Fahima M. Hashem

In vitro cytotoxicity and bioavailability of solid lipid nanoparticles containing tamoxifen citrate

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) loaded with the poorly water-soluble drug tamoxifen citrate (TC) on the in vitro antitumor activity and bioavailability of the drug. TC-loaded SLN were prepared by solvent injection method using glycerol monostearate (GMS) or stearic acid (SA) as lipid matrix. Poloxamer 188 or tween 80 were used as stabilizers. TC-loaded SLN (F3 and F4) prepared using GMS and stabilized by poloxamer 188 showed highest entrapment efficiency % (86.07 ± 1.74 and 90.40 ± 1.22%) and reasonable mean particle sizes (130.40 ± 9.45 and 243.80 ± 12.33 nm), respectively. The in vitro release of TC from F3 and F4 exhibited an initial burst effect followed by a sustained drug release. In vitro cytotoxicity of F3 against human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 showed comparable antitumor activity to free drug. Moreover, the results of bioavailability evaluation of TC-loaded SLN in rats compared to free TC indicated that 160.61% increase in the oral bioavailability of TC. The obtained results suggest that incorporation of the poorly water-soluble drug TC in SLN preserves the in vitro antitumor activity and significantly enhance oral bioavailability of TC in rats.

Optimized zein nanospheres for improved oral bioavailability of atorvastatin

Background This work focuses on the development of atorvastatin utilizing zein, a natural, safe, and biocompatible polymer, as a nanosized formulation in order to overcome the poor oral bioavailability (12%) of the drug. Methods Twelve experimental runs of atorvastatin–zein nanosphere formula were formulated by a liquid–liquid phase separation method according to custom fractional factorial design to optimize the formulation variables. The factors studied were: weight % of zein to atorvastatin (X1), pH (X2), and stirring time (X3). Levels for each formulation variable were designed. The selected dependent variables were: mean particle size (Y1), zeta potential (Y2), drug loading efficiency (Y3), drug encapsulation efficiency (Y4), and yield (Y5). The optimized formulation was assayed for compatibility using an X-ray diffraction assay. In vitro diffusion of the optimized formulation was carried out. A pharmacokinetic study was also done to compare the plasma profile of the atorvastatin–zein nanosphere formulation versus atorvastatin oral suspension and the commercially available tablet. Results The optimized atorvastatin–zein formulation had a mean particle size of 183 nm, a loading efficiency of 14.86%, and an encapsulation efficiency of 29.71%. The in vitro dissolution assay displayed an initial burst effect, with a cumulative amount of atorvastatin released of 41.76% and 82.3% after 12 and 48 hours, respectively. In Wistar albino rats, the bioavailability of atorvastatin from the optimized atorvastatin–zein formulation was 3-fold greater than that from the atorvastatin suspension and the commercially available tablet. Conclusion The atorvastatin–zein nanosphere formulation improved the oral delivery and pharmacokinetic profile of atorvastatin by enhancing its oral bioavailability.

Development and evaluation of chitosan microspheres for tetanus, diphtheria and divalent vaccines: a comparative study of subcutaneous and intranasal administration in mice.

Context: There is a need to use the new technologies to induce immunity with minimum number of vaccination sessions to ensure compliance with reducing cost. Objectives: To develop single shot vaccines of tetanus, diphtheria and divalent toxoids microsphere’s formulations and to induce their immune response after intranasal and subcutaneous administration in mice. Materials and methods: The microspheres were prepared using different concentrations of chitosan. Microsphere’s morphology, particle size analysis, encapsulation efficiency and antigen integrity were performed and the best formulations were selected for in vitro and in vivo testing in mice. Results: The developed microspheres have a yield percent of 70.3–91.5%. In vitro release of antigens indicated that tetanus release was increased up to 75 and 81% post T5 and TD5 formulations respectively, whereas diphtheria cumulative release increased up to 74 and 69% post D3 and TD5, respectively. Discussion: Antibody levels produced were lower than that obtained from alum adsorbed vaccine but higher than the minimum level required to induce immunogenicity (>0.01 IU/mL). The subcutaneous route of administration was superior over the intranasal route in producing higher antibody levels. Conclusion: Chitosan microspheres were developed successfully and prove that chitosan represents a good candidate for vaccines delivery.

Custom fractional factorial designs to develop atorvastatin self-nanoemulsifying and nanosuspension delivery systems – enhancement of oral bioavailability

Poor water solubility of a drug is a major challenge in drug delivery research and a main cause for limited bioavailability and pharmacokinetic parameters. This work aims to utilize custom fractional factorial design to assess the development of self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) and solid nanosuspensions (NS) in order to enhance the oral delivery of atorvastatin (ATR). According to the design, 14 experimental runs of ATR SNEDDS were formulated utilizing the highly ATR solubilizing SNEDDS components: oleic acid, Tween 80, and propylene glycol. In addition, 12 runs of NS were formulated by the antisolvent precipitation–ultrasonication method. Optimized formulations of SNEDDS and solid NS, deduced from the design, were characterized. Optimized SNEDDS formula exhibited mean globule size of 73.5 nm, zeta potential magnitude of −24.1 mV, and 13.5 μs/cm of electrical conductivity. Optimized solid NS formula exhibited mean particle size of 260.3 nm, 7.4 mV of zeta potential, and 93.2% of yield percentage. Transmission electron microscopy showed SNEDDS droplets formula as discrete spheres. The solid NS morphology showed flaky nanoparticles with irregular shapes using scanning electron microscopy. The release behavior of the optimized SNEDDS formula showed 56.78% of cumulative ATR release after 10 minutes. Solid NS formula showed lower rate of release in the first 30 minutes. Bioavailability estimation in Wistar albino rats revealed an augmentation in ATR bioavailability, relative to ATR suspension and the commercial tablets, from optimized ATR SNEDDS and NS formulations by 193.81% and 155.31%, respectively. The findings of this work showed that the optimized nanocarriers enhance the oral delivery and pharmacokinetic profile of ATR.

