Various properties of the components and adhesives were modelled. The compatibility of the components were successfully incorporated into an extended Fox equation to predict the glass transition temperature. The peel strength of the adhesive was modelled in terms of the rheological properties of elastic moduli and loss tangent values at different temperatures. A second model based upon the value of the loss tangent at room temperature was also broadly successful but deviations from predicted behaviour were observed which were attributable to failure of the adhesive joints by a mode not included in the model. The modulus of the adhesive was modelled on the basis of an extended mixture rule in which the extent of compatibility was identified by a parameter n. The value of n varied as a function of adhesive composition and temperature, indicating that the behaviour of the adhesives changed subtly as the compatibility of the phases changed. The value of the parameter could not be directly related to the morphology of the adhesive phases. Fourteen commercially available poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) copolymer samples were selected in which there was a systematic change in the melt index, amount of vinyl acetate, and degree of crystallinity. Various hot melt adhesives were made using these copolymers and a standard amount of wax and resin. The materials were examined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), oscillatory rheometry (both controlled strain and controlled stress), and transient (creep) rheometry. The adhesives were also investigated using a variety of industrial tests which included peel adhesion and tensile testing at four different rates, open and setting time, shear and peel stress resistance at elevated temperatures, and viscosity determination over a wide range of temperatures. Detailed thermal analysis and characterisation have provided a range of accurate and systematic data on all of the materials and in particular showed that the components of the adhesive did not merely act as a mechanical mixture but had a distinct compatibility. The controlled stress technique was found to more discriminatory than the controlled strain, due to the more precisely controlled heating and cooling of the sample during loading and evaluation. Other key differences between the techniques are attributable to the different thermal histories imposed upon the semi-crystalline adhesive components. Detailed analysis of the complex rheological curves showed several key factors. One of the most important was the modulus crossover temperature Tx which was shown to correlate well with the softening point of the adhesive, its open time, and the heat resistance under shear as determined by the shear adhesion failure temperature (SAFT). It was possible to construct a linear relationship between Tx and SAFT which allowed prediction of this key adhesive parameter. There was no significant relationship established between the softening point of an adhesive and its heat resistance, open time, or critical thermal characteristics, and the use of the softening point as a useful indicator of adhesive performance is contested. The open time was shown to be clearly influenced by the properties of the copolymer. The relationship between open time and melt index is complex and two competing mechanisms are thought responsible. These are the inability to fully wet the substrate for high molecular weights and resistance to complete substrate penetration by capillary effects for adhesives formulated with low molecular weight polymers. Both of these effects cause a reduction in open time. The cloud points of the adhesives were independent of the molecular weight but strongly affected by composition. Degree of crystallinity was also an influence at higher molecular weights. Cloud point correlated slightly with the onset of crystallisation as determined by DSC however differences are extremely small and the method was not deemed robust enough for widespread industrial application. Various properties of the components and adhesives were modelled. The compatibility of the components were successfully incorporated into an extended Fox equation to predict the glass transition temperature. The peel strength of the adhesive was modelled in terms of the rheological properties of elastic moduli and loss tangent values at different temperatures. A second model based upon the value of the loss tangent at room temperature was also broadly successful but deviations from predicted behaviour were observed which were attributable to failure of the adhesive joints by a mode not included in the model. The modulus of the adhesive was modelled on the basis of an extended mixture rule in which the extent of compatibility was identified by a parameter n. The value of n varied as a function of adhesive composition and temperature, indicating that the behaviour of the adhesives changed subtly as the compatibility of the phases changed. The value of the parameter could not be directly related to the morphology of the adhesive phases.

