Kyeong-Ryoon Lee

Evidence of carrier-mediated transport in the penetration of donepezil into the rat brain.

The objective of this study was to characterize the mechanism that controls the transport of donepezil into the brain. The apparent brain uptake clearance (CL(app,br)) was decreased as a function of the dose of donepezil, suggesting an involvement of a saturable transport process via transporter(s) in the penetration across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Consistent with in vivo results, the uptake of substrates for organic cation transporters was significantly reduced by donepezil in both MBEC4 cells (i.e., a model for BBB) and HEK 293 cells expressing the transporters found in the brain, indicative of the involvement of organic cation transporters in the transport of the drug. Furthermore, donepezil transport was enhanced (p < 0.01) in HEK 293 cells expressing rOCNT1, rOCTN2, or rCHT1. The CL(app,br) was reduced up to 52.8% of the control in rats that had been pretreated with choline, while the CL(app,br) was unaffected with pretreatments with organic cations other than choline, suggesting that choline and donepezil share a common transport mechanism in the penetration across the BBB in vivo. Taken together, these observations suggest that the transport of donepezil across the BBB is mediated by organic cation transporters such as choline transport system(s).

Pharmacokinetic characterization of decursinol derived from Angelica gigas Nakai in rats

Decursinol is a major coumarin derived from the roots of Angelica gigas and has various pharmacological effects against inflammation, angiogenesis, nociceptive pain and Alzheimer’s disease. In vitro and in vivo studies were conducted to characterize the metabolism and pharmacokinetics of decursinol. Decursinol exhibited high stability to oxidative and glucuronic metabolism in human and rat liver microsomes. In Caco-2 cell monolayers, decursinol showed high permeability (>14 × 10−6 cm/s) at all tested concentrations in the absorptive direction, which saturated at 100 μM. Secretion increased in a concentration-dependent manner, with an efflux ratio of more than 2 at 50 μM, indicating the participation of an active efflux transporter such as P-glycoprotein, multidrug resistance protein 2 or breast cancer resistance protein. The fraction of decursinol not bound to plasma proteins was 25–26% in the rat and 9–18% in humans. In human plasma, but not rat plasma, the percentage of unbound decursinol was concentration dependent. Following intravenous administration in rats, non-linear elimination of decursinol was observed with Km and Vmax values of 2.1 μg/mL and 2.5 mg·h−1·kg−1, respectively. Following oral administration, decursinol exhibited high oral bioavailability (>45%) and rapid absorption (Tmax, 0.4–0.9 h) over the dose range studied. In addition, dose-dependent absorption and elimination were observed at 20 mg/kg.

Predicted drug-induced bradycardia related cardio toxicity using a zebrafish in vivo model is highly correlated with results from in vitro tests.

Several in vivo and in vitro studies have assessed methods of evaluating the cardio toxicity of compounds during drug development due to its importance for predicting human toxicity. However, in vivo/in vitro relationships have not yet been reported using a zebrafish model. This study determined the bradycardia of 15 compounds by evaluating the change in heart beat rate (HBR) in zebrafish, hERG fluorescence polarization (hERG-FP), and ionic current change using a patch clamp (hERG-PC). In addition, a model for prediction of drug-induced bradycardia was established using in vivo and in vitro assays designed for high-throughput toxicological screening. The IC(50) values correlated well in two in vitro studies (R(2)=0.9). The change in HBR in zebrafish caused by the compounds could be estimated using the IC(50) from the hERG-FP assay [(i.e., % of HBR=19.5×log(IC(50), hERG-FP)] or hERG-PC assay [(i.e., % of HBR=19.6×log(IC(50), hERG-FP)]. To validate the predictive model, 10 unknown compounds were used and the percentages of the HBR were estimated using the model. The observed and predicted HBR% for the compounds in zebrafish were well-correlated (R(2)=0.948). Therefore, the proposed models were useful for prediction of drug-induced bradycardia related cardio toxicity.

