Dongmei Cun

Spray drying of siRNA-containing PLGA nanoparticles intended for inhalation

Abstract Local delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to the lungs constitutes a promising new area in drug delivery. The present study evaluated parameters of importance for spray drying of siRNA-loaded poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) into nanocomposite microparticles intended for inhalation. The spray drying process was optimised using a statistical design of experiment and by evaluating powder characteristics upon systematic variation of the formulation parameters. Concentration, carbohydrate excipient (trehalose, lactose and mannitol) and the ratio of NP to excipient were varied to monitor the effects on moisture content, particle morphology, particle size and powder yield. The identified optimum conditions were applied for spray drying of siRNA-loaded nanocomposite microparticles, resulting in a product with a low water content (0.78% w/w) and an aerodynamic particle diameter considered suitable for inhalation. The use of mannitol in the formulation allowed a significantly lower moisture content than trehalose and lactose. The inclusion of 50% (w/w) or higher amounts of NPs resulted in a marked change in the surface morphology of the spray-dried particles. Importantly, the integrity and biological activity of the siRNA were preserved during the spray drying process. In conclusion, the present results show that spray drying is a suitable technique for producing nanocomposite microparticles comprising siRNA-containing PLGA NPs for potential use in inhalation therapy.

High loading efficiency and sustained release of siRNA encapsulated in PLGA nanoparticles: quality by design optimization and characterization.

Poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide acid) (PLGA) is an attractive polymer for delivery of biopharmaceuticals owing to its biocompatibility, biodegradability and outstanding controlled release characteristics. The purpose of this study was to understand and define optimal parameters for preparation of small interfering RNA (siRNA)-loaded PLGA nanoparticles by the double emulsion solvent evaporation method and characterize their properties. The experiments were performed according to a 2(5-1) fractional factorial design based on five independent variables: The volume ratio between the inner water phase and the oil phase, the PLGA concentration, the sonication time, the siRNA load and the amount of acetylated bovine serum albumin (Ac-BSA) in the inner water phase added to stabilize the primary emulsion. The effects on the siRNA encapsulation efficiency and the particle size were investigated. The most important factors for obtaining an encapsulation efficiency as high as 70% were the PLGA concentration and the volume ratio whereas the size was mainly affected by the PLGA concentration. The viscosity of the oil phase was increased at high PLGA concentration, which explains the improved encapsulation by stabilization of the primary emulsion and reduction of siRNA leakage to the outer water phase. Addition of Ac-BSA increased the encapsulation efficiency at low PLGA concentrations. The PLGA matrix protected siRNA against nuclease degradation, provided a burst release of surface-localized siRNA followed by a triphasic sustained release for two months. These results enable careful understanding and definition of optimal process parameters for preparation of PLGA nanoparticles encapsulating high amounts of siRNA with immediate and long-term sustained release properties.

Preparation and characterization of poly(dl-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles for siRNA delivery

Synthetic short interfering RNA (siRNA) is promising for specific and efficient knockdown of disease-related genes. However, in vivo application of siRNA requires an effective delivery system. Commonly used siRNA carriers are based on polycations, which form electrostatic complexes with siRNA. Such poly- or lipoplexes are of limited use in vivo due to severe problems associated with toxicity, serum instability and non-specific immune-responses. The aim of the present study was to prepare uniformly sized nanoparticles (NPs) with a high load of siRNA by use of the safe and biodegradable poly-(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) polymer without including polycations. The siRNA was encapsulated in the core of NPs by the double emulsion solvent evaporation method. To optimize the NP formulation, the effects of important formulation and processing parameters were investigated systematically. Generally, spherical siRNA-loaded NPs (<300 nm, PDI<0.2, zeta potential -40 mV) were obtained. An encapsulation efficiency of up to 57% was achieved by adjusting the inner water phase volume, the PLGA concentration, the first emulsification sonication time, and stabilization of the water-oil interface with serum albumin. The integrity of siRNA was preserved during the preparation. Preparation of core-loaded siRNA-NPs based on PLGA and no cationic excipient seems possible and promising for delivery of siRNA.