A cartonboard package is often sealed and closed with an adhesive – either a hot-melt adhesive (adhesives that are applied in a molten state on the cartonboard) or a dispersion adhesive (adhesives that are applied as water-based dispersions). This thesis focuses on the process of hot-melt gluing, and how material properties and process conditions affect the performance of the adhesive joint. Requirements vary depending on how the package is to be used. A package that is only supposed to protect the product during transport differs from one that is supposed to attract consumers and facilitate their use of the product. If a package has been opened, due to external or internal forces that cause a fracture in the adhesive joint, the consumer may choose another package instead. A fracture of the adhesive joint may occur in several different ways; for example, a cohesive fracture in the adhesive, an interfacial fracture between the adhesive and one of the cartonboard surfaces, and a cohesive fracture in the cartonboard. The traditional way of testing the adhesive joint is to subjectively evaluate the fibre tear after manually tearing the joint apart. The primary interest of this study has been to find an objective method that can characterise the adhesive joint – that is, its strength and joint characteristics. The work has principally concentrated on physical experiments where the Y-peel method has been evaluated and further developed, including the construction of a laboratory adhesive applicator. Adhesive joint failure is analysed and correlated to the force-elongation curve during Y-peel testing in order to explore various mechanisms of the failure. The force versus elongation curves are transformed into a force versus inelastic deformation curve for the adhesive joint. The inelastic deformation of the adhesive joint is defined as the inelastic opening of the adhesive joint perpendicular to the cartonboard surface. The dissipative descending energy has been used to characterise the adhesive joint. High descending dissipative energy showed high resistance against final failure of the joint. This correlates very well with the manual fibre-tear test. Characteristic force-elongation curves in Y-peel testing – that is, the shape of the curve – have been analysed, and four main failure modes have been identified. The finite element method has been used to predict mechanical behaviour in the ascending part of the force-elongation curve. When it comes to local behaviour, a high stiffness adhesive results in bending behaviour while a low results in shearing, but on a global scale, no big difference was detected on the ascending part of the force-elongation curve. The new laboratory adhesive applicator and finite element method can be used to objectively design the interaction between the adhesive and the cartonboard for a specific application. This can be achieved by modifying the cartonboard, the adhesive or the process parameters.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1996. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 201-208). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 221-229).

Yes / Twin screw granulation (TSG) has been applied to wet granulation, although its application in melt granulation has been more limited. This work explores potential advantages of hot melt granulation using twin screw extrusion. Four main operating and formulation parameters were investigated: screw speed, number of mixing elements, temperature, and binder percentage. Combinations of these factors were then studied to determine their impact on the quantity and characteristics of granules within the desired size range of 125 - 1000 µm. A screening design of experiments (DOE) study was used with each factor set at three levels, to investigate individual factor effects and interactions. Two types of mixing elements were studied: kneading block (KB) and chaotic elements. The type and number of mixing elements were found to be paramount in contributing to the quantity and characteristics of granules formed. Results obtained agreed with previous findings in literature on the influence of different screw elements on the characteristics of granules formed by twin screw granulation. Additionally, the study revealed the unique impact which different mixer elements have on both granule production and characteristics. Depending on the specific need or use of granules in required applications, the granulation process can be effectively designed to meet the end product quality and outcome.

No / Hot melt extrusion is a continuous process with wide industrial applicability. Till current date, there have been no reports on the formulation of extrudates for topical treatment of dermatological diseases. The aim of the present work was to prepare and characterize medicated hot melt extrudates based on Soluplus polymer and nicotinamide, and to explore their applicability in acne treatment. The extrudates were characterized using DSC, FTIR, XRD, and DVS. The extrudates were also tested for their skin adhesion potential, ability to deposit nicotinamide in different skin layers, and their clinical efficacy in acne patients. The 10% nicotinamide extrudates exhibited amorphous nature which was reserved during storage, with no chemical interaction between nicotinamide and Soluplus. Upon contrasting the skin adhesion and drug deposition of extrudates and nicotinamide gel, it was evident that the extrudates displayed significantly higher adhesion and drug deposition reaching 4.8 folds, 5.3 folds, and 4.3 folds more in the stratum corneum, epidermis and dermis, respectively. Furthermore, the extrudates significantly reduced the total number of acne lesions in patients by 61.3% compared to 42.14% with the nicotinamide gel. Soluplus extrudates are promising topical drug delivery means for the treatment of dermatological diseases.

