In vivo evaluation of the vaginal distribution and retention of a multi-particulate pellet formulation.

Document Type

Article

Department

Obstetrics and Gynaecology (East Africa)

Abstract

Non-disintegrating microcrystalline cellulose pellets (MCC) and disintegrating starch-based pellets were evaluated as new vaginal drug delivery forms and compared with a powder formulation. Pellets and powder were packed in a HPMC or hard gelatine capsule and vaginally administered to five series of five healthy volunteers. Distribution and retention of the multi-particulate formulation was monitored by colposcopy and swabbing. Capsule disintegration in the vagina was slow. MCC pellets clustered around the fornix 3 h after administration, and after 24 h only a few pellets were detected in the vaginal cavity. In contrast, starch-based pellets already started to disintegrate 6 h after administration, resulting in a complete coverage of the vaginal mucosa after 24 h in 8 out of 10 volunteers. The powder formulation had a better distribution after 6 h, although after 24 h almost no powder remained in the vagina. These results were confirmed by swabbing to determine the amount of riboflavin sodium phosphate (used as marker) distributed in the different vaginal regions.

Comments

This work was published before the author joined Aga Khan University.

Publication (Name of Journal)

European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics

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