.

Romanian Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice, 2020

The pharmacist from the community pharmacy plays a key role in the case of patients who seek dire... more The pharmacist from the community pharmacy plays a key role in the case of patients who seek directly for pathologies related to pain. Being a health specialist, he has the ability to offer pharmaceutical healthcare for drugs that need a medical prescription and also for the ones that are registered as OTC's. Ibuprofen (IBU) is a part of the drug group called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) being registered in Romania under 17 pharmaceutical formulation by the National Agency of Drugs and Medical Devices. Due to its pharmacological profile which consists of a low risk of gastrointestinal side effects, IBU is an OTC recommended and frequently prescribed for decreasing the low and moderate pain. World Health Organization (WHO) indicates IBU as a drug that can be used to babies aged over three months. Through this paper, we try to analyze the pharmacist's vision from the community pharmacy in IBU recommendation. In this paper were mentioned some legal aspects that are linked to the pharmacist competences, and also its approach regarding IBU recommendation during pregnancy and breastfeeding and also to children and to a category of patients who have various associated pathologies.

Die Pharmazie, 2020

Cannabidiol (CBD) is an alkaloid present in Cannabis sativa, along with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC... more Cannabidiol (CBD) is an alkaloid present in Cannabis sativa, along with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and more than 100 other substances belonging to a group of compounds called cannabinoids. Whereas the legal status and medical use of Cannabis is a controversial issue in many countries, inconsistent legislation makes CBD status even more complicated. Some CBD products are legal in some countries, while banned in other countries, further compounding the confusion. In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first CBD containing medical product, Epidiolex®, for the treatment of paediatric seizures. Currently, several clinical trials are in progress for the potential treatment of neurologic and behavioural disorders. CBD's current legal and regulatory status is a continuously evolving issue; the current review is presenting historical and present information regarding the use of CBD products worldwide.

The most used pharmaceutical formulations for children are syrups, suppositories, soft chewable c... more The most used pharmaceutical formulations for children are syrups, suppositories, soft chewable capsules, and mini-tablets. Administrating them might create an administration discomfort. This study aimed to develop and evaluate orodispersible films (ODFs) for pediatric patients in which the fluoxetine (FX) is formulated in the polymeric matrix. Six FX fast dissolving films (10 mg FX/ODF), FX1, FX2, FX3, FX4, FX5, and FX6, were prepared by solvent casting technique. In the composition of the ODFs, the concentration of the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and the concentration of the propylene glycol were varied. Each formulation of fluoxetine ODF was evaluated by determining the tensile strength, folding endurance, disintegration, behavior in the controlled humidity and temperature conditions, and adhesiveness. All the obtained results were compared with the results obtained for six ODFs prepared without FX. The disintegration time of the FX ODFs was of maximum 88 s for FX2. Via the in ...

Hypolipidemic agents are a diverse group of pharmaceutical substances used in the treatment of hi... more Hypolipidemic agents are a diverse group of pharmaceutical substances used in the treatment of high levels of lipids and lipoproteins in the blood, used currently for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Capillary electrophoresis is a relatively new separation technique which is gaining more and more momentum in the analysis of pharmaceutical substances, including hypolipidemic agents like statins and fibrates. This review presents the applicability of different capillary electrophoresis techniques in the analysis of certain hypolipidemic agents.

The administration of drugs via transdermal therapeutic systems has become an attractive form of ... more The administration of drugs via transdermal therapeutic systems has become an attractive form of therapeutic approach, considering its advantages and the high patient compliance achieved, making them a viable alternative, especially in the treatment of chronic diseases. The purpose of our study was the development of polymer-based films containing tenoxicam (TX) and the analysis of dissolution kinetics. Auxiliary substances represent an important part of pharmaceutical forms, so during the first stage, TX and excipient compatibility were verified. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analyses were performed on TX and on physical mixtures of TX-HPMCE5 and TX-HPMC15kcP. Three polymeric films of TX (TX1, TX2, and TX3) were prepared using a solvent evaporation technique. Release studies were done at 32 °C ± 1 °C with a Franz diffusion cell. The results of the DSC and FT-IR analyses demonstrated the compatibility of the active substa...