Este trabalho visou obter extratos secos padronizados de Curcuma longa L., e sua otimização visando o aumento da solubilidade dos curcuminóides e melhoria nas suas atividades biológicas. No estudo de extração, os curcuminóides foram extraídas utilizando dois solventes, etanol e solução etanólica alcalina e dois processos microondas e ultrassom seguindo planejamentos fatoriais completos 24, e com pH do solvente, teor de etanol, tempo de extração, potência do microondas ou temperatura no ultrassom, e proporção massa da droga pela massa do solvente como variáveis independentes. Os extratos foram caracterizados quanto ao rendimento de sólidos totais, teor de curcuminóides totais, rendimento de curcuminóides totais, teor de curcumina, rendimento de curcumina e atividade antioxidante por difenil-picril-hidrazila. A condição de extração com melhor resultado foi o ultrassom a 20 ºC, solvente etanol 96 ºGL, 1 parte de planta para 7 de solvente, pH 10 e duração de 5 min., pois, nesta condição, obteve-se maior teor de curcumina e maior atividade antioxidante. O estudo visando aumento da solubilidade da curcumina constou da preparação de dispersões sólidas pelos métodos de spray drying e hot melt coating. Ambos os métodos foram estudados com os polímeros hidrofílicos Gelucire® 44:14 e 50:13, e aplicando-se planejamento fatorial tipo Box-Behnken. As dispersões sólidas particuladas foram avaliadas pela morfologia, densidade aparente e de compactação, fator de Hausner, índice de Carr, ângulo de repouso, umidade residual, atividade de água, calorimetria diferencial de varredura, termogravimetria, difração de raio-X, espectrometria de infravermelho, solubilidade em água e teste de dissolução. A maior solubilidade foi obtida com secagem no spray drying a 40 ºC, proporção Gelucire®44/14:curcumina 1:1 e proporção 1:5 de Aerosil:dispersão (DS16). No hot melt coating, a melhor solubilidade foi obtida com maior quantidade de Gelucire 50/13 e menor de Lactose (DS 3). Dispersões sólidas particuladas foram preparadas também com o Gelucire® 50/13 por spray drying (DS 17). Considerando-se os fatores solubilidade e teor de curcumina nas partículas, a dispersão DS 17 foi escolhida como a mais adequada para os ensaios biológicos posteriores. A mesma condição de preparo da DS17 foi usada para produzir dispersões sólidas com o extrato obtido por ultrassom (DSE). Nesta dispersão a solubilidade dos curcuminóides demonstrou ser 330 vezes maior do que o extrato seco nas mesmas condições porém sem a adição de carreador. No ensaio de avaliação da atividade antitumoral in vitro, foram avaliadas a citotoxicidade da curcumina pura, DS 17, DS 3 e a DSE, em diferentes linhagens tumorais, leucemia T (jurkat), melanona (C8161), adenocarcinoma coloretal (HT29), carcinoma hepatocelular (HepG2) e de célula não tumoral (PBMC). A curcumina apresentou atividade citotóxica para células tumorais e esta não foi afetada pelo processo de produção da dispersão sólida. Além disso, a DS do extrato apresentou maior citotoxicidade, o que pode ser devido ao sinergismo de outros compostos. O extrato também foi mais seletivo para células tumorais que a curcumina e as dispersões. O estudo de atividade anti-inflamatória in vivo usando o modelo de edema de pata, demonstrou que a dispersão DS 17 apresentou maior atividade do que a curcumina na mesma dose, indicando que o aumento da solubilidade possibilita uma maior absorção e consequentemente maior biodisponibilidade. / The aim of this work was to obtain standardized dried extracts of Curcuma longa L. and to develop pre-formulations and capsules with improved curcuminoids solubility and higher biological activities. In the extraction study, the powdered roots of Curcuma longa L. were extracted using ethanol and an aqueous alkaline ethanol solution by microwave and ultrasound assisted methods, together with the application of 24 full factorial designs of experiments to better understand the effects of solvent pH, ethanol concentration, microwave power, ultrasound temperature and ratio of drug to solvent (w/w) on the extract. The extracts were characterized by solids yield, curcuminoid content and yield, curcumin content and yield and antioxidant activity by the diphenylpycril hydrazil method. The best extraction resulted from the ultrasound assisted using ethanol 96 oGL at pH 10, 20oC, 1:7 drug to solvent ratio (w/w), during 5 minutes. This condition was chosen because it resulted in the best yields and antioxidant activities. The work developed to improve curcumin and curcuminoid solubilities was based on the preparation of solid dispersions by spray drying and hot melt