Chinese materia medica (CMM) powder has poor mobility, hygroscopic, viscous and easy reunion because of the complex physical and chemical properties. In recent years, pharmacy workers used domestic and foreign reference materials, chemicals, drugs and other chemical powder modification technology to improve the physicochemical properties of CMM powder, and have made some progress. This article summarizes the common modification technology and equipment of CMM powder, puts forward the basic ideas and the development prospects of CMM powder modification.

The impact of key physical properties on granulated products by the high-speed mixing wet method was studied. Andrographis extracts were utilized as the model drug. Four processing methods were adopted to prepare mixed powder of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and starch with the mass ratio 1:0.5, 1:1 and 1:2 by the high-speed mixing wet method. The properties of the prepared granules were evaluated with such indexes as granule yield, the ratio of lumps and fine powder, granule-AOR and granule-HR. The impact of key physical properties on granulated products was analyzed through stepwise regression analysis. The results showed that angle of repose, moisture content, pore volume, density and contact angle with water were key physical properties of the powder. The key physical properties of Chinese medical extracts powder are the important factor impacting granulated products made by the high-speed mixing wet method. In this study, the impact of key physical properties on granulated products of Chinese medical extracts was analyzed from the physical angle.
Andrographis ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Powders ; chemistry

This study aimed to investigate the influence of combinating Huangqi with Fuzi on the pharmacokinetics of six Aconitum alkaloids, i.e. aconitine (AC), hypaconitine (HA), mesaconitine (MA), benzoylaconine (BAC), benzoylhypaconine (BHA) and benzoylmesaconine (BMA). The plasma concentrations of the drugs were determined by LC-MS for dose response and time dependent curves. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by DAS 3.3, and SPSS 12.0 was used to analyze the differences of main pharmacokinetic parameters between the two groups. Comparing with Fuzi group, the AUC_0-t and AUC_0-∞ of six alkaloids in Fuzi-Huangqi group was significantly decreased, the CL_z/Fof six alkaloids except HA was significantly increased; the C_max was decreased and the t_max was prolonged in 3 monoester alkaloids, and the apparent volume of distribution of BMA and MA (V_z/F) increases. These data indicated that Huangqi can inhibit the absorption of aconite alkaloids, induce the distribution of aconite alkaloids to the whole body, and accelerate the elimination of aconite alkaloids. The animal experiment scheme in this study has been approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Objective To investigate the environmental contamination related to first patient with carbapenem-re-sistant Acinetobacter baumannii(CRAB)infection and the infection status of relevant patients in a newly established intensive care unit(ICU)of a hospital in Tibetan area,and analyze the transmission risk.Methods From the ad-mission in ICU of a patients who was first detected CRAB on November 15,2021 to the 60th day of hospitalization,all patients who stayed in ICU for＞48 hours were performed active screening on CRAB.On the 30th day and 60th day of the admission to the ICU of the first CRAB-infected patient,environment specimens were taken respectively 2 hours after high-frequency diagnostic and therapeutic activities but before disinfection,and after disinfection but before medical activities.CRAB was cultured with chromogenic culture medium.Results Among the 13 patients who were actively screened,1 case was CRAB positive,he was transferred from the ICU of a tertiary hospital to the ICU of this hospital on November 19th.On the 40th day of admission to the ICU,he had fever,increased frequency for sputum suction,and CRAB was detected.The drug sensitivity spectrum was similar to that of the first case,and he also stayed in the adjacent bed of the first case.64 environmental specimens were taken,and 9 were positive for CRAB,with a positive rate of 14.06％,8 sampling points such as the washbasin,door handle and bed rail were positive for CRAB after high-frequency diagnostic and therapeutic activities.After routine disinfection,CRAB was detected from the sink of the washbasin.Conclusion For the prevention and control of CRAB in the basic-level ICU in ethnic areas,it is feasible to conduct risk assessment on admitted patients and adopt bundled prevention and con-trol measures for high-risk patients upon admission.Attention should be paid to the contaminated areas(such as washbasin,door handle,and bed rail)as well as the effectiveness of disinfection of sink of washbasin.

To verify the appropriate preparation process of extracts for the solid substance benchmark of Linggui Zhugan Decoction. The extracts were prepared by different preparation processes, namely the traditional process(process 1), the extract combined with volatile oil separated from traditional process extract liquid(process 2), the modern secondary reflux extraction process(process 3) and the process that volatile oil was extracted first, then prepared according to the traditional process, and combined with extract(process 4); based on the characteristic spectrum, index components of cinnamaldehyde, glycyrrhizin, ammonium glycyrrhizinate, cinnamic acid, and the dry extract rate of process 1, the differences and similarities of four extracts were compared. The results showed that the similarity of the characteristic spectrum of process 2, process 4 and process 1 were all greater than 0.97, while there was no significant difference for the content of 4 quality control components and dry extract rate; the similarity of the characteristic spectrum of process 3 and process 1 was 0.91, the absolute peak area of 13 out of 21 peaks and the relative peak area of 7 peaks increased significantly, and the content of 3 out of 4 quality control components and dry extract rate also significantly increased. In conclusion, the material standards of extracts by the process 2 and 4 are consistent with that of the traditional process, so the two processes are suitable.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; Oils, Volatile ; Quality Control ; Reference Standards