One of the most effective antituberculosis treatments is the combination between isoniazid and ri... more One of the most effective antituberculosis treatments is the combination between isoniazid and rifampicin. Two alternative UV spectrophotometric methods were developed for the simultaneous determination of isoniazid and rifampicin in mixture, by employing simultaneous equation method and first-derivative spectrophotometry respectively. The determinations were performed in methanol. In the simultaneous equation method, the absorbtion maxima of the two drugs, 263 nm and 338 nm, were selected for estimation of isoniazid and rifampicin respectively. The second method was based on a first-derivative spectrophotometric method involving the determination of the analytes at their respective zero crossing point, the determinations were made at 263 nm for rifampicin and 290 nm for isoniazid respectively. Both substances obeyed LambertBeer’s law in a concentration range between 5 50 μg/mL. The analytical performances of the proposed methods were verified regarding their accuracy, linearity, pr...

Considering that the rectal route might eliminate the time-dependent changes of valproic acid kin... more Considering that the rectal route might eliminate the time-dependent changes of valproic acid kinetics and starting from the need to develop suppositories for paediatric use, in our previous studies three types of valproate suppositories were selected for further in vivo investigation. In this paper, the experimental pharmacokinetic study conducted on rabbits is presented, in order to evaluate the relevant in vivo pharmacokinetic parameters. The parameters obtained after a single rectal dose over a period of 8 h, were analysed in each case by the non-compartmental pharmacokinetic model. The similarity of the three release profiles previously found in vitro has not fully confirmed the in vivo parameters, which shows that the in vivo pharmacokinetic test still remains necessary in case of studies on the development of suppositories formulation.

Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica - Drug Research, 2021

Fluoxetine hydrochloride is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor used in the treatment of dep... more Fluoxetine hydrochloride is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor used in the treatment of depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The aim of this study is represented by developing fluoxetineloaded polyvinylpyrrolidone-based fibers by uniaxial electrospinning. The effect of flow rate and needle to collector distance on fiber morphology and performance was monitored at 20 kV constant voltage. Fiber diameters, determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) varied between 462-833 nm. The drug content of the prepared electrospun fiber mats was monitored by UV spectroscopy and good correlations were found between the obtained and theoretical values. Tracking the changes in solid-state upon electrospinning were carried out by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The obtained DSC curves indicated the amorphization of crystalline fluoxetine during fiber formation. The release of the active ingredient happens in a burst manner and after five minutes dissolution of the fluoxetine is complete. The results presented herein could pave the way for a buccal, easy-to-use formulation of the antidepressant drug with greater patient compliance.

Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 2021

Obtaining orodispersible tablets (ODT) containing substances from the second Biopharmaceutical Cl... more Obtaining orodispersible tablets (ODT) containing substances from the second Biopharmaceutical Class has raised concerns as the dissolution test is challenging. This study aimed to select suitable excipients for developing orodispersible tablets containing cannabidiol (CBD) by direct compression method. No similar studies were found in the literature. Excipients from different classes were characterized using the SeDeM-ODT tool: fillers – lactose (LCT) and microcrystalline cellulose (CelMC), sweeteners – sorbitol (SRB) and mannitol (MNT), disintegrants – sodium starch glycolate (SSG), sodium croscarmellose (CCS), soy polysaccharides (Emcosoy® – EMCS) and two co-processed excipients (Prosolv®-ODT G2 – PODTG2 and Prosolv® EasyTab sp – PETsp). Drug compatibility with excipients in binary mixtures (1:1) was verified by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform-Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Using the SeDeM-ODT expert system, the fillers and the co-processed excipients showed good properties regarding compressibility and disintegration behavior. Also, the DSC and FTIR results showed that small or no interactions between the CBD and the excipients took place.

Acta Medica Marisiensis, 2019

Objectives: The aim of the study was to propose a new UHPLC method for the determination of canna... more Objectives: The aim of the study was to propose a new UHPLC method for the determination of cannabidiol (CBD) from supplements and drugs available on the Romanian market. Materials and methods: The HPLC assay of CBD was achieved by using a Phenomenex Gemini NX-C18 column. The mobile phase consisted of 70% acetonitrile and 30% water. Elution was performed in isocratic mode and the detection was done at 208 nm. The method was tested on hard capsules containing 150 mg of CBD. Results and discussions: The retention time of CBD was 2.8 minutes. Regression analysis showed good linearity over the 1-100 ug/ml concentration range. The lowest limit of quantification was established at 1 µg/ml. The method was developed by using reconstituted capsules. The substance proved low stability in solution at room temperature and stability at temperatures between 2-8°C. The recovery of reconstituted samples was 96.77%. The commercial capsules had a very low content of 15-20% from declared content. Conc...

Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2018

Through doping, we understand the use by athletes of substances prohibited by the anti-doping age... more Through doping, we understand the use by athletes of substances prohibited by the anti-doping agencies in order to gain a competitive advantage. Since sport plays an important role in physical and mental education and in promoting international understanding and cooperation, the widespread use of doping products and methods has consequences not only on health of the athletes, but also upon the image of sport. Thus, doping in sports is forbidden for both ethical and medical reasons. Narcotics and analgesics, anabolic steroids, hormones, selective androgen receptor modulators are among the most frequently utilized substances. Although antidoping controls are becoming more rigorous, doping and, very importantly, masking doping methods are also advancing, and these are usually one step ahead of doping detection techniques. Depending on the sport practiced and the physical attributes it requires, the athletes will look for one or more of the following benefits of doping: recovering from ...

Biomedical chromatography : BMC, Jan 3, 2017

Fluoxetine is a widely used antidepressant belonging to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibito... more Fluoxetine is a widely used antidepressant belonging to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class; it is used in the treatment of major depression, obsessive compulsive, premenstrual dysphoric, panic and post-traumatic stress disorders. Fluoxetine is an optical active pharmaceutical substance, which is used as a racemate in therapy, but stereospecific interactions associated with the serotonin-reuptake carrier, for both the parent drug and its active metabolite, norfluoxetine, have been described in the literature. Therefore, the stereoselective analysis of fluoxetine and norfluoxetine is important in order to characterize the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile of the analytes. Several chromatographic and electrophoretic methods have been published in the literature for the chiral discrimination of fluoxetine enantiomers from different matrices. The purpose of the current review is to provide a systematic survey of the analytical techniques used for the chiral determ...

American Journal of Applied Sciences, 2013

A simple, selective, sensitive and precise, simultaneous high performance liquid chromatographic ... more A simple, selective, sensitive and precise, simultaneous high performance liquid chromatographic analysis of tablets containing amlodipine and atorvastatin was described. Good chromatographic separation was achieved using a Perfectsilr Target ODS-3 (4.6 cm × 250 mm, 5 µm) and a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrilephosphate buffer pH 4.5 (55:45, v/v) at a flow rate 1ML min −1. The ultraviolet detector was set at wavelength 237 nm. Amlodipine and atorvastatin were measured at 1.071 and 3.765 min, respectively. The linear ranges for amlodipine and atorvastatin were 1-10 and 5-50 µg mL −1 , respectively. The recoveries of amlodipine and atorvastatin in pharmaceutical preparation were all greater than 98.5% and their relative standard deviations were less than 2.0%. The limits of detection were 0.19 and 1.25 µg mL −1 for amlodipine and atorvastatin, respectively.

Pharmaceutics

Orodispersible tablets (ODTs) are pharmaceutical formulations used to obtain fast therapeutic eff... more Orodispersible tablets (ODTs) are pharmaceutical formulations used to obtain fast therapeutic effects, usually recommended for geriatric and pediatric patients due to their improved compliance, bioavailability, ease of administration, and good palatability. This study aimed to develop ODTs with cannabidiol (CBD) phytocannabinoid extracted from Cannabis sativa used in the treatment of Lennox–Gastaut and Dravet syndromes. The tablets were obtained using an eccentric tableting machine and 9 mm punches. To develop CBD ODTs, the following parameters were varied: the Poloxamer 407 concentration (0 and 10%), the type of co-processed excipient (Prosolv® ODT G2—PODTG2 and Prosolv® EasyTab sp—PETsp), and the type of superdisintegrant (Croscarmellose—CCS, and Soy Polysaccharides—Emcosoy®—EMCS), resulting in eleven formulations (O1–O11). The following dependent parameters were evaluated: friability, disintegration time, crushing strength, and the CBD dissolution at 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 30 min. ...

Romanian Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice

Starting from the premise that a reduced number of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are u... more Starting from the premise that a reduced number of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are used to treat hypotension, the aim of this study consisted of developing new formulations of caffeine-orodispersible tablets (CAFODTs). The formulation variables were the type of disintegrant and its concentration. The CAF-ODTs were prepared by direct compression, (CAF1, CAF2 and, CAF3) each of them containing 100 mg of CAF / tablet. The proposed formulations were analyzed from a pharmacotechnical point of view. For the formulations developed the tablets’ physical appearance, resistance to crushing, friability, disintegration behaviour, and the in vitro caffeine release were evaluated. White tablets, with a resistance to crushing decreasing in the following order CAF1 > CAF2 > CAF3 were obtained. The friability test showed that all the formulations are respecting the in-force European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur. 10) requirements with values less than 1 %. The disintegration time for all...