coating using the hydrophilic carriers Gelucire® 44:14 and 50:13. Applying Box-Behnken designs the effect of process conditions on microparticulate solid dispersions properties, like morphology, bulk and tapped densities, Hausner factor, Carr index, angle of repose, moisture content, water activity, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, infrared spectrometry, curcuminoid solubility in water and dissolution rate. The highest improvement in drug solubility was obtained by dispersion prepared by spray drying at 40oC, Gelucire® 44:14/curcumin 1:1 ratio, and adding 16,7% Aerosil (DS16). On the other hand, the hot melt granules with best solubility were prepared with higher Gelucire® 50:13 and lower substrate (lactose) contents (DS3). Additional solid dispersion, DS17, was prepared by spray-drying in the same conditions applied to DS16 but using Gelucire® 50:13 as carrier. Considering the aspects drug solubility and content in solid dispersions, DS17 showed the best performance and the same set of conditions used for its preparation was also applied to produce a solid dispersion containing the raw extract obtained by ultrasound extraction. This solid dispersion increased curcumin solubility by a 330-fold factor. In the in vitro antitumor assays pure curcumin, DS3, DS17 and DSE cytotoxicities were evaluated in several tumor cell lines, leukemia T (jurkat), melanona (C8161), adenocarcinoma coloretal (HT29), hepatic carcinoma (HepG2) and in one non tumor (PBMC). The antitumor activities were not influenced by the thermal processes and the extract presented higher cytotoxicity and better selectivity to tumor cells. The in vivo antinflammatory study was performed by the rat paw edema method and showed that solid dispersion DS17 resulted in antinflammatory effect higher than pure curcumin and indomethacin at some doses. The results are an indicative that the increase in drug solubility may incur in an increase oral bioavailability and that the process proposed herein are adequate for preparation of pre-formulations containing less soluble herbal drugs.

No Brasil a esquistossomose é causada pela espécie Schistosoma mansoni e leva principalmente à formação de granulomas e fibroses, hipertensão portal e hepatoesplenomegalia. O praziquantel (PZQ) é o fármaco de primeira escolha para o tratamento e possui baixa solubilidade aquosa, sendo necessárias altas doses para ação terapêutica. A taxa de dissolução do PZQ é fator limitante para a sua biodisponibilidade, portanto, melhorar sua solubilidade é fundamental. O objetivo deste trabalho foi aumentar a solubilidade do PZQ pela obtenção de grânulos contendo dispersões sólidas deste fármaco pelo processo hot melt em leito fluidizado. Além disto, buscou-se estudar a fluidodinâmica e as variáveis do processo de granulação. Inicialmente, dispersões sólidas foram preparadas por simples fusão em polietilenoglicol (PEG) 4000 e PEG 6000 nas proporções 2:1; 1:1; 1:2; 1:5 e 1:10 e estas foram caracterizadas por teste de solubilidade, difração de raios-X, espectroscopia em infravermelho e análises térmicas (DSC e TG). Foram obtidas dispersões sólidas com uma solubilidade duas vezes maior do PZQ, uma menor cristalinidade, uma possível interação fármaco-carreador e sem degradação ou alteração nos principais grupos funcionais. Com estes resultados, a dispersão sólida 1:10 PZQ:PEG 6000 foi escolhida para a etapa da granulação. Os granulados foram obtidos utilizando o planejamento fatorial Box Behnken com as seguintes variáveis: % de dispersão sólida, proporção PZQ:PEG das dispersões e carga de lactose spray-dried (SD) (g). A caracterização dos grânulos foi realizada pelos testes: granulometria, densidade aparente, densidade compactada, fator de Hausner, índice de Carr, ângulo de repouso e doseamento do fármaco, sendo todas estas propriedades avaliadas pela técnica de superfície de resposta (ANOVA). A análise estatística demonstrou que as características dos granulados são, na maioria dos casos, dependentes da % de dispersão sólida e da proporção de PZQ:PEG, sendo satisfatórios e toleráveis os resultados do fluxo dos granulados. Os três melhores granulados foram escolhidos para as análises de microscopia eletrônica de varredura, espectroscopia em infravermelho, difração de raios-X, análise térmica e perfil de dissolução. Estas análises mostraram que nos grânulos houve diminuição da cristalinidade, possíveis interações entre PZQ, PEG e lactose, além do grande aumento no perfil de dissolução. Com estes resultados, confirmam-se as vantagens da granulação por hot melt em leito fluidizado e a importância do estudo de suas