PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGY IN THE SCHISTOSOMA

TF20

Andréa Cristina de Lima (1) limaac@fcfar.unesp.br, Paula Fernanda Carvalho Souto (2), Marco Vinicius Chaud, (2,3) Maria Palmira Daflon Gremião (1)

1) UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL PAULISTA (UNESP)/ FACULDADE DE CIÊNICAS FARMACÊUTICAS DE ARARAQUARA 2) UNIVERSIDADE METODISTA DE PIRACICABA (UNIMEP)3) UNIVERSIDADE DE SOROCABA (UNISO)

INTRODUCTION: The number of carriers of Schistosoma mansoni infection in Brazil was estimated based on the results of parasitological examinations of feces carried out by the FNS  (National Health Foundation) in 2006, as well as population data from 18 states collected by the IBGE – Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. This information allowed the number of carriers of schistosomiasis mansoni to be estimated at 7.1 million in 2006 and 6.3 million in 2007. These figures may not reflect the true situation since the population sample used was not originally selected for this purpose. The absence of precise data indicates the need for an adequate national survey of the prevalence of schistosomiasis, which continues to be an important endemic parasitic disease.  Praziquantel (class II drug) has been shown to be highly effective against all known species of Schistosoma infecting humans. The pharmaceutical technology, e.g. formulation of solid dispersions is a promising approach to enhance the dissolution rate and solubility of drugs belonging to class II of the Biopharmaceutical Classification System. Often the amorphous state of the drug is preferred in solid dispersions, since it shows improved solubility and dissolution rate in comparison to the crystalline material. A relatively recent approach for obtaining pharmaceutical materials in pure physical forms is represented by technologies based on supercritical fluids (SCF). By proper adjustment of the operating conditions as well as physical and chemical parameters (pressure, temperature, drug concentration, flow and nature of supercritical fluid and organic solvent) materials of a desired crystal form can be generated. Advantages for the use of SCF technology are its high versatility , the flexibility in offering alternative processing approaches, the possibility to avoid or minimize the use of organic solvents, and the ability to reach peculiar processing conditions (i.e., changesin pressure and in the rate of solvent evaporation) which would otherwise be difficult to obtain with traditional processes. Furthermore, the original concept of SCF as a “green” alternative has become very important as the regulatory requirements for the use and residual contents of volatile organic compounds in the drug product become more and more restrictive. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to increased the solubility of solid dispersions of praziquantel in pharmaceutics carriers using SCF pharmaceutical technology. METHODS: To evaluate the SCF pharmaceutical technology were carried solid dispersion using SCF pharmaceutical technology of the drug and pharmaceutical carriers.  RESULTS: The solid dispersions of praziquantel in pharmaceutical carriers using SCF pharmaceutical technology were useful for the solubility of the drug. CONCLUSION: The SCF pharmaceutical technology solid dispersion employing supercritical fluid is important for increase the solubility of insoluble drugs.