Lennart Lindfors

Nucleation and crystal growth in supersaturated solutions of a model drug

The crystallization process in aqueous solutions of the drug bicalutamide and the effect of the polymer polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) have been studied. Results showed that PVP decreased the crystallization rate significantly in a system with PVP concentrations as low as 0.01% (w/w), without changing the polymorph formed. The crystal habit was altered already at PVP concentrations as low as 0.001% (w/w). Measurements made with self-diffusion NMR indicated that the decrease in crystallization rate was not because of a reduced supersaturation due to bicalutamide binding to PVP in solution. Furthermore, in experiments designed to specifically study crystal nucleation, the same nucleation rate was found in the absence and presence of PVP. Instead, PVP adsorbs to the crystals formed in solution and by doing so, the crystal growth rate is reduced. This was confirmed in separate experiments using bicalutamide nanocrystals. By combining theories describing classical nucleation and crystal growth, with some modifications, a consistent description of several independent experiments performed in polymer-free systems was obtained. From these experiments a crystal-water interfacial tension of 22.1 mN/m was extracted. We also analyze the interfacial tension of other crystalline organic solids and find that it varies approximately as the logarithm of the solubility. This finding is discussed within the framework of the Bragg-Williams regular solution theory where we also compare with the tension of liquid alkanes.

In silico predictions of gastrointestinal drug absorption in pharmaceutical product development : Application of the mechanistic absorption model GI-Sim

Oral drug delivery is the predominant administration route for a major part of the pharmaceutical products used worldwide. Further understanding and improvement of gastrointestinal drug absorption predictions is currently a highly prioritized area of research within the pharmaceutical industry. The fraction absorbed (fabs) of an oral dose after administration of a solid dosage form is a key parameter in the estimation of the in vivo performance of an orally administrated drug formulation. This study discloses an evaluation of the predictive performance of the mechanistic physiologically based absorption model GI-Sim. GI-Sim deploys a compartmental gastrointestinal absorption and transit model as well as algorithms describing permeability, dissolution rate, salt effects, partitioning into micelles, particle and micelle drifting in the aqueous boundary layer, particle growth and amorphous or crystalline precipitation. Twelve APIs with reported or expected absorption limitations in humans, due to permeability, dissolution and/or solubility, were investigated. Predictions of the intestinal absorption for different doses and formulations were performed based on physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties, such as solubility in buffer and simulated intestinal fluid, molecular weight, pK(a), diffusivity and molecule density, measured or estimated human effective permeability and particle size distribution. The performance of GI-Sim was evaluated by comparing predicted plasma concentration-time profiles along with oral pharmacokinetic parameters originating from clinical studies in healthy individuals. The capability of GI-Sim to correctly predict impact of dose and particle size as well as the in vivo performance of nanoformulations was also investigated. The overall predictive performance of GI-Sim was good as >95% of the predicted pharmacokinetic parameters (C(max) and AUC) were within a 2-fold deviation from the clinical observations and the predicted plasma AUC was within one standard deviation of the observed mean plasma AUC in 74% of the simulations. GI-Sim was also able to correctly capture the trends in dose- and particle size dependent absorption for the study drugs with solubility and dissolution limited absorption, respectively. In addition, GI-Sim was also shown to be able to predict the increase in absorption and plasma exposure achieved with nanoformulations. Based on the results, the performance of GI-Sim was shown to be suitable for early risk assessment as well as to guide decision making in pharmaceutical formulation development.

Secondary Crystal Nucleation: Nuclei Breeding Factory Uncovered

Secondary nucleation, wherein crystal seeds are used to induce crystallization, is widely employed in industrial crystallizations. Despite its significance, our understanding of the process, particularly at the molecular level, remains rudimentary. An outstanding question is why do a few seeds give rise to a many-fold increase in new crystals? Using molecular simulation coupled with experiments we have uncovered the molecular processes that give rise to this autocatalytic behavior. The simulations reveal formation of molecular aggregates in solution, which on coming in contact with the surface of the seed undergo nucleation to form new crystallites. These crystallites are weakly bound to the crystal surface and can be readily sheared by fluid, making the seed surfaces available again to repeat the process. Further, the new crystallites on development can in turn serve as seeds. This mechanistic insight will enable better control in engineering crystalline products to design.

In silico prediction of drug solubility: 4. Will simple potentials suffice?

