Essam Ezzeldin

Biochemical and Neurotransmitters Changes Associated with Tramadol in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes in Rats

The incidence of diabetes is increasing worldwide. Chronic neuropathic pain occurs in approximately 25% of diabetic patients. Tramadol, an atypical analgesic with a unique dual mechanism of action, is used in the management of painful diabetic neuropathy. It acts on monoamine transporters to inhibit the reuptake of norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), and dopamine (DA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of diabetes on the brain neurotransmitter alterations induced by tramadol in rats, and to study the hepatic and renal toxicities of the drug. Eighty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into two sets: the normal set and the diabetic set. Diabetes was induced in rats. Tramadol was administered orally once daily for 28 days. The levels of DA, NE, and 5-HT in cerebral cortex, thalamus/hypothalamus, midbrain, and brainstem were evaluated in rats. In addition, the renal toxicity and histopathological effects of the drug were assessed. The induction of diabetes altered neurotransmitter levels. Oral administration of tramadol significantly decreased the neurotransmitter levels. Diabetes significantly altered the effects of tramadol in all brain regions. Tramadol affected function and histology of the liver and kidney. The clinical effects of tramadol in diabetic patients should be stressed.

Rapid determination of canagliflozin in rat plasma by UHPLC-MS/MS using negative ionization mode to avoid adduct-ions formation.

Canagliflozin is the first sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this study, a sensitive UHPLC-MS/MS assay for rapid determination of canagliflozin in rat plasma was developed and validated for the first time. Chromatographic separation of canagliflozin and zafirlukast (IS) was carried out on Acquity BEH C18 column (100×2.1 mm, i.d. 1.7 µm) using acetonitrile-water (80:20, v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.3 mL min(-1). Canagliflozin and IS were extracted from plasma by protein precipitation method using acetonitrile. The mass spectrometric detection was performed using electrospray ionization source in negative mode to avoid canagliflozin adduct ions formation. Multiple reaction monitoring were used for quantitation of precursor to product ion at m/z 443.16 >364.96 for canagliflozin and m/z 574.11>462.07 for IS, respectively. The assay was fully validated in terms of selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, recovery, matrix effects and stability. The validated method was successfully applied to the characterization of oral pharmacokinetic profiles of canagliflozin in rats. The mean maximum plasma concentration of canagliflozin of 1616.79 ng mL(-1) was achieved in 1.5 h after oral administration of 20 mg kg(-1) in rats.

High-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of dasatinib in rabbit plasma using fluorescence detection and its application to a pharmacokinetic study.

A highly selective, sensitive, and rapid high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed and validated to quantify dasatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in rabbit plasma. Montelukast was used as internal standard (IS). Dasatinib and IS were extracted by deproteinization technique, followed by injection of aliquot of supernatant into chromatographic system. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a reversed phase C18 column with a mobile phase of 0.02M potassium dihydrogen phosphate:methanol (10:90, v/v) pumped at flow rate of 2.0mL/min. The analytes were detected at 340 and 374nm for excitation and emission, respectively. The assay exhibited a linear range of 50.0-3000ng/mL, with a lower detection limit of 15.0ng/mL. The method was statistically validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, selectivity and stability following FDA guidelines. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation did not exceed 13.5% from the nominal concentration. The accuracy of dasatinib was within ±15% of the theoretical value. The assay has been applied successfully in a pharmacokinetic study.

Bioavailability enhancement and pharmacokinetic profile of an anticancer drug ibrutinib by self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system.

The current studies were undertaken to enhance dissolution and bioavailability/pharmacokinetic profile of a newly approved anticancer drug ibrutinib (IBR) via encapsulation of drug into self‐nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS).

Effects of Green Tea Extracts on the Pharmacokinetics of Quetiapine in Rats

Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic, used clinically in the treatment of schizophrenia, acute mania in bipolar disorders, and bipolar depression in adults. In this study, the effect of green tea extracts (GTE) on the pharmacokinetics of quetiapine (substrate of CYP3A4) was investigated in rats. Male Wistar albino rats received GTE (175 mg/kg) or saline (control) by oral gavage for 7 days before a single intragastric administration of 25 mg/kg quetiapine. Plasma concentrations of quetiapine were measured up to 12 h after its administration by a validated ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy. Pretreatment with GTE produced significant reductions in the maximum plasma concentration and area under the curve of quetiapine by 45% and 35%, respectively, compared to quetiapine alone. However, GTE did not produce significant change in elimination half-life and oral clearance of quetiapine. This study concluded that GTE may decrease the bioavailability of quetiapine when coadministered.

Antimicrobial activity of newly synthesized methylsulfanyl-triazoloquinazoline derivatives.

The aim of this research was to study and evaluate the antimicrobial activity of a novel 2‐methylsulfanyl‐[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5‐a]quinazoline and its derivatives. Antibacterial activity of the target compounds was tested against a variety of species of Gram‐positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Bacillus subtilis ATCC6633, and Gram‐negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27953 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. In addition some yeast and fungi, Candida albicans NRRL Y‐477 and Aspergillus niger, respectively, were screened.