Acta Marisiensis - Seria Medica, 2021

Soy polysaccharides represent a multipurpose class of chemicals that include both therapeutical a... more Soy polysaccharides represent a multipurpose class of chemicals that include both therapeutical and technological properties. Since they have been first time introduced in the pharmaceutical field, Soy polysaccharides were used in two different pharmaceutical formulations; sublingual tablets and in colon drug delivery. For the sublingual tablets, Soy polysaccharides under the brand name of Emcosoy© - were used as a superdisintegrant in concentrations between 4-8% showing comparable results with the artificial superdisintegrants (sodium starch glycolate, sodium croscarmellose, and polyvinylpyrrolidone). The second technological field where Soy polysaccharides were used is represented by colon drug delivery where it was used in combination with ethylcellulose showing a prolonged lag time compared to the results found in the literature. The medicinal effect of these polysaccharides consists of treating diarrhea. As it will be presented in the article, these chemical compounds tend to d...

Romanian Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice, 2020

Objectives. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) and... more Objectives. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) and its concentrations on the rheological characteristics of Ultrez-21 1% gel, in order to develop and optimize formulations easy to prepare in the pharmacy, for various pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications. Material and methods. A series of gels containing 5-29.5% H 2 O 2 were analysed and compared to the gel base in terms of rheological properties induced by the action of forces applied either with constant intensity (adhesiveness, consistency, extensibility, viscosity) or with variable intensity (viscous structural flow, thixotropy). Perhydrol has been selected as a source of H 2 O 2 , as it is a product commonly used in pharmacy, and which, being a concentrated solution (30% m/m H 2 O 2), can be very easily diluted by mixing with water to obtain the desired concentration in gels. Outcomes. Even if the presence of H 2 O 2 causes changes in adhesiveness, consistency, extensibility and viscosity of gels, they do not correlate with the H 2 O 2 contents, each gel having its own specific behaviour. The gels have a lower flow threshold when are sheared at D = 0.33 s-1 than the gel base. Differences between shear flows are statistically significant both in terms of the deviation from linearity (Runs test) and the deviation from zero value (F test). The slopes of the regression lines have positive values in all cases, but statistically different (p <0.0001, Anova test). Gels containing >15% H 2 O 2 decrease the thixotropic capacity of the Ultrez-21 gel with comparable values (32, 38, 35 and 28%). Conclusions. All the studied gels have a plastic-thixotropic behaviour which changes both with the presence and the concentration of hydrogen peroxide. The differences in consistency, adhesion and extensibility between the gels cannot be attributed to the viscosity, but rather to the degree of homogeneity and / or strength of the dispersed system formed by hydrogen peroxide in the Ultrez-21 gel. The flow behaviour of the gels correlates with the variation of pH, consistency and adhesiveness, and less with the spreading properties.

Romanian Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice, 2020

The pharmacist from the community pharmacy plays a key role in the case of patients who seek dire... more The pharmacist from the community pharmacy plays a key role in the case of patients who seek directly for pathologies related to pain. Being a health specialist, he has the ability to offer pharmaceutical healthcare for drugs that need a medical prescription and also for the ones that are registered as OTC's. Ibuprofen (IBU) is a part of the drug group called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) being registered in Romania under 17 pharmaceutical formulation by the National Agency of Drugs and Medical Devices. Due to its pharmacological profile which consists of a low risk of gastrointestinal side effects, IBU is an OTC recommended and frequently prescribed for decreasing the low and moderate pain. World Health Organization (WHO) indicates IBU as a drug that can be used to babies aged over three months. Through this paper, we try to analyze the pharmacist's vision from the community pharmacy in IBU recommendation. In this paper were mentioned some legal aspects that are linked to the pharmacist competences, and also its approach regarding IBU recommendation during pregnancy and breastfeeding and also to children and to a category of patients who have various associated pathologies.

Die Pharmazie, 2020

Cannabidiol (CBD) is an alkaloid present in Cannabis sativa, along with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC... more Cannabidiol (CBD) is an alkaloid present in Cannabis sativa, along with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and more than 100 other substances belonging to a group of compounds called cannabinoids. Whereas the legal status and medical use of Cannabis is a controversial issue in many countries, inconsistent legislation makes CBD status even more complicated. Some CBD products are legal in some countries, while banned in other countries, further compounding the confusion. In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first CBD containing medical product, Epidiolex®, for the treatment of paediatric seizures. Currently, several clinical trials are in progress for the potential treatment of neurologic and behavioural disorders. CBD's current legal and regulatory status is a continuously evolving issue; the current review is presenting historical and present information regarding the use of CBD products worldwide.

