*Article* **Optimal Design, Characterization and Preliminary Safety Evaluation of an Edible Orodispersible Formulation for Pediatric Tuberculosis Pharmacotherapy**

### **Nyaradzo Matawo 1, Oluwatoyin A. Adeleke 1,\*,**† **and James Wesley-Smith 2**


Received: 26 June 2020; Accepted: 30 July 2020; Published: 10 August 2020

**Abstract:** The severity of tuberculosis (TB) in children is considered a global crisis compounded by the scarcity of pharmaceutical formulations suitable for pediatric use. The purpose of this study was to optimally develop and evaluate a pyrazinamide containing edible orodispersible film formulation potentially suitable for use in pediatrics actively infected with TB. The formulation was prepared employing aqueous-particulate blending and solvent casting methods facilitated by a high performance Box Behnken experimental design template. The optimized orodispersible formulation was mechanically robust, flexible, easy to handle, exhibited rapid disintegration with initial matrix collapse occurring under 60 s (0.58 ± 0.05 min ≡ 34.98 ± 3.00 s) and pyrazinamide release was controlled by anomalous diffusion coupled with matrix disintegration and erosion mechanisms. It was microporous in nature, light weight (57.5 ± 0.5 mg) with an average diameter of 10.5 mm and uniformly distributed pyrazinamide load of 101.13 ± 2.03 %*<sup>w</sup>*/*<sup>w</sup>*. The formulation was physicochemically stable with no evidence of destructive drug–excipient interactions founded on outcomes of characterization and environmental stability investigations. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the orodispersible formulation was cytobiocompatible, palatable and remained intact under specific storage conditions. Summarily, an edible pyrazinamide containing orodispersible film formulation was optimally designed to potentially improve TB pharmacotherapy in children, particularly the under 5 year olds.

**Keywords:** Orodispersible formulation; pyrazinamide; pediatric drug delivery; tuberculosis; design of experiments; children; edible films