In view of the extreme importance of reliable computational prediction of aqueous drug solubility, we have established a Monte Carlo simulation procedure which appears, in principle, to yield reliable solubilities even for complex drug molecules. A theory based on judicious application of linear response and mean field approximations has been found to reproduce the computationally demanding free energy determinations by simulation while at the same time offering mechanistic insight. The focus here is on the suitability of the model of both drug and solvent, i.e., the force fields. The optimized potentials for liquid simulations all atom (OPLS‐AA) force field, either intact or combined with partial charges determined either by semiempirical AM1/CM1A calculations or taken from the condensed‐phase optimized molecular potentials for atomistic simulation studies (COMPASS) force field has been used. The results illustrate the crucial role of the force field in determining drug solubilities. The errors in interaction energies obtained by the simple force fields tested here are still found to be too large for our purpose but if a component of this error is systematic and readily removed by empirical adjustment the results are significantly improved. In fact, consistent use of the OPLS‐AA Lennard‐Jones force field parameters with partial charges from the COMPASS force field will in this way produce good predictions of amorphous drug solubility within 1 day on a standard desktop PC. This is shown here by the results of extensive new simulations for a total of 47 drug molecules which were also improved by increasing the water box in the hydration simulations from 500 to 2000 water molecules.

Development of target-specific liposomes for delivering small molecule drugs after reperfused myocardial infarction.

Although reperfusion is essential in restoring circulation to ischemic myocardium, it also leads to irreversible events including reperfusion injury, decreased cardiac function and ultimately scar formation. Various cell types are involved in the multi-phase repair process including inflammatory cells, vascular cells and cardiac fibroblasts. Therapies targeting these cell types in the infarct border zone can improve cardiac function but are limited by systemic side effects. The aim of this work was to develop liposomes with surface modifications to include peptides with affinity for cell types present in the post-infarct myocardium. To identify peptides specific for the infarct/border zone, we used in vivo phage display methods and an optical imaging approach: fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT). We identified peptides specific for cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, myofibroblasts, and c-Kit + cells present in the border zone of the remodeling infarct. These peptides were then conjugated to liposomes and in vivo specificity and pharmacokinetics were determined. As a proof of concept, cardiomyocyte specific (I-1) liposomes were used to deliver a PARP-1 (poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1) inhibitor: AZ7379. Using a targeted liposomal approach, we were able to increase AZ7379 availability in the infarct/border zone at 24h post-injection as compared with free AZ7379. We observed ~3-fold higher efficiency of PARP-1 inhibition when all cell types were assessed using I-1 liposomes as compared with negative control peptide liposomes (NCP). When analyzed further, I-1 liposomes had 9-fold and 1.5-fold higher efficiencies in cardiomyocytes and macrophages, respectively, as compared with NCP liposomes. In conclusion, we have developed a modular drug delivery system that can be targeted to cell types of therapeutic interest in the infarct border zone.

Monte Carlo studies of drug nucleation 1: formation of crystalline clusters of bicalutamide in water.

A computational method of predicting the effects of the metastability of drug solutions is sought. A simple extension of our in silicio approach to thermodynamic drug solubility is tested on the drug bicalutamide for which we performed vapor pressure measurements complementing earlier measurements of aqueous solubility and crystal-water interfacial tension. The free energy of formation of an N-cluster of the drug molecule is estimated semiempirically by use of an Einstein model of the crystal in which experiment supplies the crystal structure, enthalpy of sublimation, and Einstein frequency of vibration. The rigid drug clusters with N from 2 to 14 are extracted from the bulk crystal by minimization of either cluster energy or radius of gyration. The free energy of hydration is estimated by Monte Carlo simulation combined with simplified response theory based on the OPLS-AA/COMPASS force field for the drug-water interaction and the TIP4P water model. The results have been interpreted in terms of an apparent crystal-water interfacial tension according to classical nucleation theory. The energy-minimal and radius of gyration-minimal clusters seem to give very similar crystal-water interfacial tensions for both the monoclinic and the triclinic polymorph. The interfacial tension of the monoclinic polymorph is significantly higher (by around 20%) than that of the triclinic polymorph in accordance with experiment. For the triclinic polymorph a substantial overestimation of the interfacial tension compared to estimates from crystal nucleation experiments is found, mitigated somewhat by an empirical scaling of the simulated binding energies and free energies of hydration.

Nanocrystal formulations of a poorly soluble drug. 1. In vitro characterization of stability, stabilizer adsorption and uptake in liver cells

