In-Soo Yoon

15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2, an electrophilic lipid mediator of anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving signaling

15-deoxy-Δ(12,14)-prostagandin J(2) (15d-PGJ2) is produced in the inflamed cells and tissues as a consequence of upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). 15d-PGJ2 is known to be the endogenous ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) with multiple physiological properties. Though one of the terminal products of the COX-2-catalyzed reactions, this cyclopentenone prostaglandin exerts potent anti-inflammatory actions, in part, by antagonizing the activities of pro-inflammatory transcription factors, such as NF-κB, STAT3, and AP-1, while stimulating the anti-inflammatory transcription factor Nrf2. These effects are not necessarily dependent on its activation of PPARγ, but often involves direct interaction with the above signaling molecules and their regulators. The locally produced 15d-PGJ2 is also involved in the resolution of inflammatory responses. Thus, 15d-PGJ2, especially formed during the late phase of inflammation, might inhibit cytokine secretion and other events by antigen-presenting cells like dendritic cells or macrophages. 15d-PGJ2 can also affect the priming and effector functions of T lymphocytes and induce their apoptotic cell death. These represent a negative feedback explaining how once-initiated immunologic and inflammatory responses are switched off and terminated. In this context, 15d-PGJ2 and its synthetic derivatives have therapeutic potential for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.

Chitosan-coated poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofibers for wound dressings

A PVA nanofibrous matrix was prepared by electrospinning an aqueous 10 wt % PVA solution. The mean diameter of the PVA nanofibers electrospun from the PVA aqueous solution was 240 nm. The water resistance of the as-spun PVA nanofibrous matrix was improved by physically crosslinking the PVA nanofibers by heat treatment at 150 degrees C for 10 min, which were found to be the optimal heat treatment conditions determined from chemical and morphological considerations. In addition, the heat-treated PVA (H-PVA) nanofibrous matrix was coated with a chitosan solution to construct biomimetic nanofibrous wound dressings. The chitosan-coated PVA (C-PVA) nanofibrous matrix showed less hydrophilic and better tensile properties than the H-PVA nanofibrous matrix. The effect of the chitosan coating on open wound healing in a mouse was examined. The C-PVA and H-PVA nanofibrous matrices showed faster wound healing than the control. The histological examination and mechanical stability revealed the C-PVA nanofibrous matrix to be more effective as a wound-healing accelerator in the early stages of wound healing than the H-PVA nanofibrous matrix.

Proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in porous hyaluronic acid scaffold

Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) attracted much interest as a promising alternative to autologous chondrocytes and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells for cartilage regeneration. Developing a suitable culture technique to direct AD-MSCs into the chondrogenic lineage could be a crucial prerequisite for the cartilage defect repair application of AD-MSCs. Herein, we prepared the PEGDG-crosslinked porous three-dimensional (3D) hyaluronic acid (HA) scaffold and evaluated for its feasibility to induce proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of the AD-MSCs. In addition, the effect of bone-morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) on chondrogenic differentiation was further investigated. Proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation were evaluated by cell morphology, DNA contents, s-GAG contents, and level of mRNA expression of relevant marker genes. When cultured with reference chondrogenic medium (RCM; serum-free DMEM-HG supplemented with 10 ng/mL of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), 50 nM ascorbate, 100 nM dexamethasone, and 5 μg/mL of ITS), better proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of AD-MSCs were obtained in the 3D HA scaffold culture as compared to the micromass culture, a standard 3D culture system. Moreover, the level of chondrogenic differentiation of AD-MSCs in the HA scaffold-RCM culture system was further increased by BMP-2, and decreased by PDGF. These results suggested that the HA scaffold with RCM was a promising chondrogenic culture system of AD-MSCs, and that BMP-2 could potentially serve as a chondrogenic supplement for AD-MSCs. However, PDGF was determined to be an inappropriate supplement based on its inhibition of the chondrogenic differentiation of AD-MSCs.

