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Preparations of Rectal Suppositories Containing Artesunate
Suzanne Persaud1, Sandra Eid1, Natalia Swiderski1
1School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Florham Park, NJ 07932, USA.
Rectal artesunate suppositories offer a promising pre-referral treatment for severe malaria in young children. Formulations using micelles or 3D printing improved drug solubility and stability in tropical conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Tropical Medicine
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Severe malaria requires prompt treatment, especially in remote areas.
- Rectal artesunate suppositories are a viable pre-referral option for pediatric malaria.
- Challenges include drug solubility and formulation stability in tropical climates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate novel rectal artesunate suppository formulations.
- To assess drug release profiles and thermostability of different artesunate delivery systems.
- To identify optimal formulations for pre-referral severe malaria treatment.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of three artesunate suppository types: PEG-based with free artesunate, PEG-based with artesunate micelles, and 3D-printed PEG/artesunate mixture.
- Evaluation of physical characteristics, artesunate release kinetics, and thermal stability.
- Comparative analysis of formulation performance under simulated tropical conditions.
Main Results:
- Artesunate-loaded micelles (ii) and free artesunate (i) PEG-based suppositories showed faster release than 3D-printed ones (iii).
- Thermostability was highest for 3D-printed suppositories (iii), followed by micelle-based (ii), and then free artesunate (i).
- Micelle-based formulations offered a balance between drug release and stability.
Conclusions:
- Rectal artesunate suppository formulations can be optimized for improved solubility and stability.
- Micelle-loaded and 3D-printed formulations show potential for severe malaria pre-referral treatment.
- Further development is needed to address drug release and stability challenges in tropical climates.
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