Design of an inhalable dry powder formulation of DOTAP-modified PLGA nanoparticles loaded with siRNA

Matrix systems based on biocompatible and biodegradable polymers like the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved polymer poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide acid) (PLGA) are promising for the delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) due to favorable safety profiles, sustained release properties and improved colloidal stability, as compared to polyplexes. The purpose of this study was to design a dry powder formulation based on cationic lipid-modified PLGA nanoparticles intended for treatment of severe lung diseases by pulmonary delivery of siRNA. The cationic lipid dioleoyltrimethylammoniumpropane (DOTAP) was incorporated into the PLGA matrix to potentiate the gene silencing efficiency. The gene knock-down level in vitro was positively correlated to the weight ratio of DOTAP in the particles, and 73% silencing was achieved in the presence of 10% (v/v) serum at 25% (w/w) DOTAP. Optimal properties were found for nanoparticles modified with 15% (w/w) DOTAP, which reduced the gene expression with 54%. This formulation was spray-dried with mannitol into nanocomposite microparticles of an aerodynamic size appropriate for lung deposition. The spray-drying process did not affect the physicochemical properties of the readily re-dispersible nanoparticles, and most importantly, the in vitro gene silencing activity was preserved during spray-drying. The siRNA content in the powder was similar to the theoretical loading and the siRNA was intact, suggesting that the siRNA is preserved during the spray-drying process. Finally, X-ray powder diffraction analysis demonstrated that mannitol remained in a crystalline state upon spray-drying with PLGA nanoparticles suggesting that the sugar excipient might exert its stabilizing effect by sterical inhibition of the interactions between adjacent nanoparticles. This study demonstrates that spray-drying is an excellent technique for engineering dry powder formulations of siRNA nanoparticles, which might enable the local delivery of biologically active siRNA directly to the lung tissue.

Design of sustained-release nitrendipine microspheres having solid dispersion structure by quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method

To improve the bioavailability of nitrendipine microspheres, a sustained-release microspheres having solid dispersion structure were prepared in one step. Two types of polymer, i.e. solid dispersing and sustained-release polymers, were employed to prepare the microspheres by the spherical crystallization technique, i.e. quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method. The factors of effect on micromeritic properties and release profiles of the resultant microspheres were investigated. And the bioavailability of nitrendipine microspheres was evaluated in six healthy dogs. The results showed that the particle size of microspheres was determined mainly by the agitation speed. The dissolution rate of nitrendipine from microspheres was enhanced significantly with increasing the amount of dispersing agents, and sustained by adding retarding agents. The release rate of microspheres could be controlled as desired by adjusting the combination ratio of dispersing agents to retarding agents. The results of X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry analysis indicated that the crystalline form of nitrendipine was disordered, suggesting that nitrendipine was highly dispersed in microspheres, so as amorphous state. The release profiles and content of the microspheres stored at a temperature of 40 degrees C and a relative humidity of 75% were unchanged during 3 months of accelerating condition of storage. And the relative bioavailability of the sustained-release microspheres compared with the Baypress tablets and the conventional tablets was 107.78% and 309.82%. In conclusion, the sustained-release microspheres with solid dispersion structure improved the bioavailability of the water insoluble drug and prolonged the Tmax value.

Formulation and in vitro/in vivo correlation of a drug-in-adhesive transdermal patch containing azasetron.

The aim of the present study was to develop a transdermal drug delivery system for azasetron and evaluate the correlation between in vitro and in vivo release. The effects of different adhesives, permeation enhancers, and loadings of azasetron used in patches on the penetration of azasetron through rabbit skin were investigated using two-chamber diffusion cells in vitro. For in vivo studies, azasetron pharmacokinetic parameters in Bama miniature pigs were determined according to a noncompartment model method after topical application of transdermal patches and intravenous administration of azasetron injections. The best permeation profile was obtained with the formulation containing DURO-TAK 87-9301 as adhesive, 5% of isopropyl myristate as penetration enhancer, and 5% of azasetron. The optimal patch formulation exhibited sustained release profiles in vivo for 216 h. The in vivo absorption curve in Bama miniature pigs obtained by deconvolution approach using WinNonlin® program was correlated well with the in vitro permeation curve of the azasetron patch. These findings indicated that the developed patch for azasetron is promising for the treatment of delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and the in vitro skin permeation experiments could be useful to predict the in vivo performance of transdermal azasetron patches.

