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Matrix Vaginal Rings for Female Dogs—Effect of Altering Dimensions on Mechanical Properties and Dissolution Characteristics, and In vivo Safety Study

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Abstract

The vaginal rings research is almost exclusively focused on rings for human medicine, although the dosage form offers improvement of therapeutic effect in other mammals as well. This contribution studied an effect of varying dimension parameters (diameter 20, 30 or 40 mm; height 3, 4 or 5 mm; width of annulus 5, 7.5 or 10 mm) on mechanical properties and dissolution behaviour of silicone vaginal rings with constant drug amount, intended for use in dogs. Results showed that altering dimensions influenced mechanical properties (compressive force, tensile strength and resistance of removal thread), in vitro drug release and water uptake. The removal thread resistance was increasing with increasing height and width. Compression force was higher for the rings with smaller diameter. The total drug release was increasing with decreasing height and rising diameter, surface area and water uptake during dissolution test. The initial dissolution rate was slower for the rings with higher width. As the best candidate for use in model dog subjects, the ring with 30 mm diameter, 3 mm height and 7.5 mm width was found. These drug-free vaginal rings were further tested in in vivo safety study. The results did not show any major deviation from the physiological conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Masaryk University, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 61242, Brno, Czech Republic

    Veronika Nováková Tkadlečková, Veronika Pitronová, Kateřina Kubová, Sylvie Pavloková, Jan Elbl, David Vetchý & Jakub Vysloužil

  2. Department of Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 61242, Brno, Czech Republic

    Robert Novotný

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  1. Veronika Nováková Tkadlečková
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Nováková Tkadlečková, V., Pitronová, V., Kubová, K. et al. Matrix Vaginal Rings for Female Dogs—Effect of Altering Dimensions on Mechanical Properties and Dissolution Characteristics, and In vivo Safety Study. AAPS PharmSciTech 21, 230 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-020-01770-5

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