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Evaluation of innovated formula of Bisacodyl suppository following the dissolution profile and stability data by using developed HPLC method

 

Esraa G. Jabar 1*, Hassanien S. Taghi 2, Kahtan J. Hasson 1, Ihab I. Alkhalifa 1

1 Department of Pharmacy, AL-Rasheed University College, Baghdad, Iraq. 2 College of Pharmacy, Al-Bayan University, Baghdad, Iraq.

Correspondence: Esraa G. Jabar, Department of Pharmacy, AL-Rasheed University College, Baghdad, Iraq. Email: the_pharmacist_e @ yahoo.com.

ABSTRACT

Objective: Bisacodyl is a laxative drug, used in the treatment of constipation. It is soluble in mineral acids but it is practically insoluble in distilled water, therefore; dissolving of Biscodyl in alkaline medium is a very difficult task. So, the objective of this study was to develop a proper dissolution method for a new formulation of the Bisacodyl suppositories in a rectal-simulated medium. Most of the preparation products of bisacodyl suppositories will produce low percentages of dissolution in the alkaline phosphate buffer (pH 7.2).  Methods: Complex preparation inclusion of Bisacodyl with the solubilizing agent beta-cyclodextrin will be integrated into the suppository base. A developed and validated HPLC method has been carried out for quantitative analysis of Bisacodyl in the suppositories. Results: The dissolution rates for the innovative formula of Bisacodyl suppositories were about 97.5 percent and the stored suppositories of this formulation retained their defined physical and chemical properties along with the actual stability test.  Conclusion: The application of Bisacodyl's inclusion complexation technique (Innovated formula) in the development of suppositories with Beta-cyclodextrin increases the rate of dissolution and enhances the stability of the efficiency of suppositories‎.

Keywords:  Bisacodyl, suppositories, Beta-cyclodextrin, Solubilizing agent

 

 

Introduction  

Bisacodyl is used in the treatment of constipation, its mechanism of action was discussed by improving the evacuation of the intestines, which contributed to the effect of Bisacodyl's hydrolytic product (deacetylated compound) [1, 2].

It was found that the laxation effect occurs in oral administration within about 7 hours, but it does not take longer than 20 minutes for the application of Bisacodyl suppositories,

 this suggests the local impact of Bisacodyl on colon motivation [3].

 Bisacodyl suppositories dissolution test has not been officially listed in either B.P or USP yet. Therefore, the study's preliminary aim was to establish a proper system for the dissolution and determination method of analysis. In general, the dissolution medium is chosen to mimic the actual absorption site in the human body and is a colonic area in case of the dosage types of suppositories, where the pH is between 7.2 and 7.5 [4].

Bisacodyl substance is practically insoluble in water and soluble in dilute mineral acid as described by BP-2013, therefore it has poor solubility in an alkaline medium as it has been selected for dissolution medium (phosphate buffer pH 7.2) to be close to the colon in which it is the site of action for the suppositories [5].

Generally, the addition of surfactants (Tween 80 and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)) which act as solubilizing agents to the dissolution medium will improve the dissolution medium of poorly water-soluble drugs [6, 7]. However, the USP 38 has used SLS in a sustained- release tablet's dissolution medium; this procedure is not generally recommended for dosage forms of the suppositories.

Some researchers [8, 9] reported the use of solubilizing agents to enhance drug dissolution by adding PEG 400 or one of the SLS or Tween 80 surfactants in the formulation of suppositories, but this resulting in low physical stability of the suppositories and there is a possibility of mucous membrane irritation due to SLS in the rectal region.

In this work, an attempt to use beta-cyclodextrin as a solubilizing agent [10] by combining with the Bisacodyl solid inclusion complex and introducing it into the suppository base.

Beta- cyclodextrin is a cyclic starch derivative prepared by partial enzymatic starch hydrolysis (maltodextrin), it is often used in pharmaceutical formulation to improve the bioavailability of those poorly water-soluble or unstable drugs [11-13].

For the stability test of the innovative formula, the stability-indicating analytical method was needed to ensure specificity and sensitivity in the analysis of stored Bisacodyl suppositories.