Surface-modified solid lipid nanoparticles for oral delivery of docetaxel: enhanced intestinal absorption and lymphatic uptake

Docetaxel is a potent anticancer drug, but development of an oral formulation has been hindered mainly due to its poor oral bioavailability. In this study, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) surface-modified by Tween 80 or D-alpha-tocopheryl poly(ethylene glycol 1000) succinate (TPGS 1000) were prepared and evaluated in terms of their feasibility as oral delivery systems for docetaxel. Tween 80-emulsified and TPGS 1000-emulsified tristearin-based lipidic nanoparticles were prepared by a solvent-diffusion method, and their particle size distribution, zeta potential, drug loading, and particle morphology were characterized. An in vitro release study showed a sustained-release profile of docetaxel from the SLNs compared with an intravenous docetaxel formulation (Taxotere®). Tween 80-emulsified SLNs showed enhanced intestinal absorption, lymphatic uptake, and relative oral bioavailability of docetaxel compared with Taxotere in rats. These results may be attributable to the absorption-enhancing effects of the tristearin nanoparticle. Moreover, compared with Tween 80-emulsified SLNs, the intestinal absorption and relative oral bioavailability of docetaxel in rats were further improved in TPGS 1000-emulsified SLNs, probably due to better inhibition of drug efflux by TPGS 1000, along with intestinal lymphatic uptake. Taken together, it is worth noting that these surface-modified SLNs may serve as efficient oral delivery systems for docetaxel.

Preparation and evaluation of spray-dried hyaluronic acid microspheres for intranasal delivery of fexofenadine hydrochloride.

Hyaluronic acid (HA)-based microspheres containing PEG 6000 and/or sodium taurocholate (NaTC) were prepared by the spray-drying method for nasal delivery of fexofenadine hydrochloride (HCl). Their physicochemical properties including particle size and drug contents were determined, while their morphology examined by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The effects of the solubilizer (PEG 6000) and the permeation enhancer (NaTC) on the in vitro release characteristics of fexofenadine x HCl were observed. Moreover, the in vitro permeation of fexofenadine x HCl was determined using the human nasal cell (HNE) monolayers cultured on Transwell inserts. After nasal administration, fexofenadine x HCl in rabbit plasma was determined by the LC-MS/MS system. Fexofenadine x HCl-loaded microspheres were of spherical shape with 20-30 microm mean diameter. The loading efficiency was about 95%. In vitro release of fexofenadine x HCl from the microspheres was significantly increased with the addition of PEG 6000. Although NaTC did not alter the in vitro release of drug from the microspheres, its addition further increased the in vitro permeation of fexofenadine x HCl across the HNE cell monolayers. Moreover, the bioavailability of fexofenadine x HCl after nasal administration of the microsphere formulation to rabbits was increased up to about 48% while that of the control solution was only about 3%. These results indicated that the HA microsphere formulation could further be developed into a clinically useful nasal delivery system of fexofenadine x HCl.

The limited intestinal absorption via paracellular pathway is responsible for the low oral bioavailability of doxorubicin.

Abstract 1. Doxorubicin exhibited dose-independent pharmacokinetics after intravenous (5–20 mg/kg) and oral (20–100 mg/kg) administration to rats. Nearly all (82.1–99.7%) of the orally administered doxorubicin remained unabsorbed, and the hepatic first-pass extraction ratio and oral bioavailability of doxorubicin were approximately 0.5% and 1%, respectively. Based on these results, it is likely that the primary factor responsible for the low oral bioavailability of doxorubicin is the limited intestinal absorption, rather than the CYP3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism. 2. Moreover, the in vitro transport and cellular uptake studies using Caco-2 cell monolayers have revealed that doxorubicin crosses the intestinal epithelium primarily via the paracellular pathway (accounting for 85.6% of the overall absorptive transport) probably due to its physicochemical properties (hydrophilic cation; pKa = 9.67, log P = −0.5). These results suggest that P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated efflux activity does not play a significant role in limiting the intestinal absorption of doxorubicin, attenuating the absorptive transport by only 5.56–13.2%. 3. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that the limited and paracellular intestinal absorption of doxorubicin was a major factor responsible for its low oral bioavailability, restricting the role of CYP3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism and P-gp-mediated efflux.

