Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Applying Contemporary Management Principles To Implementing And Evaluating Value-Added Pharmacist Services., Shane P. Desselle, Leticia R Moczygemba, Antoinette B Coe, Karl Hess, David P Zgarrick

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Value-added pharmacy services encompass traditional and emerging services provided by pharmacists to individual and entire populations of persons increasingly under the auspices of a public health mandate. The success of value-added pharmacy services is enhanced when they are carried out and assessed using appropriate theory-based paradigms. Many of the more important management theories for pharmacy services consider the "servicescape" of these services recognizing the uniqueness of each patient and service encounter that vary based upon health needs and myriad other factors. In addition, implementation science principles help ensure the financial viability and sustainability of these services. This commentary reviews some …

Co-Located Retail Clinics And Pharmacies: An Opportunity To Provide More Primary Care., Katherine K. Knapp, Keith Yoshizuka, Debra Sasaki-Hill, Rory Caygill-Walsh

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

This paper proposes that co-located retail clinics (RCs) and community pharmacies can increase opportunities to provide more accessible, affordable, and patient-friendly primary care services in the United States. RCs are small businesses of about 150-250 square feet with a clientele of about 10-30 patients each day and most frequently staffed by nurse practitioners (NPs). Community pharmacies in the U.S. at ~67,000 far outnumber RCs at ~2800, thereby opening substantial opportunity for growth. Community pharmacies and pharmacists have been working to increase on-site clinical services, but progress has been slowed by the relative isolation from other practitioners. An ideal merged facility …

A Randomized, Controlled Trial On The Effects Of Almonds On Lipoprotein Response To A Higher Carbohydrate, Lower Fat Diet In Men And Women With Abdominal Adiposity., Paul T. Williams, Nathalie Bergeron, Sally Chiu, Ronald M. Krauss

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

BACKGROUND: Almonds have been shown to lower LDL cholesterol but there is limited information regarding their effects on the dyslipidemia characterized by increased levels of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles that is associated with abdominal adiposity and high carbohydrate intake. The objective of the present study was to test whether substitution of almonds for other foods attenuates carbohydrate-induced increases in small, dense LDL in individuals with increased abdominal adiposity.

METHODS: This was a randomized cross-over study of three 3wk diets, separated by 2wk washouts: a higher-carbohydrate (CHO) reference diet (CHO

RESULTS: Relative to …

The Impact Of Concomitant Empiric Cefepime On Patient Outcomes Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Bloodstream Infections Treated With Vancomycin, Evan J. Zasowski, Trang D. Trinh, Safana M. Atwan, Marina Merzlyakova, Abdalhamid M. Langf, Sahil Bhatia, Michael J. Rybak

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Background: Data suggest that vancomycin + β-lactam combinations improve clearance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) bloodstream infections (BSIs). However, it is unclear which specific β-lactams confer benefit. This analysis evaluates the impact of concomitant empiric cefepime on outcomes of MRSA BSIs treated with vancomycin.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of adults with MRSA BSI from 2006 to 2017. Vancomycin + cefepime therapy was defined as ≥24 hours of cefepime during the first 72 hours of vancomycin. The primary outcome was microbiologic failure, defined as BSI duration ≥7 days and/or 60-day recurrence. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between …

Novel Flexible Heteroarotinoid, Sl-1-39, Inhibits Her2-Positive Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation By Promoting Lysosomal Degradation Of Her2., Hongye Zou, Mary B. Sevigny, Shengquan Liu, David T. Madden, Maggie C. Louie

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

SL-1-39 [1-(4-chloro-3-methylphenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)thiourea] is a new flexible heteroarotinoid (Flex-Het) analog derived from the parental compound, SHetA2, previously shown to inhibit cell growth across multiple cancer types. The current study aims to determine growth inhibitory effects of SL-1-39 across the different subtypes of breast cancer cells and delineate its molecular mechanism. Our results demonstrate that while SL-1-39 blocks cell proliferation of all breast cancer subtypes tested, it has the highest efficacy against HER2+ breast cancer cells. Molecular analyses suggest that SL-1-39 prevents S phase progression of HER2+ breast cancer cells (SKBR3 and MDA-MB-453), which is consistent with reduced expression of key cell-cycle …

