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This study dealt with the partition behavior and partial purification of hexokinase (HK) from baker's yeast by liquid-liquid extraction using aqueous two-phase polyethylene glycol (PEG)/citrate systems. First, we investigated the effect of agitation type (vortex and 8 rpm rotation) on the stability of the system, and then the effects of sodium citrate concentration, PEG concentration, and molar mass of PEG on the partition coefficient of this enzyme by using a 25 factorial experimental design. The results of this factorial experiment showed the possibility of a partial purification of HK by using two extraction steps, since the enzyme preferentially migrated to the top phase and the total proteins (mainly contaminants) remained in the bottom phase. The purification factor (PurTOP) of the enzyme in the top phase was 1.87, and the partition coefficient of the total proteins (KProt) was 0.47.

The purpose of this work was to introduce a new concept of coated pellets containing chitosan microspheres loaded with didadosine for oral administration, aiming at reducing the frequency of administration and improving the bioavailability by a suitable release profile. Chitosan microspheres were produced under fluidized bed, followed by extrusion and spheronization to obtain pellets with a mean diameter of about 1 mm. The pellets were then coated with Kollidon® VA64 and Kollicoat® MAE100P in water dispersion to depict a sustained release profile. Conventional hard gelatine capsules were loaded with these pellets and tested in vitro for their release profile of didadosine. Dissolution testing confirmed that chitosan microsphere pellets provides appropriate sustained release up to 2 h behavior for didanosine.

Paracetamol (PAR), phenylephrine hydrochloride (PHE) and chlorpheniramine maleate (CPM) are commonly used in clinical practice as antipyretic and analgesic drugs to ameliorate pain and fever in cold and flu conditions. The present work describes the use of thermal analysis for the characterization of the physicochemical compatibility between drugs and excipients during the development of solid dosage forms. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) were used to study the thermal stability of the drug and of the physical mixture (drug/excipients) in solid binary mixtures (1:1). DSC thermograms demonstrated reproducible melting event of the prepared physical mixture. Starch, mannitol, lactose and magnesium stearate influence thermal parameters. Information recorded from the derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) and TGA curves demonstrated the decomposition of drugs in well-defined thermal events, translating the suitability of these techniques for the characterization of the drug/excipients interactions.

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