Pharmacokinetics of lurasidone, a novel atypical anti-psychotic drug, in rats

This study aimed to characterise the pharmacokinetics of lurasidone, a new atypical anti-psychotic drug, in rats after intravenous and oral administration at dose range 0.5–2.5 and 2.5–10 mg/kg, respectively. Moreover, tissue distribution, liver microsomal stability and plasma protein binding were estimated. After intravenous injection, systemic clearance, steady-state volumes of distribution and half-life remained unaltered as a function of dose with values in the range 22.1–27.0 mL/min/kg, 2,380–2,850 mL/kg and 229–267 min, respectively. Following oral administration, absolute oral bioavailability was not dose dependent with approximately 23%. The recoveries of lurasidone in urine and bile were 0.286% and 0.0606%, respectively. Lurasidone was primarily distributed to nine tissues (brain, liver, kidneys, heart, spleen, lungs, gut, muscle and adipose) and tissue-to-plasma ratios of lurasidone were ranged from 1.06 (brain) to 9.16 (adipose). Further, lurasidone was unstable in rat liver microsome and the plasma protein binding of lurasidone was concentration independent with approximately 99.6%. In conclusion, lurasidone showed dose-independent pharmacokinetics at an intravenous dose of 0.5–2.5 mg/kg and an oral dose of 2.5–10 mg/kg. Lurasidone was primarily distributed to nine tissues and appeared to be primarily eliminated by its metabolism.

Determination of zabofloxacin in rat plasma by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry and its application to pharmacokinetic study

The objective of the present study was to develop a rapid and sensitive method for the determination of zabofloxacin, a novel, broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic, in rat plasma. Rat plasma samples were deproteinized with methanol, and then were injected into an LC-MS system for quantification. Zabofloxacin and enrofloxacin, which served as an internal standard, were analyzed by selected ion monitoring (SIM) at m/z transitions of 402 for zabofloxacin and 360 for the internal standard. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was determined to be 10 ng/mL, with acceptable linearity ranging from 10 to 5000 ng/mL (R>0.999). The validation parameters for zabofloxacin, such as absolute matrix effect (107.7-116.0%), accuracy (92.5-101.1% for intra-day and 90.3-103.8% for inter-day), precision (7.7-10.2% for intra-day and 4.2-8.9% for inter-day), and stability in rat plasma (96.0-101.8%), were found to be acceptable according to the assay validation guidelines of the FDA (2001). Following oral administration of zabofloxacin to rats at a dose of 20mg/kg, the concentration of zabofloxacin in plasma was quantifiable in plasma samples collected up to 8h following zabofloxacin administration. The method described in the present study is applicable to routine pharmacokinetic studies in rats.

QUANTIFICATION OF CILNIDIPINE IN HUMAN PLASMA BY LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY

A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) assay was developed and validated for the quantification of cilnidipine, a calcium channel antagonist, in human plasma. Plasma samples were processed by liquid-liquid extraction and the analyte, along with nimodipine (an internal standard), and analyzed using selected ion monitoring (SIM) for detection. The absolute extraction recovery was determined to be not less than 89.1% for various concentrations. The detector response was specific and linear for cilnidipine concentrations in the range of 0.5–50 ng/mL. Validation parameters, including inter-/intra-day precision and accuracy, were found to be within the acceptance criteria for assay validation guidelines. The analyte was stable under a variety of processing and handling conditions. Cilnidipine levels were readily measured in plasma samples up to 10 hr after an oral administration of 10 mg of a cilnidipine formulation in humans, suggesting that the assay can be used in routine analyses.

A strategy for reducing particulate contamination on opening glass ampoules and development of evaluation methods for its application

A single-dose glass ampoule was developed for ease of administration. When glass ampoules are opened, resulting in contamination by particulate matter. Reducing its contamination may minimize the risk in patients due to particulates. This study reports on an attempt to reduce insoluble particulate contamination by developing methods for the precise measurement of this. A vacuum machine (VM) was used to reduce the level of insoluble particulate contamination, and a microscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDS) and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) were used to evaluate the level of reduction. The method permitted the insoluble particle content to be reduced by up to 87.8 and 89.3% after opening 1 and 2 mL-ampoules, respectively. The morphology of the glass particulate contaminants was very sharp and rough, a condition that can be harmful to human health. The total weight of glass particles in the opened ampoules was determined to be 104 ± 72.9 µg and 30.5 ± 1.00 µg after opening 1 and 2 mL-ampoules when the VM was operated at highest power. The total weights were reduced to 53.6 and 50.6%, respectively for 1 and 2 mL-ampoules, compared to opening by hand. The loss of ampoule contents on opening by the VM was 6.50 and 4.67% for 1 and 2 mL-ampoules, respectively. As a result, the VM efficiently reduced glass particulate contamination and the evaluation methods used were appropriate for quantifying these levels of contamination.