Microneedle-Assisted Delivery Of Anti-Migraine Drugs Across Porcine Skin: Almotriptan Malate And Naratriptan Hydrochloride, Iqra Ahmad, Kevin B. Ita, Matthew J. Morra, Inna E. Popova

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Migraine is a common neurological disorder characterized by nausea, vomiting, photophobia, aching, fever, pain and chills. Triptans are selective serotonin agonists which can used to relieve migraine symptoms. Almotriptan malate and naratriptan hydrochloride are currently used for the management of migraine in the form of oral tablets. Oral tablets may be problematic for patients experiencing nausea and vomiting which are often associated with migraine. The microneedle-assisted transdermal drug delivery of these triptans may improve patient compliance. A vertical six-celled, static Franz diffusion cell system was used to conduct in vitro permeation experiments on porcine ear skin to determine the influence …

Gender-Based Differences Among Pharmacy Students Involved In Academically Dishonest Behavior, Eric J. Ip, Jai Pal, Shadi Doroudgar, Monica K. Bidwal, Bijal M. Shah-Manek

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Objective. To determine whether differences based on gender exist among pharmacy students involved in cases of admitted cheating or other academic dishonesty and to assess perceptions of academic dishonesty.

Methods. Two cohorts of second-year male and female pharmacy students from four Northern California pharmacy programs were invited to complete a 45-item cross-sectional survey. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s chi-squared test were used for statistical analysis.

Results. There were 330 surveys completed with a 59% response rate. No significant gender-based differences were found regarding admitted cheating in pharmacy school and in regards to participating in various forms of academically dishonest behavior. Female …

Pharmacy Technician-Administered Vaccines: On Perceptions And Practice Reality, Alex J. Adams, Shane P. Desselle, Kimberly C. Mckeirnan

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Doucette and Schommer recently surveyed U.S. community pharmacy technicians on their willingness to perform tasks including the administration of vaccines. They found that 47.1% of technicians reported they were “unwilling” to administer a vaccine, although this finding must be placed into proper context. The first nationwide survey of U.S. pharmacist perceptions on immunizations in 1998 revealed only 2.2% of pharmacist respondents had administered adult vaccines and only 0.9% had administered childhood vaccines. They also found pharmacists to be “slightly negative on administering immunizations” with many perceived barriers. Nonetheless, pharmacist-provided immunizations have been an unqualified public health success. The theory of …

An Improved Tobacco Mosaic Virus (Tmv)-Conjugated Multiantigen Subunit Vaccine Against Respiratory Tularemia, Ahd A. Mansour, Sukalyani Banik, Ragavan V. Suresh, Hardeep Kaur, Meenakshi Malik, Alison A. Mccormick, Chandra Bakshi

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of the fatal human disease known as tularemia is classified as a Category A Select Agent by the Centers for Disease Control. No licensed vaccine is currently available for prevention of tularemia in the United States. Previously, we published that a tri-antigen tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) vaccine confers 50% protection in immunized mice against respiratory tularemia caused by F. tularensis. In this study, we refined the TMV-vaccine formulation to improve the level of protection in immunized C57BL/6 mice against respiratory tularemia. We developed a tetra-antigen vaccine by conjugating OmpA, DnaK, Tul4, and SucB proteins of …

Laptop Versus Longhand Note Taking In A Professional Doctorate Course: Student Performance, Attitudes, And Behaviors, Shane P. Desselle, Patricia A. Shane

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Objective: To determine the relationship between longhand note taking versus laptop note taking on pharmacy students’ examination performance and identify differences in attitudes and behaviors as it relates to the note taking process.