The published UV-method and the HPLC method [14-16] For Bisacodyl identification in a dosage form as tablets were found not suitable for stability work.

Therefore, an HPLC method of the analysis of Bisacodyl suppositories was developed in this paper to follow the stability of Bisacodyl suppositories on storage.

Materials and Methods

In this study, the materials and methods used were as follows: Bisacodyl BP, Beta cyclodextrin, and suppositories base of semi-synthetic glycerides solid (DUB PP DL-France). HPLC apparatus (Cecil Co., England). ATR-IR- spectrophotometer (Bruker Co., Germany). Melting point tester type SSP, Suppository Hardness tester SBT2, and Suppository disintegration tester (Erweka, Germany). All were supplied in the R&D Lab of Safa Co. for pharmaceutical industries, Baghdad.

Preparation of suppositories

The normal routine manufacturing process of Bisacodyl suppositories in Safa pharmaceutical industry (Baghdad) is by incorporation of Measured quantity of Bisacodyl powder in the sufficient quantity of suppository base (DUB PP DL - France) previously melted in small stainless steel mixer, set at 40 °C with continuous mixing for 15 minutes then the mass was poured into plastic sheet molds for suppositories containing 10 mg of Bisacodyl in each suppository of the total weight of 1.7 g (F1).

The innovative formula (F2) was prepared to contain 10 mg of Bisacodyl powder blended with Beta-cyclodextrin in a 1:1 molar ratio to produce a solid dispersion.

The powder mixture was then ground by the high-speed grinder and introduced as suppositories into a molten suppository base.

IR-spectrophotometry:

The effect of B-cyclodextrin on the composition of Bisacodyl powder in the formed inclusion complex was studied by IR-spectrophotometry.

Hardness and Melting test

The formulated suppositories were physically tested for melting point, hardness, and disintegration time using Melting point tester type SSP, Suppository Hardness tester SBT2, and Suppository disintegration tester (Erweka) subsequently.

HPLC -Quantitative Analysis

Bisacodyl Suppositories' quantitative analysis on assay and dissolution was determined by a developed HPLC technique. The HPLC method included the use of a reversed-phase mode of chromatography with the following conditions; column of C18, 25 cm length and 5µm particle size. The mobile phase composed of a mixture of acetonitrile and buffer solution (70:30), a sodium citrate solution 0.05 M buffer solution optimized to pH 7.0 was prepared with dilute sodium hydroxide solution, the flow rate was 1ml/minute and the UV-detection at 230 nm.

Dissolution test

This test consists of a basket-type apparatus with a rotation speed of 75 RPM and 500 ml of dissolution medium using phosphate buffer (0.05 M, pH 7.2). The dissolution process was carried out for an hour, the dissolution test sample of the dissolution medium was collected, filtered, and subjected to HPLC analysis at the end time.

Evaluation of the new prepared formula of Bisacodyl suppositories

Bisacodyl suppositories (F2) (the newly prepared formula) was evaluated by comparing the analytical data obtained in the dissolution profile, which is constructed at intervals by specifying the dissolution percentage of bisacodyl in suppositories with that of other Bisacodyl suppositories commercial products.

Stability study

Samples of prepared Bisacodyl suppositories (F2) in their packaging were stored in a stability chamber that was set at room temperature (30⸰C and 65% RH of Iraq), and the physicochemical properties of the suppositories were checked in intervals during the storage time that lasts for 2 years as a real stability test program.

 

Results and Discussion

The IR-spectrum of Bisacodyl

The IR-spectrum before and after complex formation (Bisacodyl with beta-cyclodextrin) is shown in the figures (1 to 3).

 

Figure 1: IR-Spectrum of Bisacodyl Pure

Figure 2: IR-Spectra of Beta-cyclodextrin

Figure 3: IR-Spectra of Beta-cyclodextrin with Bisacodyl Complex

The Bisacodyl peaks with frequencies characteristic of 1752.6 cm-1, 1201.2 cm-1 and at 515 cm-1 are still present in the beta-cyclodextrin complex IR spectrum suggesting incomplete inclusion due to physical mixing that varies from the bending phase in which water is added. However, the Bisacodyl complex showed more solubility in water due to the hydrophilic effect of the hydroxyl group (frequency 3285.78 cm-1) in the solid-inclusion complex with beta-cyclodextrin.

