François Hallouard

Iodinated α-tocopherol nano-emulsions as non-toxic contrast agents for preclinical X-ray imaging

Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is an emerging imaging modality, due to the low cost of the imagers as well as their efficiency in establishing high-resolution (1-100 μm) three-dimensional images of small laboratory animals and facilitating rapid, structural and functional in vivo visualization. However use of a contrast agent is absolutely necessary when imaging soft tissues. The main limitation of micro-CT is the low efficiency and toxicity of the commercially available blood pool contrast agents. This study proposes new, efficient and non-toxic contrast agents for micro-CT imaging. This formulation consists of iodinated vitamin E (α-tocopheryl 2,3,5-triiodobenzoate) as an oily phase, formulated as liquid nano-emulsion droplets (by low-energy nano-emulsification), surrounded by a hairy PEG layer to confer stealth properties. The originality and strength of these new contrast agents lie not only in their outstanding contrasting properties, biocompatibility and low toxicity, but also in the simplicity of their fabrication: one-step synthesis of highly iodinated oil (iodine constitutes 41.7% of the oil molecule weight) and its spontaneous emulsification. After i.v. administration in mice (8.5% of blood volume), the product shows stealth properties towards the immune system and thus acts as an efficient blood pool contrast agent (t(1/2) = 9.0 h), exhibiting blood clearance following mono-exponential decay. A gradual accumulation predominantly due to hepatocyte uptake is observed and measured in the liver, establishing a strong hepatic contrast, persistent for more than four months. To summarize, in the current range of available or developed contrast agents for preclinical X-ray imaging, this agent appears to be one of the most efficient.

Poly-ε-caprolactone tungsten oxide nanoparticles as a contrast agent for X-ray computed tomography

Inorganic nanomaterials based on heavy elements represent a new class of contrast agents for X-ray computed tomography (CT). Recent advances have shown that these materials are highly suited for CT imaging due to their high density and X-ray absorption capabilities. In this contribution, we demonstrated that tungsten oxide (WO3) nanoparticles coated by poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) can be used as efficient contrast agent for CT imaging. The obtained particles were characterized by electron microscopy (TEM and SEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). We also validated their use for enhanced in vivo imaging, since these nanoparticles were observed to display high X-ray attenuation properties and circulation time (up to 3 h), permitting blood pool imaging.

Iodinated nano-emulsions as contrast agents for preclinical X-ray imaging: Impact of the free surfactants on the pharmacokinetics.

This study presents new important aspects in the design of contrast agents for X-ray preclinical imaging. The first one is a new simple formulation of long circulating contrast agents, formulated from a commercial iodinated oil, and resulting in CT contrast agents containing more than twice the iodine concentration commercial contrast agents. The second point is a methodological aspect, utilizing tangential filtration for reducing the residual surfactants in the bulk phase and serving as well for concentrating droplets (and iodine) in the suspension. The last point is a more general aspect regarding the influence of the free surfactant on the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of the nano-emulsion droplets on mice. We showed that cross-flow filtration is efficient for concentrating the droplets and reducing the concentration of free surfactant from 10wt.% to 1wt.%, without any changes in the nano-emulsion droplet morphologies or surface properties. We also showed that the presence of free surfactant has a significant impact on the elimination way of the nano-emulsion droplets, shared between liver and kidneys. The purified nano-emulsions are preferentially eliminated by the kidneys in contrast to raw nano-emulsions, predominantly eliminated by the liver. In practice, for two similar suspensions, half-life decreases from 4.1±1.10h to 2.5±0.77h before and after purification. Since the design and development of long circulating systems are critical in numerous domains, and not for preclinical CT imaging, this study presents important results in that field, taken under a formulation and technical point of view.

Influence of Diblock Copolymer PCL-mPEG and of Various Iodinated Oils on the Formulation by the Emulsion-Solvent Diffusion Process of Radiopaque Polymeric Nanoparticles

This pioneer study in the domain of blood pool contrast media formulation presents the influence of poly-ɛ-caprolactone-monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (PCL-mPEG) and oils on the formulation of polymeric nanoparticles by emulsion-solvent diffusion. The nature of the oil used had no influence on the encapsulation rate, even if particles were formulated with a mix of PCL/PCL-mPEG. It did, however, influence the particle size and polydispersity, with macroglycerides appearing to be the lipid structure best suited to obtain the smallest monodisperse particles. When we used PCL-mPEG to form a PEG-hydrated layer to surround the nanoparticles, its tension active property had a favorable effect on particle size and polydispersity. We also showed the strong deleterious effect on particle size and polydispersity when the polymer proportion was increased to over 1% (w/v) in the pre-emulsion organic phase. Conversely, increasing the oil proportion in this organic phase simply resulted in a slight to insignificant deleterious effect on size and polydispersity, enabling the oil proportion to be enhanced up to 3% (w/v). Finally, we showed the favorable combined effect of oil iodination and the presence of PCL-mPEG on particles formulated by emulsion-solvent diffusion leading to the preparation of smaller polymeric iodine-containing particles.

Le déconditionnement/reconditionnement des spécialités pharmaceutiques en pharmacies: un acte illégal?

Drug repackaging in pill-box by pharmacists is booming since few years. However, repackaging processes needed to open the industrially primary packaging will be found illegal in France. Thus, in this country drug repacking remains legal only by overwrapping medicines. Now, this solution is not applicable for example, with divisible or liquid forms. Therefore, packaging recommendations must be taken immediately in order to preserve the quality of drugs dispensed and to obtain a legalization of this activity.