Methods: A small group of students consented voluntarily to take longhand notes, doing away with their laptops during portions of the course administered by study investigators. Analyses were conducted on block examination performance, with each student’s score on the first examination serving as a performance benchmark to assess change. Laptop and longhand note takers completed a survey regarding various aspects of their note taking attitudes …

Intranasal Administration Of A Two-Dose Adjuvanted Multi-Antigen Tmv-Subunit Conjugate Vaccine Fully Protects Mice Against Francisella Tularensis Lvs Challenge, Alison A. Mccormick, Aisha Shakeel, Chris Yi, Hardeep Kaur, Ahd M. Mansour, Chandra Shekhar Bakshi

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Tularemia is a fatal human disease caused by Francisella tularensis, a Gram-negative encapsulated coccobacillus bacterium. Due to its low infectious dose, ease of aerosolized transmission, and lethal effects, the CDC lists F. tularensis as a Category A pathogen, the highest level for a potential biothreat agent. Previous vaccine studies have been conducted with live attenuated, inactivated, and subunit vaccines, which have achieved partial or full protection from F. tularensis live vaccine strain (LVS) challenge, but no vaccine has been approved for human use. We demonstrate the improved efficacy of a multi-antigen subunit vaccine by using Tobacco Mosaic virus (TMV) as …

Real-World Usage And Clinical Outcomes Of Alectinib Among Post-Crizotinib Progression Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Positive Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients In The Usa, Marco D. Dibonaventura, William Wong, Bijal M. Shah-Manek, Mathias Schulz

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Background: Alectinib is an approved treatment for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Despite positive supporting clinical data, there is a lack of real-world information on the usage and patient outcomes of those treated with alectinib post-crizotinib progression.

Methods: Participating oncologists (N=95) in the USA were recruited from an online physician panel to participate in a retrospective patient chart review. Physicians randomly selected eligible patients (ie, patients who progressed on crizotinib as their first ALK inhibitor and were treated with alectinib as their second ALK inhibitor), collected demographics and clinical history from their medical charts, and …

Divergent Humoral Responses To 23-Valent Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine In Critically-Ill Burn And Neurosurgical Patients, Scott W. Mueller, Laura J. Baumgartner, Rob Maclaren, Robert Neumann, Arek J. Wiktor, Tyree H. Kiser, Gordon Lindberg, Luis Cava, Douglas N. Fish, Edward N. Janoff

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

INTRODUCTION: Critically ill hospitalized patients are at increased risk of infection so we assessed the immunogenicity of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) administered within six days of injury.

METHODS: This prospective observational study compared the immunogenicity of PPSV23 among critically ill burn and neurosurgical patients at a tertiary, academic medical center. Patients received PPSV23 vaccination within six days of ICU admission per standard of care. Consent was obtained to measure concentrations of vaccine-specific IgG to 14 of 23 serotype capsule-specific IgG in serum prior to and 14-35 days following PPSV23. A successful immunologic response was defined as both a ≥2-fold …

Surveys Of Substance Use Disorders Education In Us Pharmacy Programs, Kelan L. Thomas, Andrew J. Muzyk

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Introduction: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a significant US health problem affecting roughly 20 million Americans, but there continues to be limited access to SUD treatment and inadequate addiction medicine training. Therefore, it is important to understand how SUD education is being delivered to US health professionals, including pharmacists.

Methods: A recent survey of US pharmacy programs' neuropsychiatry curricula was evaluated to identify any progress made toward increasing SUD education since the last national survey in 2004 and determine any remaining gaps between what is currently being taught and American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) curricular guidelines for SUD …

Ethics: A Problem In Pharmacy?, Keith I. Yoshizuka

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Ethics, or the lack or attenuation thereof, is an important issue facing practicing pharmacists today. There are both statutory and regulatory provisions to support the requirement of ongoing education and training in ethics. Evidence of formal disciplinary actions by the California State Board of Pharmacy faced requiring pharmacists to take a formal course in ethics as a condition of retention of licensure is sufficient to demonstrate that pharmacists are deviating from the expectations consistent with ethical behavior. Periodic review of the principles of beneficence, non-malfeasance, autonomy, and justice would benefit pharmacists in practice, as evidence infers that a pharmacist’s moral …