Physical properties

Two different formulations of Bisacodyl suppositories (F1 & F2) were tested and the results are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Physical Tests of Prepared Bisacodyl Suppositories

Formula

Bisacodyl Powder

Beta- CD

Base Up to

Hardness

Melting point U-tube

Disintegration Test B.P method

F1

10 mg

-

1.7g

1.2 kg

36.0°C

pass

F2

10 mg

30 mg

1.7g

1.2 kg

36.5°C

pass

 

These results indicate no difference in the physical properties particularly the melting point, and disintegration times with the new formulation (F2), which includes the additive beta-cyclodextrin.

Validation of HPLC method

The developed HPLC method was applied for quantitative analysis of bisacodyl suppositories 10 mg in 500 ml of dissolution medium. the resulted chromatogram showed a retention time of about 9 minutes for Bisacodyl and the efficiency of the column was more than 5000 number of plates (figure 4). The relationship of peak areas and the various dilutions of Bisacodyl solution in a range of (0.5 - 3.0 mg/100ml) showed a straight-line plot with a correlation coefficient of 0.998, which indicated high precision of analysis (figure 5).

 

Figure 4: The HPLC Chromatogram of Bisacodyl in Suppository

 

Figure 5: The straight-line relationship for Bisacodyl concentrations and their peak areas

 

Assay and dissolution tests

The chemical assay and dissolution test results of the prepared Bisacodyl suppositories and other commercial products are found in table 2, and the competitive dissolution profiles of these products are identified in figure (6).

The innovated bisacodyl suppository formula (F2) showed the highest rate of dissolution (97.2%) within the applied commercial products of the Iraqi market. The results of dissolution profiles, however, indicated that the innovated formulation was highly soluble in dissolution medium while some commercial products were less than the required limit (general limit of USP is not less than 70%).

 

 

Table 2: Dissolution rates after one hour of the prepared and commercial Bisacodyl suppositories

Bisacodyl suppository

Initial Assay

Dissolution rates/ Phosphate buffer pH 7.2 after 1hr.

Prepared F2

100.1%

97.2%

Prepared F1

100.05%

45%

Laxal supps., pharma life Co.

100.2%

52%

Dulcolax, Sanofi Co.

100.5%

76%

 

Figure 6: The dissolution profiles of Bisacodyl suppositories of different products; series 1: innovated formula (F2), series 2: Dulcolax supps., series 3: Laxal supps, series 4: Safalax supps. (F1)

 

 

The stability testing

The physical properties of the suppositories along the two years of storage were within the specified conditions. In addition, the HPLC assay of Bisacodyl suppositories at the last month of storage for five samples gave an average 99.2% of Bisacodyl relative to the labeled amount and the relative standard deviation (RSD%) of these five samples was 0.3%. The HPLC chromatogram of the analysis for the stored samples of innovated formula did not show any secondary peak rather than a Bisacodyl peak, indicating the absence of any sign of degradation.

Conclusion:

In the dissolution medium of phosphate buffer, 0.05M and pH 7.2, different Biscodyl suppositories manufacturing products were characterized by a low percentage of dissolution rates due to low solubility of Bisacodyl in alkaline medium. However, the use of Beta-cyclodextrin in the formulation of suppositories was contributed to high enhancement in the rate of dissolution of Bisacodyl. Also, the developed HPLC method of analysis in this work was highly precise and could carry the accurate analysis of stored samples of Bisacodyl suppositories indicating the high stability of their innovated formulation.

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank the group of Al-Safa Company of pharmaceutical industries (Baghdad) for their support in supplying the chemicals during experiments and the department of pharmacy/Al-Rasheed University College for the assistance and guidance during the completion of this study.

Conflict of interest

None

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