Development of udenafil-loaded microemulsions for intranasal delivery: In vitro and in vivo evaluations

To achieve rapid onset of action and improved bioavailability of udenafil, a microemulsion system was developed for its intranasal delivery. Phase behavior, particle size, transmission electron microscope (TEM) images, and the drug solubilization capacity of the microemulsion were investigated. A single isotropic region was found in pseudo-ternary phase diagrams developed at various ratios with CapMul MCM L8 as an oil, Labrasol as a surfactant, and Transcutol or its mixture with ethanol (1:0.25, v/v) as a cosurfactant. Optimized microemulsion formulations with a mean diameter of 120-154 nm achieved enhanced solubility of udenafil (>10mg/ml) compared with its aqueous solubility (0.02 mg/ml). An in vitro permeation study was performed in human nasal epithelial (HNE) cell monolayers cultured by the air-liquid interface (ALI) method, and the permeated amounts of udenafil increased up to 3.41-fold versus that of pure udenafil. According to the results of an in vivo pharmacokinetic study in rats, intranasal administration of udenafil-loaded microemulsion had a shorter T(max) value (1 min) compared with oral administration and improved bioavailability (85.71%) compared with oral and intranasal (solution) administration. The microemulsion system developed for intranasal administration may be a promising delivery system of udenafil, with a rapid onset of action and improved bioavailability.

Pharmacokinetics and first-pass elimination of metoprolol in rats: contribution of intestinal first-pass extraction to low bioavailability of metoprolol

The pharmacokinetics of metoprolol after intravenous (IV) (0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg) and oral (1, 2, and 5 mg/kg) administration, and the intestinal and hepatic first-pass extraction of metoprolol after IV, intraportal, and intraduodenal (1 and 2 mg/kg) administration were comprehensively assessed in rats. Metoprolol exhibited dose-independent pharmacokinetics after IV administration, and dose-dependent pharmacokinetics after oral administration probably due to the saturable first-pass extraction of metoprolol. At doses where metoprolol exhibited dose-independent pharmacokinetics (1 and 2 mg/kg), complete absorption (>99.2%) and low F (<0.245) after oral administration were observed. The intestinal and hepatic first-pass extraction ratio (EG and EH, respectively) of metoprolol were approximately 0.45 and 0.60, respectively (equivalent to approximately 45% and 30% of orally administered dose, respectively), suggesting considerable contribution of intestinal first-pass extraction to the low F of metoprolol in rats. The EG in rats was predicted from in vitro clearance and/or permeability data utilizing the QGut model and well-stirred model (0.347 and 0.626, respectively). The predicted EG values were in good agreement with the observed in vivo EG (0.492–0.443), suggesting the utility of the prediction of in vivo intestinal first-pass extraction from the in vitro clearance using intestinal microsomes.

Pharmacokinetic Interactions of Herbs with Cytochrome P450 and P-Glycoprotein

The concurrent use of drugs and herbal products is becoming increasingly prevalent over the last decade. Several herbal products have been known to modulate cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) which are recognized as representative drug metabolizing enzymes and drug transporter, respectively. Thus, a summary of knowledge on the modulation of CYP and P-gp by commonly used herbs can provide robust fundamentals for optimizing CYP and/or P-gp substrate drug-based therapy. Herein, we review ten popular medicinal and/or dietary herbs as perpetrators of CYP- and P-gp-mediated pharmacokinetic herb-drug interactions. The main focus is placed on previous works on the ability of herbal extracts and their phytochemicals to modulate the expression and function of CYP and P-gp in several in vitro and in vivo animal and human systems.

A distributed dynamic call admission control that supports mobility of wireless multimedia users

We present distributed dynamic reservation (DDR) scheme that supports mobility in the wireless multimedia communications. As the traditional reservation schemes do not fit to handling time-varying multi-class multimedia traffic due to the involved computational complexity, we employ an elaborate two-regional approximation scheme that can reduce the computation dramatically. We approximate the channel occupancy distribution based on the observation of arrival rates, means, and variances of total calls and handover calls, which can be easily measured at each base station or node in a distributed manner. This approximation enables us to estimate the relevant number of reservation channels very fast, with the computational complexity reduced to the order of O(logC) for the channel capacity C. Nevertheless, the estimation turns out very close to the exact solution determined by applying the multi-dimensional Markov chain approach. Simulation results reveal that the proposed DDR scheme can adapt itself well to time-varying multi-class multimedia traffic and achieve high channel utilization, yet maintaining a very low handover blocking probability.