Determination of a novel TAZ modulator, 2-butyl-5-methyl-6-(pyridine-3-yl)-3-[2'-(1H-tetrazole-5-yl)-biphenyl-4-ylmethyl]-3H imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine] (TM-25659) in rat plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

TM-25659 compound, a novel TAZ modulator, is developed for the control of bone loss and obesity. TAZ is known to bind to a variety of transcription factors to control cell differentiation and organ development. A selective and sensitive method was developed for the determination of TM-25659 concentrations in rat plasma. The drug was measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry after liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate. TM-25659 and the internal standard imipramine were separated on a Hypersil GOLD C18 column with a mixture of acetonitrile-ammonium formate (10 mM) (90:10, v/v) as the mobile phase. The ions m/z 501.2→207.2 for TM-25659 and m/z 281.0→86.0 for imipramine in multiple reaction monitoring mode were used for the quantitation. The calibration range was 0.1-100 μg/ml with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.99. The lower limit of quantitation of TM-25659 in rat plasma was 0.1 μg/ml. The percent recoveries of TM-25659 and imipramine were 98.6% and 95.7% from rat plasma, respectively. The intra- and inter-batch precisions were 3.17-15.95% and the relative error was 0.38-10.82%. The developed assay was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of TM-25659 administered intravenously (10 mg/kg) to rats.

Simultaneous Determination of Artesunate and Dihydroartemisinin Concentrations in Human Plasma by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry with Electro-Spray Ionization

An analytical procedure was developed/validated for the quantification of artesunate (ARTS) and a metabolite, dihydroartemisinin (DHA), in human plasma. Plasma samples were processed by solid-phase extraction and analyzed by LC-MS. The detector response was specific and linear for ARTS and DHA concentrations in the range of 5–1000 ng/mL. Intra-/inter-day precision/accuracy were determined to be within the acceptance criteria for assay validation guidelines. The analytes were stable under various processing/handling conditions. The ARTS/DHA concentrations were readily measured in plasma samples up to 8 hrs after an oral administration of an ARTS formulation in humans, suggesting that the assay is practically useful.

Specific Inhibition of the Distribution of Lobeglitazone to the Liver by Atorvastatin in Rats: Evidence for a Rat Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptide 1B2–Mediated Interaction in Hepatic Transport

Cytochrome P450 enzymes and human organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 1B1 are reported to be involved in the pharmacokinetics of lobeglitazone (LB), a new peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor γ agonist. Atorvastatin (ATV), a substrate for CYP3A and human OATP1B1, is likely to be coadministered with LB in patients with the metabolic syndrome. We report herein on a study of potential interactions between LB and ATV in rats. When LB was administered intravenously with ATV, the systemic clearance and volume of distribution at steady state for LB remained unchanged (2.67 ± 0.63 ml/min per kg and 289 ± 20 ml/kg, respectively), compared with that of LB without ATV (2.34 ± 0.37 ml/min per kg and 271 ± 20 ml/kg, respectively). Although the tissue-to-plasma partition coefficient (Kp) of LB was not affected by ATV in most major tissues, the liver Kp for LB was decreased by ATV coadministration. Steady-state liver Kp values for three levels of LB were significantly decreased as a result of ATV coadministration. LB uptake was inhibited by ATV in rat OATP1B2-overexpressing Madin–Darby canine kidney cells and in isolated rat hepatocytes in vitro. After incorporating the kinetic parameters for the in vitro studies into a physiologically based pharmacokinetics model, the characteristics of LB distribution to the liver were consistent with the findings of the in vivo study. It thus appears that the distribution of LB to the liver is mediated by the hepatic uptake of transporters such as rat OATP1B2, and carrier-mediated transport is involved in the liver-specific drug–drug interaction between LB and ATV in vivo.