Relationship Between Grit With Academic Performance And Attainment Of Postgraduate Training In Pharmacy Students, Adrian Jason L. Palisoc, Rae Reiko Matsumoto, Jackie Ho, Paul J. Perry, Terrill T. Tang, Eric J. Ip

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Objective. To determine if Grit-S scores correlate with academic success in a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) program, as well as the pursuit and attainment of pharmacy postgraduate (residency or fellowship) training.

Methods. A 28-item survey was administered to third- and fourth-year (P3 and P4) pharmacy students. Variables queried included Grit-S score, demographics, pharmacy experience prior to the PharmD program, and factors that may affect academic performance during didactic coursework. Didactic coursework GPA was used as a surrogate for academic success. Information about pursuit and attainment of a postgraduate training position was also documented and used in the analyses. …

Benzylideneoxymorphone: A New Lead For Development Of Bifunctional Mu/Delta Opioid Receptor Ligands, Jason R. Healy, Padmavani Bezawada, Nicholas W. Griggs, Andrea L. Devereaux, Rae Reiko Matsumoto, John R. Traynor, Christopher W. Cunningham

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Opioid analgesic tolerance remains a considerable drawback to chronic pain management. The finding that concomitant administration of delta opioid receptor (DOR) antagonists attenuates the development of tolerance to mu opioid receptor (MOR) agonists has led to interest in producing bifunctional MOR agonist/DOR antagonist ligands. Herein, we present 7-benzylideneoxymorphone (6, UMB 246) displaying MOR partial agonist/DOR antagonist activity, representing a new lead for designing bifunctional MOR/DOR ligands.

Components Of A Measure To Describe Organizational Culture In Academic Pharmacy, Shane P. Desselle, Meagen Rosenthal, Erin R. Holmes, Brienna Andrews, Julia Lui, Leela Raja

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Objective. To develop a measure of organizational culture in academic pharmacy and identify characteristics of an academic pharmacy program that would be impactful for internal (eg, students, employees) and external (eg, preceptors, practitioners) clients of the program.

Methods. A three-round Delphi procedure of 24 panelists from pharmacy schools in the U.S. and Canada generated items based on the Organizational Culture Profile (OCP), which were then evaluated and refined for inclusion in subsequent rounds. Items were assessed for appropriateness and impact.

Results. The panel produced 35 items across six domains that measured organizational culture in academic pharmacy: competitiveness, …

Single Low-Dose Lipopolysaccharide Preconditioning: Neuroprotective Against Axonal Injury And Modulates Glial Cells, Ryan C. Turner, Zachary J. Naser, Brandon P. Lucke-Wold, Aric F. Logsdon, Reyna L. Vangilder, Rae Reiko Matsumoto, Jason D. Huber

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

AIM: Over 7 million traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are reported each year in the United States. However, treatments and neuroprotection following TBI are limited because secondary injury cascades are poorly understood. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration before controlled cortical impact can contribute to neuroprotection. However, the underlying mechanisms and whether LPS preconditioning confers neuroprotection against closed-head injuries remains unclear.

METHODS: The authors hypothesized that preconditioning with a low dose of LPS (0.2 mg/kg) would regulate glial reactivity and protect against diffuse axonal injury induced by weight drop. LPS was administered 7 days prior to TBI. LPS administration reduced locomotion, which recovered completely …

A Single Dose Tmv-Ha Vaccine Protects Mice From H5n1 Influenza Challenge, Jyothi K. Mallajosyula, Trushar Jeevan, Rachel Chikwamba, Richard J. Webby, Alison A. Mccormick