UPLC–MS/MS assay for identification and quantification of brivaracetam in plasma sample: Application to pharmacokinetic study in rats

Brivaracetam (BVR) is a novel antiepileptic drug (AED), approved clinically for the treatment of partial onset seizures in adults and adolescents. It has some abuse potential and assigned to Schedule V category under the Controlled Substance Act by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Being an AED and drug of abuse, a sensitive and robust assay is necessary for determination of BVR in biological fluids. Herein, we report a sensitive and validated UPLC-MS/MS assay for identification and quantification of BVR in plasma samples. The samples were prepared by one step liquid liquid extraction method using tert-Butyl methyl ether as extracting solvent. BVR and internal standard (carbamazepine) were separated on Aquity BEH™ C-18 column and eluted by using gradient mobile phase combination of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid in water. The precursor to product ion transition of m/z 213.12→54.95 (qualifier), 213.12→168.10 (quantifier) for BVR, and m/z 237.06→193.25 for IS were used for MRM detection and quantification. The assay was validated according to USFDA and SWGTOX guidelines for method validation and all parameter results were within the acceptable limits. The calibration curves were found to be linear in concentration range of 1.98-2000ng/mL (r2≥0.995) having LOD and LLOQ of 0.80 and 1.98ng/mL, respectively. The assay was successfully employed in BVR pharmacokinetic study in rats and can be suitable for therapeutic drug monitoring, pharmacokinetic study and forensic analysis.

Preclinical pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion studies of a novel anti-candidal agent-thiosemicarbazide derivative of isoniazid (TSC-INH) by validated UPLC-MS/MS assay.

A simple and sensitive UPLC-MS/MS assay was developed and validated for rapid determination of thiosemicarbazide derivative of isoniazid (TSC-INH), a potent anti-candidal agent in rat plasma, tissues, urine and feces. All biological samples were prepared by protein precipitation method using celecoxib as an internal standard (IS). Chromatographic separation was achieved on Acquity BEH™ C18 (50×2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) column using gradient mobile phase of acetonitrile and water (containing 0.1% formic acid) at flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The MRM transitions were monitored at m/z 305.00→135.89 for TSC-INH and m/z 380.08→316.03 for IS in ESI negative mode. All validation parameter results were within the acceptable range described in guideline for bioanalytical method validation. The pharmacokinetic study showed that the compound TSC-INH was orally active with 66% absolute bioavailability in rats. It was rapidly absorbed with peak plasma concentration of 1985.92 ng/mL achieved within 1 h after single oral dose (10 mg/kg) administration. TSC-INH exhibited rapid distribution across the body with highest levels in liver and lungs. Penetration in brain tissues suggests that TSC-INH crossed the blood brain barrier. Only 5.23% of the orally administered drug was excreted as unconverted form in urine and feces implying that TSC-INH was metabolized extensively before excretion. With the preliminary knowledge of in vivo pharmacokinetics and disposition properties, this study will be beneficial for further development of compound TSC-INH in future studies.

A validated UPLC–MS/MS assay using negative ionization mode for high-throughput determination of pomalidomide in rat plasma

In this study, a sensitive UPLC-MS/MS assay was developed and validated for high-throughput determination of pomalidomide in rat plasma using celecoxib as an internal standard (IS). Liquid liquid extraction using dichloromethane was employed to extract pomalidomide and IS from 200μL of plasma. Chromatographic separation was carried on Acquity BEH™ C18 column (50mm×2.1mm, 1.7μm) using an isocratic mobile phase of acetonitrile: 10mM ammonium acetate (80:20, v/v), at a flow rate of 0.250mL/min. Both pomalidomide and IS were eluted at 0.66±0.03 and 0.80±0.03min, respectively, with a total run time of 1.5min only. A triple quadruple tandem mass spectrometer using electrospray ionization in negative mode was employed for analyte detection. The precursor to product ion transitions of m/z 272.01→160.89 for pomalidomide and m/z 380.08→316.01 for IS were used to quantify them respectively, multiple reaction monitoring mode. The developed method was validated according to regulatory guideline for bioanalytical method validation. The linearity in plasma sample was achieved in the concentration range of 0.47-400ng/mL (r(2)≥0.997). The intra and inter-day precision values were ≤11.1% (RSD, %) whereas accuracy values ranged from -6.8 to 8.5% (RE, %). In addition, other validation results were within the acceptance criteria and the method was successfully applied in a pharmacokinetic study of pomalidomide in rats.

Molecular modeling, enzyme activity, anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic activities of newly synthesized quinazoline derivatives

AIM 16 thioxoquinazolines were evaluated in vivo for anti-inflammatory activity using carrageenan-induced paw edema assay. RESULTS In particular, out of the targets (1-16), compounds 4 and 6 displayed the highest anti-inflammatory activity (≥80%) and furtherly tested against complete Freunds adjuvant-induced arthritic rats. Significant reduction in the serum level of IL-1β, COX-2 and prostaglandin E2 in the complete Freunds adjuvant rats is demonstrated by compounds 4 and 6. Furthermore, compound 4 showed non-selective activity against COX-1 and COX 2, however, compound 6 was specific toward COX-2. Molecular docking study has demonstrated the possible binding modes of the active quinazolines 4 and 6 in the COX-2 active site. CONCLUSION These targets could be used as templates for further development of new derivatives with potent anti-inflammatory activity.