variáveis. / In Brazil, schistossomiasis is mainly attributed to the species Schistosoma mansoni, which causes granulomas and fibrosis, portal hypertension and hepatosplenomegaly. Praziquantel (PZQ) is the first choice in the treatment; however, it has low water solubility, thus requiring high doses for a proper therapeutical result. The PZQ dissolution rate is the limiting factor for its bioavailability; therefore, it is fundamental to improve of this drug solubility. The objective of this work was to increase the PZQ solubility with the production of granules containing its solid dispersions, prepared by hot melt process in fluidized bed. Moreover, the fluid dynamic and several variables of the process were studied. First, solid dispersions were prepared by mixing with melted polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 and PEG 6000 at the ratios of 2:1; 1:1; 1:2; 1:5 and 1:10. These were characterized by solubility test, x-ray powder diffraction, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal analyses (DSC and TG). Solid dispersions were obtained with PZQ solubility two times higher than the pure drug, lower crystallinity and without degradation or alteration in the main functional groups. With these results, the solid dispersion 1:10 PZQ:PEG 6000 was chosen for the studies of granulation. The granulates were obtained using the Box Behnken factorial design with the following independent variables: % of solid dispersion, ratio PZQ:PEG in the dispersions and amount of spray-dried lactose (g). The granules characterization was made by the tests of granulometry, bulk density, tapped density, Hausner ratio, Carr index, angle of repose and PZQ assay. In addition, all these properties were evaluated by response surface technique (ANOVA). The statistical analysis, in most cases, showed that the granules characteristics depend significantly on the % of solid dispersion and on the ratio PZQ:PEG. The results on the granules flow properties are satisfactory and acceptable for tableting. The three granulates with best properties were submitted to scanning electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray powder diffraction, thermal analysis and dissolution test. These analyses showed that there were, in the granules, decrease of crystallinity, possible interaction among PZQ, PEG and lactose, and also, greater increase in the dissolution test. The advantages of fluid bed hot melt granulation and the importance of studying the process variables are confirmed by the results in this work.

Este trabalho visou obter extratos secos padronizados de Curcuma longa L., e sua otimização visando o aumento da solubilidade dos curcuminóides e melhoria nas suas atividades biológicas. No estudo de extração, os curcuminóides foram extraídas utilizando dois solventes, etanol e solução etanólica alcalina e dois processos microondas e ultrassom seguindo planejamentos fatoriais completos 24, e com pH do solvente, teor de etanol, tempo de extração, potência do microondas ou temperatura no ultrassom, e proporção massa da droga pela massa do solvente como variáveis independentes. Os extratos foram caracterizados quanto ao rendimento de sólidos totais, teor de curcuminóides totais, rendimento de curcuminóides totais, teor de curcumina, rendimento de curcumina e atividade antioxidante por difenil-picril-hidrazila. A condição de extração com melhor resultado foi o ultrassom a 20 ºC, solvente etanol 96 ºGL, 1 parte de planta para 7 de solvente, pH 10 e duração de 5 min., pois, nesta condição, obteve-se maior teor de curcumina e maior atividade antioxidante. O estudo visando aumento da solubilidade da curcumina constou da preparação de dispersões sólidas pelos métodos de spray drying e hot melt coating. Ambos os métodos foram estudados com os polímeros hidrofílicos Gelucire® 44:14 e 50:13, e aplicando-se planejamento fatorial tipo Box-Behnken. As dispersões sólidas particuladas foram avaliadas pela morfologia, densidade aparente e de compactação, fator de Hausner, índice de Carr, ângulo de repouso, umidade residual, atividade de água, calorimetria diferencial de varredura, termogravimetria, difração de raio-X, espectrometria de infravermelho, solubilidade em água e teste de dissolução. A maior solubilidade foi obtida com secagem no spray drying a 40 ºC, proporção Gelucire®44/14:curcumina 1:1 e proporção 1:5 de Aerosil:dispersão (DS16). No hot melt coating, a melhor solubilidade foi obtida com maior quantidade de Gelucire 50/13 e menor de Lactose (DS 3). Dispersões sólidas particuladas foram preparadas também com o Gelucire® 50/13 por spray drying (DS 17). Considerando-se