Design of high payload PLGA nanoparticles containing melittin/sodium dodecyl sulfate complex by the hydrophobic ion-pairing technique

The water-soluble peptide, melittin, was modified with an anionic agent, sodium dodecyl sulfate by hydrophobic ion-pairing. Investigations showed that the formed complex was very soluble in organic solvent, especially, in dimethylsulfoxide and dehydrated alcohol. Furthermore, the physiochemical properties of the complex in the solid state or in an aqueous medium were characterized using octanol/water partition measurement, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The complex was formulated into poly(d,l-lactide–co-glycolide acid) nanoparticles by an emulsion solvent diffusion method. It was found that the nanoparticles of about 130 nm in size can be produced with a high encapsulation efficiency, and the entrapment of nanoparticles prepared with the formed complex increased from about 50% to nearly 100% compared with that for pure melittin. Moreover, the growth inhibitory effects of modified melittin and melittin-loaded nanoparticles in breast cancer MCF-7 cells were not changed comparing with free melittin as determined by (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay.

Mechanistic profiling of the siRNA delivery dynamics of lipid–polymer hybrid nanoparticles

Understanding the delivery dynamics of nucleic acid nanocarriers is fundamental to improve their design for therapeutic applications. We investigated the carrier structure-function relationship of lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPNs) consisting of poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanocarriers modified with the cationic lipid dioleoyltrimethyl-ammoniumpropane (DOTAP). A library of siRNA-loaded LPNs was prepared by systematically varying the nitrogen-to-phosphate (N/P) ratio. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) combined with small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) studies suggested that the siRNA-loaded LPNs are characterized by a core-shell structure consisting of a PLGA matrix core coated with lamellar DOTAP structures with siRNA localized both in the core and in the shell. Release studies in buffer and serum-containing medium combined with in vitro gene silencing and quantification of intracellular siRNA suggested that this self-assembling core-shell structure influences the siRNA release kinetics and the delivery dynamics. A main delivery mechanism appears to be mediated via the release of transfection-competent siRNA-DOTAP lipoplexes from the LPNs. Based on these results, we suggest a model for the nanostructural characteristics of the LPNs, in which the siRNA is organized in lamellar superficial assemblies and/or as complexes entrapped in the polymeric matrix.

Influence of drug physicochemical properties on absorption of water insoluble drug nanosuspensions

In order to investigate the influence of drug physicochemical properties on bioavailability of water insoluble drug nanosuspensions, five drug nanosuspensions were prepared using high pressure homogenization. These nanosuspensions were similar in particle size and same in stabilizer. Differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffraction analysis showed the crystalline state of the freeze dried nanocrystals did not change. In vitro dissolution test in fasted state simulated intestinal fluid (FaSSIF) and in vivo bioavailability study in rats demonstrated that the nanosuspensions had higher dissolution rate and higher AUC0-t and the ratios of dissolvednano/dissolvedmicro in 120 min were well correlated with the ratios of AUC0-t nano/AUC0-t micro. Correlation analysis between drug physicochemical properties and AUC0-t nano was performed and four-grid interpolation method was employed for interpolation and smooth surface fitting to give a visible trend. The results revealed that drug with smaller melting point, logP value around 5 and polar surface area value in the range of 50-60 would gain higher AUC0-t nano and accordingly better absorption of its nanosuspension. Melting point, logP and polar surface area were factors that influence the absorption of drug nanosuspensions in this study.

Effect of unsaturated menthol analogues on the in vitro penetration of 5-fluorouracil through rat skin

To explore the structure-activity relationship for terpenes as transdermal penetration enhancers, unsaturated menthol analogues were synthesized in our study, including p-menth-1-en-3-ol (Compd 1), p-menth-4-en-3-ol (Compd 2), p-menth-4(8)-en-3-ol (Compd 3) and p-menth-8-en-3-ol (Compd 4). Their enhancing activity on the penetration of 5-fluorouracil through rat skin was evaluated by in vitro experiments. Attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, molecular modeling and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were introduced to investigate the enhancer induced alteration in different skin lipid domains. The results indicated that Compd 3 achieved the highest enhancement ability with an enhancement ratio of 3.08. Other analogues were less effective than Compd 3, and no significant difference was found between them and menthol. Treatment of rat skin with these enhancers did not produce any shift in the stretching vibration of the methylene in hydrophobic lipid chains, but significantly improved the polar pathway across the rat skin as suggested by the increased TEWL. Molecular modeling results suggested that polar head groups of the skin lipids provided the main binding site for enhancer action. These findings indicated that the studied compounds enhanced drug transport by interacting with the polar domain of the skin lipid, instead of by affecting the arrangement of the hydrophobic chains.