Ondansetron is used in post-operative periods in gynaecological surgery and after aggressive treatments such as chemotherapy to reduce vomiting and nausea in patients. Such properties would prolong in time if the results obtained in vitro in the laboratory were tested in persons. In such studies, Adolfina Ruiz Martínez and Visitación Gallardo Lara, of the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology of the UGR, have worked with the so-called modified actions.
To date, Ruiz and Gallardo have obtained the liquid form, syrup with a particular taste and colour that could be taken less frequently than with the current dosage. To obtain this pharmaceutical liquid form, “we have gone deeply into the drug liberation, using minimum-size latex dispersions, micro or nanometrical. Ondansetron would join such coloidal particles or would get introduced into them, allowing the active element to release more slowly in the stomach or in the intestine”, Ruiz explains.
Ondansetron´s average lifespan in the patient’s organism in about four hours. UGR experts have verified that plasmatic concentrations of this compound in blood, effective against sickness and nausea, remain for a time but from that moment they star to lower and it is necessary to take the medicine again. With these research works it will be possible to increase such “time tableland”.
Treatment convenience
The advantages have two dimensions. On the one hand, the treatment would be easier to follow, as there would be less possibilities of breaking it forgetting when to take the medicines. It is especially important for old, chronic or depressive patients. On the other hand, as syrup, instead of the traditional ondansetron pills, it is more convenient for future users.
This research line has provided important findings in drug technologies in the last years. Specifically, the research group of Practical Pharmacy supervised by Adolfina Ruiz Martínez has published five papers in scientific international journals in the last months.
Reference: Prof. Adolfina Ruiz Martínez.
Phone numbers: 958243904 – 958243900.
E-mail: adolfina@ugr.es