To evaluate the effects of Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate(HPMCAS MF) on absorption of silybin(SLB) from supersaturable self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system which was pre-prepared at the early stage experiment. The cell toxicity of self-emulsifying preparation was evaluated by the MTT method, and the in vitro membrane permeability and absorption promoting effect of the self-emulsifying preparation were evaluated by establishing a Caco-2 cell monolayer model. The in vivo and in vitro supersaturation correlation was evaluated via the blood concentration of SLB. The results of MTT showed that the concentration of the preparation below 2 mg·mL~(-1)(C_(SLB) 100 μg·mL~(-1)) was not toxic to Caco-2 cells, and the addition of polymer had no significant effect on Caco-2 cells viability. As compared with the solution group, the transport results showed that the P_(app)(AP→BL) of the self-emulsifying preparation had a very significant increase; the transport rate of silybin can be reduced by polymer in 0-30 min; however, there was no difference in supersaturated transport between supersaturated SLB self-nanoemulsion drug delivery system(SLB-SSNEDDS) and SLB self-nanoemulsion drug delivery system(SLB-SNEDDS) within 2 hours. As compared with SLB suspension, pharmacokinetic parameters showed that the blood concentration of both SLB-SNEDDS and SLB-SSNEDDS groups were significantly increased, and C_(max) was 5.25 times and 9.69 times respectively of that in SLB suspension group, with a relative bioavailability of 578.45% and 1 139.44% respectively. C_(max) and relative bioavailability of SLB-SSNEDDS were 1.85 times and 197% of those of SLB-SNEDDS, respectively. Therefore, on the one hand, SSNEDDS can increase the solubility of SLB in gastrointestinal tract by maintaining stability of SLB supersaturation state; on the other hand, the osmotic transport process of SLB was regulated through the composition of its preparations, and both of them could jointly promote the transport and absorption of SLB to improve the oral bioavailability of SLB.
Administration, Oral ; Biological Availability ; Caco-2 Cells ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Emulsions ; Humans ; Methylcellulose/analogs & derivatives* ; Nanoparticles ; Particle Size ; Silybin ; Solubility

To study the improvement of powder flowability and hygroscopicity of traditional Chinese medicine extract by surface coating modification technology. The 1% hydrophobic silica nanoparticles were used as surface modifier, and andrographis extract powder was taken as a model drug. Three different techniques were used for coating model drugs, with angle of repose, compressibility, flat angle and cohesion as the comprehensive evaluation indexes for the powder flowability. The powder particle size and the size distribution were measured by Mastersizer 2000. FEI scanning electron microscope was used to observe the surface morphology and structure of the powder. The percentage of Si element on the powder surface was measured by energy dispersive spectrometer. The hygroscopicity of powder was determined by Chinese pharmacopoeia method. All of the three techniques can improve the flowability of powder extract. In particular, hygroscopicity of extract powder can also be improved by dispersion and then high-speed mixing, which can produce a higher percentage of Si element on the powder surface. The improvement principle may be correlated with a modifier adhered to the powder surface.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of key physical properties of hawthorn leaf granule on its dissolution behavior. Hawthorn leaves extract was utilized as a model drug. The extract was mixed with microcrystalline cellulose or starch with the same ratio by using different methods. Appropriate amount of lubricant and disintegrating agent was added into part of the mixed powder, and then the granules were prepared by using extrusion granulation and high shear granulation. The granules dissolution behavior was evaluated by using equilibrium dissolution quantity and dissolution rate constant of the hypericin as the indicators. Then the effect of physical properties on dissolution behavior was analyzed through the stepwise regression analysis method. The equilibrium dissolution quantity of hypericin and adsorption heat constant in hawthorn leaves were positively correlated with the monolayer adsorption capacity and negatively correlated with the moisture absorption rate constant. The dissolution rate constants were decreased with the increase of Hausner rate, monolayer adsorption capacity and adsorption heat constant, and were increased with the increase of Carr index and specific surface area. Adsorption heat constant, monolayer adsorption capacity, moisture absorption rate constant, Carr index and specific surface area were the key physical properties of hawthorn leaf granule to affect its dissolution behavior.

The present study explored the effect of co-amorphous technology in improving the dissolution rate and stability of silybin based on the puerarin-silybin co-amorphous system prepared by the spray-drying method. Solid-state characterization was carried out by powder X-ray diffraction(PXRD), polarizing microscopy(PLM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry(DSC), etc. Saturated powder dissolution, intrinsic dissolution rate, moisture absorption, and stability were further investigated. The results showed that puerarin and silybin formed a co-amorphous system at a single glass transition temperature which was higher than that of any crude drug. The intrinsic dissolution rate and supersaturated powder dissolution of silybin in the co-amorphous system were higher than those of the crude drug and amorphous system. The co-amorphous system kept stable for as long as three months under the condition of 40 ℃, 75% relative humidity, which was longer than that of the single amorphous silybin. Therefore, the co-amorphous technology could significantly improve the dissolution and stability of silybin.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Desiccation ; Drug Compounding/methods* ; Drug Stability ; Silybin ; Solubility ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Technology ; X-Ray Diffraction

Humans ; Whooping Cough/prevention & control* ; Vaccines, Acellular ; China