The most used pharmaceutical formulations for children are syrups, suppositories, soft chewable c... more The most used pharmaceutical formulations for children are syrups, suppositories, soft chewable capsules, and mini-tablets. Administrating them might create an administration discomfort. This study aimed to develop and evaluate orodispersible films (ODFs) for pediatric patients in which the fluoxetine (FX) is formulated in the polymeric matrix. Six FX fast dissolving films (10 mg FX/ODF), FX1, FX2, FX3, FX4, FX5, and FX6, were prepared by solvent casting technique. In the composition of the ODFs, the concentration of the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and the concentration of the propylene glycol were varied. Each formulation of fluoxetine ODF was evaluated by determining the tensile strength, folding endurance, disintegration, behavior in the controlled humidity and temperature conditions, and adhesiveness. All the obtained results were compared with the results obtained for six ODFs prepared without FX. The disintegration time of the FX ODFs was of maximum 88 s for FX2. Via the in ...

Hypolipidemic agents are a diverse group of pharmaceutical substances used in the treatment of hi... more Hypolipidemic agents are a diverse group of pharmaceutical substances used in the treatment of high levels of lipids and lipoproteins in the blood, used currently for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Capillary electrophoresis is a relatively new separation technique which is gaining more and more momentum in the analysis of pharmaceutical substances, including hypolipidemic agents like statins and fibrates. This review presents the applicability of different capillary electrophoresis techniques in the analysis of certain hypolipidemic agents.

The administration of drugs via transdermal therapeutic systems has become an attractive form of ... more The administration of drugs via transdermal therapeutic systems has become an attractive form of therapeutic approach, considering its advantages and the high patient compliance achieved, making them a viable alternative, especially in the treatment of chronic diseases. The purpose of our study was the development of polymer-based films containing tenoxicam (TX) and the analysis of dissolution kinetics. Auxiliary substances represent an important part of pharmaceutical forms, so during the first stage, TX and excipient compatibility were verified. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analyses were performed on TX and on physical mixtures of TX-HPMCE5 and TX-HPMC15kcP. Three polymeric films of TX (TX1, TX2, and TX3) were prepared using a solvent evaporation technique. Release studies were done at 32 °C ± 1 °C with a Franz diffusion cell. The results of the DSC and FT-IR analyses demonstrated the compatibility of the active substa...

One of the most effective antituberculosis treatments is the combination between isoniazid and ri... more One of the most effective antituberculosis treatments is the combination between isoniazid and rifampicin. Two alternative UV spectrophotometric methods were developed for the simultaneous determination of isoniazid and rifampicin in mixture, by employing simultaneous equation method and first-derivative spectrophotometry respectively. The determinations were performed in methanol. In the simultaneous equation method, the absorbtion maxima of the two drugs, 263 nm and 338 nm, were selected for estimation of isoniazid and rifampicin respectively. The second method was based on a first-derivative spectrophotometric method involving the determination of the analytes at their respective zero crossing point, the determinations were made at 263 nm for rifampicin and 290 nm for isoniazid respectively. Both substances obeyed LambertBeer’s law in a concentration range between 5 50 μg/mL. The analytical performances of the proposed methods were verified regarding their accuracy, linearity, pr...

Considering that the rectal route might eliminate the time-dependent changes of valproic acid kin... more Considering that the rectal route might eliminate the time-dependent changes of valproic acid kinetics and starting from the need to develop suppositories for paediatric use, in our previous studies three types of valproate suppositories were selected for further in vivo investigation. In this paper, the experimental pharmacokinetic study conducted on rabbits is presented, in order to evaluate the relevant in vivo pharmacokinetic parameters. The parameters obtained after a single rectal dose over a period of 8 h, were analysed in each case by the non-compartmental pharmacokinetic model. The similarity of the three release profiles previously found in vitro has not fully confirmed the in vivo parameters, which shows that the in vivo pharmacokinetic test still remains necessary in case of studies on the development of suppositories formulation.

Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica - Drug Research, 2021

Fluoxetine hydrochloride is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor used in the treatment of dep... more Fluoxetine hydrochloride is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor used in the treatment of depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The aim of this study is represented by developing fluoxetineloaded polyvinylpyrrolidone-based fibers by uniaxial electrospinning. The effect of flow rate and needle to collector distance on fiber morphology and performance was monitored at 20 kV constant voltage. Fiber diameters, determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) varied between 462-833 nm. The drug content of the prepared electrospun fiber mats was monitored by UV spectroscopy and good correlations were found between the obtained and theoretical values. Tracking the changes in solid-state upon electrospinning were carried out by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The obtained DSC curves indicated the amorphization of crystalline fluoxetine during fiber formation. The release of the active ingredient happens in a burst manner and after five minutes dissolution of the fluoxetine is complete. The results presented herein could pave the way for a buccal, easy-to-use formulation of the antidepressant drug with greater patient compliance.

Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 2021

Obtaining orodispersible tablets (ODT) containing substances from the second Biopharmaceutical Cl... more Obtaining orodispersible tablets (ODT) containing substances from the second Biopharmaceutical Class has raised concerns as the dissolution test is challenging. This study aimed to select suitable excipients for developing orodispersible tablets containing cannabidiol (CBD) by direct compression method. No similar studies were found in the literature. Excipients from different classes were characterized using the SeDeM-ODT tool: fillers – lactose (LCT) and microcrystalline cellulose (CelMC), sweeteners – sorbitol (SRB) and mannitol (MNT), disintegrants – sodium starch glycolate (SSG), sodium croscarmellose (CCS), soy polysaccharides (Emcosoy® – EMCS) and two co-processed excipients (Prosolv®-ODT G2 – PODTG2 and Prosolv® EasyTab sp – PETsp). Drug compatibility with excipients in binary mixtures (1:1) was verified by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform-Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Using the SeDeM-ODT expert system, the fillers and the co-processed excipients showed good properties regarding compressibility and disintegration behavior. Also, the DSC and FTIR results showed that small or no interactions between the CBD and the excipients took place.

Acta Medica Marisiensis, 2019

Objectives: The aim of the study was to propose a new UHPLC method for the determination of canna... more Objectives: The aim of the study was to propose a new UHPLC method for the determination of cannabidiol (CBD) from supplements and drugs available on the Romanian market. Materials and methods: The HPLC assay of CBD was achieved by using a Phenomenex Gemini NX-C18 column. The mobile phase consisted of 70% acetonitrile and 30% water. Elution was performed in isocratic mode and the detection was done at 208 nm. The method was tested on hard capsules containing 150 mg of CBD. Results and discussions: The retention time of CBD was 2.8 minutes. Regression analysis showed good linearity over the 1-100 ug/ml concentration range. The lowest limit of quantification was established at 1 µg/ml. The method was developed by using reconstituted capsules. The substance proved low stability in solution at room temperature and stability at temperatures between 2-8°C. The recovery of reconstituted samples was 96.77%. The commercial capsules had a very low content of 15-20% from declared content. Conc...

Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2018

Through doping, we understand the use by athletes of substances prohibited by the anti-doping age... more Through doping, we understand the use by athletes of substances prohibited by the anti-doping agencies in order to gain a competitive advantage. Since sport plays an important role in physical and mental education and in promoting international understanding and cooperation, the widespread use of doping products and methods has consequences not only on health of the athletes, but also upon the image of sport. Thus, doping in sports is forbidden for both ethical and medical reasons. Narcotics and analgesics, anabolic steroids, hormones, selective androgen receptor modulators are among the most frequently utilized substances. Although antidoping controls are becoming more rigorous, doping and, very importantly, masking doping methods are also advancing, and these are usually one step ahead of doping detection techniques. Depending on the sport practiced and the physical attributes it requires, the athletes will look for one or more of the following benefits of doping: recovering from ...

Biomedical chromatography : BMC, Jan 3, 2017

Fluoxetine is a widely used antidepressant belonging to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibito... more Fluoxetine is a widely used antidepressant belonging to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class; it is used in the treatment of major depression, obsessive compulsive, premenstrual dysphoric, panic and post-traumatic stress disorders. Fluoxetine is an optical active pharmaceutical substance, which is used as a racemate in therapy, but stereospecific interactions associated with the serotonin-reuptake carrier, for both the parent drug and its active metabolite, norfluoxetine, have been described in the literature. Therefore, the stereoselective analysis of fluoxetine and norfluoxetine is important in order to characterize the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile of the analytes. Several chromatographic and electrophoretic methods have been published in the literature for the chiral discrimination of fluoxetine enantiomers from different matrices. The purpose of the current review is to provide a systematic survey of the analytical techniques used for the chiral determ...