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Recombinant subunit vaccines are an efficient strategy to meet the demands of a possible influenza pandemic, because of rapid and scalable production. However, vaccines made from recombinant Hemagglutinin (HA) subunit protein are often of low potency, requiring repeated boosting to generate a sustained immune response. Previously, we demonstrated improved immunogenicity of a plant-made H1 Hemagglutinin (HA) vaccine by chemical conjugation to the surface of the Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) which is non infectious in mammals. Antigen coated TMV is taken up by mammalian dendritic cells and is a highly effective antigen carrier for subunit protein vaccines. In this work, we …

Perspectives On Transdermal Electroporation, Kevin B. Ita

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Transdermal drug delivery offers several advantages, including avoidance of erratic absorption, absence of gastric irritation, painlessness, noninvasiveness, as well as improvement in patient compliance. With this mode of drug administration, there is no pre-systemic metabolism and it is possible to increase drug bioavailability and half-life. However, only a few molecules can be delivered across the skin in therapeutic quantities. This is because of the hindrance provided by the stratum corneum. Several techniques have been developed and used over the last few decades for transdermal drug delivery enhancement. These include sonophoresis, iontophoresis, microneedles, and electroporation. Electroporation, which refers to the temporary …

Motivations And Predictors Of Cheating In Pharmacy School, Eric J. Ip, Kathy Nguyen, Bijal M. Shah, Shadi Doroudgar, Monica K. Bidwal

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Objective. To assess the prevalence, methods, and motivations for didactic cheating among pharmacy students and to determine predictive factors for cheating in pharmacy colleges and schools.

Methods. A 45-item cross-sectional survey was conducted at all four doctor of pharmacy programs in Northern California. For data analysis, t test, Fisher exact test, and logistic regression were used.

Results. Overall, 11.8% of students admitted to cheating in pharmacy school. Primary motivations for cheating included fear of failure, procrastination, and stress. In multivariate analysis, the only predictor for cheating in pharmacy school was a history of cheating in undergraduate studies.

Conclusion. Cheating occurs …

The Influence Of Solid Microneedles On The Transdermal Delivery Of Selected Antiepileptic Drugs, Julia Nguyen, Kevin B. Ita, Matthew J. Morra, Inna E. Popova

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

The aim of this project was to examine the effect of microneedle rollers on the percutaneous penetration of tiagabine hydrochloride and carbamazepine across porcine skin in vitro. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis was carried out using an Agilent 1200 Series HPLC system coupled to an Agilent G1969A TOF-MS system. Transdermal flux values of the drugs were determined from the steady-state portion of the cumulative amount versus time curves. Following twelve hours of microneedle roller application, there was a 6.74-fold increase in the percutaneous penetration of tiagabine hydrochloride (86.42 ± 25.66 µg/cm²/h) compared to passive delivery (12.83 ± 6.30 µg/cm …

In Planta Production Of Flock House Virus Transencapsidated Rna And Its Potential Use As A Vaccine, Yiyang Zhou, Payal D. Maharaj, Jyothi K. Mallajosyula, Alison A. Mccormick, Christopher M. Kearney

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

We have developed a transencapsidated vaccine delivery system based on the insect virus, Flock House virus (FHV). FHV is attractive due to its small genome size, simple organization, and non-pathogenic characteristics. With the insertion of a Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) origin of assembly (Oa), the independently replicating FHV RNA1 can be transencapsidated by TMV coat protein. In this study we demonstrated that the Oa adapted FHV RNA1 transencapsidation process can take place in planta, by using a bipartite plant expression vector system, where TMV coat protein is expressed by another plant virus vector, Foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV). Dual infection in …

A Randomized Prospective Study On Outcomes Of An Empathy Intervention Among Second-Year Student Pharmacists, Kajua B. Lor, Julie T. Truong, Eric J. Ip, Mitchell J. Barnett

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Objective. To determine the impact of a single, 3-day intervention on empathy levels as measured by the validated Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Profession Students version (JSE-HPS).