Comparative study on the suitability of two techniques for measuring the transfer of lipophilic drug models from lipid nanoparticles to lipophilic acceptors.

Due to their particle size in the submicrometer range, lipid nanoparticles are suitable for parenteral administration. In order to obtain information on their potential in vivo performance, a simple and effective in vitro assay to evaluate the drug release behavior of such particles is required. This study compares the use of different experimental setups for this purpose. Lipid nanoparticles from trimyristin which were loaded with fluorescent lipophilic drug models (a temoporfin and Nile red) were used as donor particles. The transfer of the two drug models to multilamellar vesicles (MLV) and emulsion droplets as lipophilic acceptor compartments was examined. The determination of the transferred substance was performed either after separation by centrifugation or by an in situ flow cytometric technique. The transfer of temoporfin was slow to the acceptor MLV and very rapid to the acceptor emulsion. With both acceptors, the transfer of temoporfin stopped at a concentration much lower than the theoretical equilibrium values. The transfer of the less lipophilic drug Nile red was very rapid to both acceptors with equilibrium concentrations close to the expected values. The transfer results of temoporfin especially to the acceptor MLV obtained with the two detection techniques were comparable while the centrifugation technique indicated an apparently higher Nile red transfer rate than the flow cytometric technique. Both techniques are equally suitable to study the transfer of temoporfin, while the flow cytometric technique is advantageous to measure the very rapid transfer of Nile red.

In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Combined Time and pH- Dependent Oral Colonic Targeted Prednisolone Microspheres

Aims: to enhance the anti-inflammatory effect as well as oral absorption of prednisolone (PR), through formulation of colonic targeted microspheres prepared from a blend of time and pHdependent polymers and loaded with PR. Study Design: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Combined Time and pHDependent Oral Colonic Targeted Prednisolone Microspheres. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt between June 2011 and October 2012. Methodology: Microspheres were prepared by solvent evaporation method using different ethyl cellulose (EC) and Eudragit S-100 (ES100) ratios with 0.5 and 1% w/v span 80 as emulsifier. The microspheres were evaluated for surface morphology, particle size, drug encapsulation efficiency % and in vitro drug release at pH 1.2 and 7.4. The antiinflammatory activity of selected formula was compared to that of conventional PR tablets. Results: A decrease in drug entrapment efficiency % was obtained with increasing both polymers and surfactant concentrations. Based on drug release results, the formula of 1: Research Article Article British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 3(3): 420-434, 2013 421 1: 0.16 w/w/w, EC: ES100: PR ratio with 1% w/v span 80 was selected for further histopathological evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity in colitis induced-rats. Histopathological study showed undefined tissue necrosis after treatment with the selected microspheres; however, diffused necrosis was observed in rats treated with the commercial tablets. In vivo absorption study showed that values of Cmax and AUC0-24 of both formulations were insignificantly different. However, the occurrence of Cmax of microspheres was significantly delayed in comparison to free drug (9.17 to 2.67hr) (P<.001). Conclusion: This study has supplied us with brightening results concerning the therapeutic efficacy of a blend of time and pHdependent polymers colonic targeted microspheres.

Formulation and Clinical Efficacy of Myrrh Extract in Hard Gelatin Capsules

The development of myrrh extract from natural origin capable of eradication of schistosomal infections has gained the interest of many scientists. Recently; myrrh extract is considered as the drug of choice from natural origin used to treat Schistosomiasis. This work includes the preparation of myrrh extract by maceration and the formulation of these extracts in hard gelatin capsules as a pharmaceutical dosage form followed by clinical investigation of the effectiveness of these capsules. As a result, myrrh extract capsules with different doses showed a variable effectiveness against Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) with different severity but n-hexane extract capsules showed better effectiveness in comparison to alcohol extract capsules. The percent cure increased by increasing the treatment time. In additions the number of positive cases decreased by increasing the treatment time. On the contrary, increasing the severity of the infection from mild to heavy cases led to decrease the cure percent and increased the number of the positive cases. There was a significant reduction of infection intensity in cases which were incompletely cured. It could be concluded from these results that hard gelatin capsules of myrrh extract are highly effective as a pharmaceutical dosage form against Schistosomiasis.

In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Oxatomide β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of oxatomide β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex on the physicochemical properties and bioavailability of the drug. Oxatomide β-cyclodextrin solid complex was prepared with equimolar ratio of both oxatomide and β-cyclodextrin in presence or absence of water soluble polymers using different techniques. The coevaporated complex prepared in presence of PVP-K15 showed a prompt drug release and significantly increased % dissolution efficiency (P < 0.05) compared to the pure oxatomide. Moreover, the results of bioavailability evaluation of this complex in rabbits compared to commercial drug product indicated a 73.15% increase in the oral bioavailability of oxatomide. In conclusion, inclusion complex of oxatomide with β-cyclodextrin prepared by coevaporation in presence of PVP-K15 not only results in an enhancement of the oxatomide dissolution rate but also improves the bioavailability of oxatomide.