%0 Journal Article
%T A Review of In Vitro Drug Release Test Methods for Nano-Sized Dosage Forms
%A Susan D¡¯Souza
%J Advances in Pharmaceutics
%D 2014
%R 10.1155/2014/304757
%X This review summarizes the methods used to study real-time (37¡ãC) drug release from nanoparticulate drug delivery systems and establish an IVIVC. Since no compendial standards exist, drug release is currently assessed using a variety of methods including sample and separate (SS), continuous flow (CF), dialysis membrane (DM) methods, and a combination thereof, as well as novel techniques like voltametry and turbidimetry. This review describes the principle of each method along with their advantages and disadvantages, including challenges with set-up and sampling. The SS method allows direct measurement of drug release with simple set-up requirements, but sampling is cumbersome. With the CF method, sampling is straightforward but the set-up is time consuming. Set-up as well as sampling is easier with the DM, but it may not be suitable for drugs that bind to the membrane. Novel methods offer the possibility of real-time drug release measurement but may be restricted to certain types of drugs. Of these methods, Level A IVIVCs have been obtained with dialysis, alone or in combination with the sample and separate technique. Future efforts should focus on developing mathematical models that describe drug release mechanisms as well as facilitate formulation development of nano-sized dosage forms. 1. Introduction Ever since reports documenting the utility of polycyanoacrylate and poly-¦Å-caprolactone nanocapsules for ocular administration were published over two decades ago, several publications have highlighted the benefits of using nano-sized dosage forms for medical and imaging purposes [1¨C3]. Indeed, advantages such as improved drug solubility and stability, enhanced performance as well as increased efficacy have been well established with nanoparticulate preparations [4]. The increasing interest in nanotechnology based drug delivery systems has been a key factor in the design and development of numerous novel dosage forms and complex delivery therapies such as liposomes, nanoemulsions, nanocrystals, polymeric nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanofibers, and dendrimers, to treat a variety of disease states [5¨C7]. As an example, researchers have investigated nanoparticles of Fenofibrate for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and Cyclosporine nanoparticles against cancer [8, 9]. Unsurprisingly, several nanoparticulate preparations are currently undergoing clinical investigation for the delivery of a wide range of therapeutics like antibiotics, antigens, cytostatics, and so forth, via the intramuscular, subcutaneous, oral, and intravenous route [10,
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ap/2014/304757/