Methods. Forty second-year student pharmacists were recruited to participate in a non-blinded prospective study. Subjects were randomized to an intervention group (n=20) or control group (n=20) and completed the JSE-HPS at baseline, 7 days postintervention, and 90 days postintervention. The intervention group consisted of a 3-day simulation, each day including a designated activity with loss of dominant hand usage, vision, and speech.

Results. The 3-day simulation increased empathy levels in the intervention group compared …

Development Of A Multivalent Subunit Vaccine Against Tularemia Using Tobacco Mosaic Virus (Tmv) Based Delivery System, Sukalyani Banik, Ahd Ahmed Mansour, Ragavan Varadharajan Suresh, Sherri Wykoff-Clary, Meenakshi Malik, Alison A. Mccormick, Chandra Shekhar Bakshi

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Francisella tularensisis a facultative intracellular pathogen, and is the causative agent of a fatal human disease known as tularemia. F. tularensis is classified as a Category A Biothreat agent by the CDC based on its use in bioweapon programs by several countries in the past and its potential to be used as an agent of bioterrorism. No licensed vaccine is currently available for prevention of tularemia. In this study, we used a novel approach for development of a multivalent subunit vaccine against tularemia by using an efficient tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) based delivery platform. The multivalent subunit vaccine was formulated …

Off-Label Use Of Transmucosal Ketamine As A Rapidacting Antidepressant: A Retrospective Chart Review, Linda Nguyen, Patrick J. Marshalek, Cory B. Weaver, Kathy J. Cramer, Scott E. Pollard, Rae Reiko Matsumoto

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of subanesthetic doses of ketamine using an off-label, transmucosal administration route in patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted to identify patients who met the inclusion criteria for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. Seventeen such patients who received subanesthetic doses of ketamine were included. Patient demographics, efficacy (drug refill, clinician notes), side effects, and concurrent medications were assessed.

Results: Benefit from low-dose transmucosal ketamine was noted in 76% of subjects (average age 48 years, 88% female), with a dose duration lasting 7–14 days. No notable side …

Survey Of California Pharmacists' Awareness Of And Readiness For The New Authorities Granted By Sb 493: A Pilot Study, Clipper Young, Kajua B. Lor, Gordon C. Mccarter, Robert J. Ignoffo

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

The recent passing of Senate Bill (SB) 493 – effective on January 1, 2014 – addresses a primary care provider shortage in California by declaring pharmacists as health care providers and authorizing new roles for them in patient care. The aims of this pilot study were to examine California registered pharmacists’ awareness and knowledge of the expanded authorities granted by SB 493 as well as to assess their perception of their own readiness to exercise these new authorities. A cross-sectional, observational study was designed, and a 40-question survey was administered electronically through Qualtrics to adjunct faculty, clinical faculty, and alumni …

Inserting Pharmacists In Primary Care Roles In An Ambulatory Care Setting, Keith Yoshizuka, Katherine K. Knapp, Patricia A. Shane, Debbie H. Lu

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

In this report, we suggest how pharmacy personnel may be used to alleviate some of the pressures currently impacting health system administrators. We look back to the role(s) of the hospital pharmacy and the hospital pharmacist historically and outline changes that have occurred and how these changes may be helpful to address several problem areas in the ambulatory care venue.

Solid Microneedles For Transdermal Delivery Of Amantadine Hydrochloride And Pramipexole Dihydrochloride, Mylien T. Hoang, Kevin B. Ita, Daniel A. Bair

Faculty Publications & Research of the TUC College of Pharmacy

The aim of this project was to study the influence of microneedles on transdermal delivery of amantadine hydrochloride and pramipexole dihydrochloride across porcine ear skin in vitro. Microchannel visualization studies were carried out and characterization of the microchannel depth was performed using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to demonstrate microchannel formation following microneedle roller application. We also report, for the first time, the use of TA.XT Plus Texture Analyzer to characterize burst force in pig skin for transdermal drug delivery experiments. This is the force required to rupture pig skin. The mean passive flux of amantadine hydrochloride, determined using a …