os fatores solubilidade e teor de curcumina nas partículas, a dispersão DS 17 foi escolhida como a mais adequada para os ensaios biológicos posteriores. A mesma condição de preparo da DS17 foi usada para produzir dispersões sólidas com o extrato obtido por ultrassom (DSE). Nesta dispersão a solubilidade dos curcuminóides demonstrou ser 330 vezes maior do que o extrato seco nas mesmas condições porém sem a adição de carreador. No ensaio de avaliação da atividade antitumoral in vitro, foram avaliadas a citotoxicidade da curcumina pura, DS 17, DS 3 e a DSE, em diferentes linhagens tumorais, leucemia T (jurkat), melanona (C8161), adenocarcinoma coloretal (HT29), carcinoma hepatocelular (HepG2) e de célula não tumoral (PBMC). A curcumina apresentou atividade citotóxica para células tumorais e esta não foi afetada pelo processo de produção da dispersão sólida. Além disso, a DS do extrato apresentou maior citotoxicidade, o que pode ser devido ao sinergismo de outros compostos. O extrato também foi mais seletivo para células tumorais que a curcumina e as dispersões. O estudo de atividade anti-inflamatória in vivo usando o modelo de edema de pata, demonstrou que a dispersão DS 17 apresentou maior atividade do que a curcumina na mesma dose, indicando que o aumento da solubilidade possibilita uma maior absorção e consequentemente maior biodisponibilidade. / The aim of this work was to obtain standardized dried extracts of Curcuma longa L. and to develop pre-formulations and capsules with improved curcuminoids solubility and higher biological activities. In the extraction study, the powdered roots of Curcuma longa L. were extracted using ethanol and an aqueous alkaline ethanol solution by microwave and ultrasound assisted methods, together with the application of 24 full factorial designs of experiments to better understand the effects of solvent pH, ethanol concentration, microwave power, ultrasound temperature and ratio of drug to solvent (w/w) on the extract. The extracts were characterized by solids yield, curcuminoid content and yield, curcumin content and yield and antioxidant activity by the diphenylpycril hydrazil method. The best extraction resulted from the ultrasound assisted using ethanol 96 oGL at pH 10, 20oC, 1:7 drug to solvent ratio (w/w), during 5 minutes. This condition was chosen because it resulted in the best yields and antioxidant activities. The work developed to improve curcumin and curcuminoid solubilities was based on the preparation of solid dispersions by spray drying and hot melt coating using the hydrophilic carriers Gelucire® 44:14 and 50:13. Applying Box-Behnken designs the effect of process conditions on microparticulate solid dispersions properties, like morphology, bulk and tapped densities, Hausner factor, Carr index, angle of repose, moisture content, water activity, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, infrared spectrometry, curcuminoid solubility in water and dissolution rate. The highest improvement in drug solubility was obtained by dispersion prepared by spray drying at 40oC, Gelucire® 44:14/curcumin 1:1 ratio, and adding 16,7% Aerosil (DS16). On the other hand, the hot melt granules with best solubility were prepared with higher Gelucire® 50:13 and lower substrate (lactose) contents (DS3). Additional solid dispersion, DS17, was prepared by spray-drying in the same conditions applied to DS16 but using Gelucire® 50:13 as carrier. Considering the aspects drug solubility and content in solid dispersions, DS17 showed the best performance and the same set of conditions used for its preparation was also applied to produce a solid dispersion containing the raw extract obtained by ultrasound extraction. This solid dispersion increased curcumin solubility by a 330-fold factor. In the in vitro antitumor assays pure curcumin, DS3, DS17 and DSE cytotoxicities were evaluated in several tumor cell lines, leukemia T (jurkat), melanona (C8161), adenocarcinoma coloretal (HT29), hepatic carcinoma (HepG2) and in one non tumor (PBMC). The antitumor activities were not influenced by the thermal processes and the extract presented higher cytotoxicity and better selectivity to tumor cells. The in vivo antinflammatory study was performed by the rat paw edema method and showed that solid dispersion DS17 resulted in antinflammatory effect higher than pure curcumin and indomethacin at some doses. The results are an indicative that the increase in drug solubility may incur in an increase oral bioavailability and that the process proposed herein are adequate for preparation of pre-formulations containing less soluble herbal drugs.

