Fabrication and Characterization of Fast-Dissolving Films Containing Escitalopram/Quetiapine for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder

Pharmaceutics

Omar A. Abu Asab¹  Essam A. Tawfik¹  Alhassan H. Aodah¹  Abdul W. Basit²  Mine Orlu²  Manal E. Alkahtani² 

[1] National Center for Pharmaceutical Technology, Life Science & Environment Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, 6086, Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia;UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK;

关键词: major depressive disorder;    treatment-resistant depression;    coaxial fibers;    electrospinning;    fast-dissolving films;    escitalopram;   

DOI  :  10.3390/pharmaceutics13060891

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

Unknown