Fabrication and Characterization of Fast-Dissolving Films Containing Escitalopram/Quetiapine for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder
Major depressive disorder (MMD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Approximately one-third of patients with MDD fail to achieve response or remission leading to treatment-resistant depression (TRD). One of the psychopharmacological strategies to overcome TRD is using a combination of an ant...
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Pharmaceutics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/13/6/891 |
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| author | Manal E. Alkahtani Alhassan H. Aodah Omar A. Abu Asab Abdul W. Basit Mine Orlu Essam A. Tawfik |
| author_facet | Manal E. Alkahtani Alhassan H. Aodah Omar A. Abu Asab Abdul W. Basit Mine Orlu Essam A. Tawfik |
| author_sort | Manal E. Alkahtani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Major depressive disorder (MMD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Approximately one-third of patients with MDD fail to achieve response or remission leading to treatment-resistant depression (TRD). One of the psychopharmacological strategies to overcome TRD is using a combination of an antipsychotic as an augmenting agent with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Among which, an atypical antipsychotic, quetiapine (QUE), and an SSRI, escitalopram (ESC), were formulated as a fixed-dose combination as a fast-dissolving film by coaxial electrospinning. The resultant fiber’s morphology was studied. SEM images showed that the drug-loaded fibers were smooth, un-beaded, and non-porous with a fiber diameter of 0.9 ± 0.1 µm, while the TEM images illustrated the distinctive layers of the core and shell, confirming the successful preparation of these fibers. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies confirmed that both drugs were amorphously distributed within the drug-loaded fibers. The drug-loaded fibers exhibited a disintegration time of 2 s, which accelerated the release of both drugs (50% after 5 min) making it an attractive formulation for oral mucosal delivery. The ex vivo permeability study demonstrated that QUE was permeated through the buccal membrane, but not ESC that might be hindered by the buccal epithelium and the intercellular lipids. Overall, the developed coaxial fibers could be a potential buccal dosage form that could be attributed to higher acceptability and adherence among vulnerable patients, particularly mentally ill patients. |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4923 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:22:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmaceutics |
| spelling | doaj.art-cd2558eee8624a99a14e7aa1b547df352023-11-22T00:18:14ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232021-06-0113689110.3390/pharmaceutics13060891Fabrication and Characterization of Fast-Dissolving Films Containing Escitalopram/Quetiapine for the Treatment of Major Depressive DisorderManal E. Alkahtani0Alhassan H. Aodah1Omar A. Abu Asab2Abdul W. Basit3Mine Orlu4Essam A. Tawfik5UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UKNational Center for Pharmaceutical Technology, Life Science & Environment Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, 6086, Riyadh 11442, Saudi ArabiaNational Center for Pharmaceutical Technology, Life Science & Environment Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, 6086, Riyadh 11442, Saudi ArabiaUCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UKUCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UKNational Center for Pharmaceutical Technology, Life Science & Environment Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, 6086, Riyadh 11442, Saudi ArabiaMajor depressive disorder (MMD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Approximately one-third of patients with MDD fail to achieve response or remission leading to treatment-resistant depression (TRD). One of the psychopharmacological strategies to overcome TRD is using a combination of an antipsychotic as an augmenting agent with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Among which, an atypical antipsychotic, quetiapine (QUE), and an SSRI, escitalopram (ESC), were formulated as a fixed-dose combination as a fast-dissolving film by coaxial electrospinning. The resultant fiber’s morphology was studied. SEM images showed that the drug-loaded fibers were smooth, un-beaded, and non-porous with a fiber diameter of 0.9 ± 0.1 µm, while the TEM images illustrated the distinctive layers of the core and shell, confirming the successful preparation of these fibers. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies confirmed that both drugs were amorphously distributed within the drug-loaded fibers. The drug-loaded fibers exhibited a disintegration time of 2 s, which accelerated the release of both drugs (50% after 5 min) making it an attractive formulation for oral mucosal delivery. The ex vivo permeability study demonstrated that QUE was permeated through the buccal membrane, but not ESC that might be hindered by the buccal epithelium and the intercellular lipids. Overall, the developed coaxial fibers could be a potential buccal dosage form that could be attributed to higher acceptability and adherence among vulnerable patients, particularly mentally ill patients.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/13/6/891major depressive disordertreatment-resistant depressioncoaxial fiberselectrospinningfast-dissolving filmsescitalopram |
| spellingShingle | Manal E. Alkahtani Alhassan H. Aodah Omar A. Abu Asab Abdul W. Basit Mine Orlu Essam A. Tawfik Fabrication and Characterization of Fast-Dissolving Films Containing Escitalopram/Quetiapine for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder Pharmaceutics major depressive disorder treatment-resistant depression coaxial fibers electrospinning fast-dissolving films escitalopram |
| title | Fabrication and Characterization of Fast-Dissolving Films Containing Escitalopram/Quetiapine for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder |
| title_full | Fabrication and Characterization of Fast-Dissolving Films Containing Escitalopram/Quetiapine for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder |
| title_fullStr | Fabrication and Characterization of Fast-Dissolving Films Containing Escitalopram/Quetiapine for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fabrication and Characterization of Fast-Dissolving Films Containing Escitalopram/Quetiapine for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder |
| title_short | Fabrication and Characterization of Fast-Dissolving Films Containing Escitalopram/Quetiapine for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder |
| title_sort | fabrication and characterization of fast dissolving films containing escitalopram quetiapine for the treatment of major depressive disorder |
| topic | major depressive disorder treatment-resistant depression coaxial fibers electrospinning fast-dissolving films escitalopram |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/13/6/891 |
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