No Brasil a esquistossomose é causada pela espécie Schistosoma mansoni e leva principalmente à formação de granulomas e fibroses, hipertensão portal e hepatoesplenomegalia. O praziquantel (PZQ) é o fármaco de primeira escolha para o tratamento e possui baixa solubilidade aquosa, sendo necessárias altas doses para ação terapêutica. A taxa de dissolução do PZQ é fator limitante para a sua biodisponibilidade, portanto, melhorar sua solubilidade é fundamental. O objetivo deste trabalho foi aumentar a solubilidade do PZQ pela obtenção de grânulos contendo dispersões sólidas deste fármaco pelo processo hot melt em leito fluidizado. Além disto, buscou-se estudar a fluidodinâmica e as variáveis do processo de granulação. Inicialmente, dispersões sólidas foram preparadas por simples fusão em polietilenoglicol (PEG) 4000 e PEG 6000 nas proporções 2:1; 1:1; 1:2; 1:5 e 1:10 e estas foram caracterizadas por teste de solubilidade, difração de raios-X, espectroscopia em infravermelho e análises térmicas (DSC e TG). Foram obtidas dispersões sólidas com uma solubilidade duas vezes maior do PZQ, uma menor cristalinidade, uma possível interação fármaco-carreador e sem degradação ou alteração nos principais grupos funcionais. Com estes resultados, a dispersão sólida 1:10 PZQ:PEG 6000 foi escolhida para a etapa da granulação. Os granulados foram obtidos utilizando o planejamento fatorial Box Behnken com as seguintes variáveis: % de dispersão sólida, proporção PZQ:PEG das dispersões e carga de lactose spray-dried (SD) (g). A caracterização dos grânulos foi realizada pelos testes: granulometria, densidade aparente, densidade compactada, fator de Hausner, índice de Carr, ângulo de repouso e doseamento do fármaco, sendo todas estas propriedades avaliadas pela técnica de superfície de resposta (ANOVA). A análise estatística demonstrou que as características dos granulados são, na maioria dos casos, dependentes da % de dispersão sólida e da proporção de PZQ:PEG, sendo satisfatórios e toleráveis os resultados do fluxo dos granulados. Os três melhores granulados foram escolhidos para as análises de microscopia eletrônica de varredura, espectroscopia em infravermelho, difração de raios-X, análise térmica e perfil de dissolução. Estas análises mostraram que nos grânulos houve diminuição da cristalinidade, possíveis interações entre PZQ, PEG e lactose, além do grande aumento no perfil de dissolução. Com estes resultados, confirmam-se as vantagens da granulação por hot melt em leito fluidizado e a importância do estudo de suas variáveis. / In Brazil, schistossomiasis is mainly attributed to the species Schistosoma mansoni, which causes granulomas and fibrosis, portal hypertension and hepatosplenomegaly. Praziquantel (PZQ) is the first choice in the treatment; however, it has low water solubility, thus requiring high doses for a proper therapeutical result. The PZQ dissolution rate is the limiting factor for its bioavailability; therefore, it is fundamental to improve of this drug solubility. The objective of this work was to increase the PZQ solubility with the production of granules containing its solid dispersions, prepared by hot melt process in fluidized bed. Moreover, the fluid dynamic and several variables of the process were studied. First, solid dispersions were prepared by mixing with melted polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 and PEG 6000 at the ratios of 2:1; 1:1; 1:2; 1:5 and 1:10. These were characterized by solubility test, x-ray powder diffraction, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal analyses (DSC and TG). Solid dispersions were obtained with PZQ solubility two times higher than the pure drug, lower crystallinity and without degradation or alteration in the main functional groups. With these results, the solid dispersion 1:10 PZQ:PEG 6000 was chosen for the studies of granulation. The granulates were obtained using the Box Behnken factorial design with the following independent variables: % of solid dispersion, ratio PZQ:PEG in the dispersions and amount of spray-dried lactose (g). The granules characterization was made by the tests of granulometry, bulk density, tapped density, Hausner ratio, Carr index, angle of repose and PZQ assay. In addition, all these properties were evaluated by response surface technique (ANOVA). The statistical analysis, in most cases, showed that the granules characteristics depend significantly on the % of solid dispersion and on the ratio PZQ:PEG. The results on the granules flow properties are satisfactory and acceptable for tableting. The three granulates with best properties were submitted to scanning electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray powder diffraction, thermal analysis and dissolution test. These analyses showed that there were, in the granules, decrease of crystallinity, possible interaction among PZQ, PEG and lactose, and also, greater increase in the dissolution test. The advantages of fluid bed hot melt granulation and the importance of studying the process variables are confirmed by the results in this work.