In the present work, milled nanocrystals of a poorly soluble compound using different stabilizers were prepared and characterized. The aim of the study was to evaluate a fundamental set of properties of the formulations prior to i.v. injection of the particles. Two polyethylene oxide containing stabilizers; (distearoyl phosphatidylethanol amine (DSPE)) -PEG2000 and the triblock copolymer Pluronic F127, were investigated, with and without polyvinylpyrrolidone K30/Aerosol OT (PVP/AOT) present. The solubility in water was around 10nM for the compound, measured from nanocrystals, but 1000 times higher in 4% human serum albumin. The particles were physically stable during the time investigated. The zeta potential was around -30 and -10mV for DSPE-PEG2000 and Pluronic F127 stabilized particles, respectively, at the conditions selected. The dissolution rate was similar for all four formulations and similar to the theoretically predicted rate. Critical micelle concentrations were determined as 56nM and 1.4μM for DSPE-PEG2000 and Pluronic F127, respectively. The adsorption isotherms for the PEG lipid showed a maximum adsorbed amount of about 1.3mg/m2, with and without PVP/AOT. Pluronic F127 showed a higher maximum amount adsorbed, at around 3.1mg/m2, and marginally lower with PVP/AOT present. Calculated data showed that the layer of Pluronic F127 was thicker than the corresponding DSPE-PEG2000 layer. The total amount of particles distributed mainly to the liver, and the hepatocellular distribution in vitro (Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and Kupffer cells), differed depending on the stabilizing mixture on the particles. Overall, DSPE-PEG2000 stabilized nanocrystals (with PVP/AOT) accumulated to a larger degree in the liver compared to particles with Pluronic F127 on the surface. A theoretical model was developed to interpret in vivo pharmacokinetic profiles, explaining the balance between dissolution and liver uptake. With the present, fundamental data of the nanocrystal formulations, the platform for forthcoming in vivo studies was settled.

Hydrodynamic Effects on Drug Dissolution and Deaggregation in the Small Intestine-A Study with Felodipine as a Model Drug.

The aim of this study was to understand and predict the influence of hydrodynamic effects in the small intestine on dissolution of primary and aggregated drug particles. Dissolution tests of suspensions with a low-solubility drug, felodipine, were performed in a Couette cell under hydrodynamic test conditions corresponding to the fed small intestine. Dissolution was also performed in the USP II apparatus at two paddle speeds of 25 and 200 rpm and at different surfactant concentrations below critical micelle concentration. The experimental dissolution rates were compared with theoretical calculations. The different levels of shear stress in the in vitro tests did not influence the dissolution of primary or aggregated particles and experimental dissolution rates corresponded very well to calculations. The dissolution rate for the aggregated drug particles increased after addition of surfactant because of deaggregation, but there were still no effect of hydrodynamics. In conclusion, hydrodynamics do not influence dissolution and deaggregation of micronized drug particles in the small intestine of this model drug. Surface tension has a strong effect on the deaggregation and subsequent dissolution. Addition of surfactants at in vivo relevant surface tension levels is thus critical for in vivo predictive in vitro dissolution testing.

Fundamental Mechanisms for Tablet Dissolution: Simulation of Particle Deaggregation Via Brownian Dynamics

For disintegrating tablet formulations, deaggregation of small particles is sometimes one of the rate-limiting processes for drug release. Because the tablets contain particles that are in the colloidal size range, it may be assumed that the deaggregation process, at least qualitatively, is governed by Brownian motion and electrostatic and van der Waals interactions, where the latter two can be described by a Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek interaction potential. On the basis of this hypothesis, the present work investigates the applicability of Brownian dynamics (BD) simulations as a tool to understand the deaggregation mechanism on a fundamental level. BD simulations are therefore carried out to determine important deaggregation characteristics such as the so-called mean first passage time (MFPT) and first passage time distribution (FPTD) for various two-, three-, and four-particle aggregates. The BD algorithm is first validated and tuned by comparison with analytical expressions for the MFPT and FPTD in the two-particle case. It is then shown that the same algorithm can also be used for the three-particle case. Lastly, the simulations of three- and four-particle aggregates show that the initial shape of the aggregates may significantly affect the deaggregation time.

Identification of RNA-binding proteins in exosomes capable of interacting with different types of RNA: RBP-facilitated transport of RNAs into exosomes

The RNA that is packaged into exosomes is termed as exosomal-shuttle RNA (esRNA); however, the players, which take this subset of RNA (esRNA) into exosomes, remain largely unknown. We hypothesized that RNA binding proteins (RBPs) could serve as key players in this mechanism, by making complexes with RNAs and transporting them into exosomes during the biosynthesis of exosomes. Here, we demonstrate the presence of 30 RBPs in exosomes that were shown to form RNA–RBP complexes with both cellular RNA and exosomal-RNA species. To assess the involvement of these RBPs in RNA-transfer into exosomes, the gene transcripts encoding six of the proteins identified in exosomes (HSP90AB1, XPO5, hnRNPH1, hnRNPM, hnRNPA2B1, and MVP) were silenced by siRNA and subsequent effect on esRNA was assessed. A significant reduction of total esRNA was observed by post-transcriptional silencing of MVP, compared to other RBPs. Furthermore, to confirm the binding of MVP with esRNA, a biotinylated-MVP was transiently expressed in HEK293F cells. Higher levels of esRNA were recovered from MVP that was eluted from exosomes of transfected cells, as compared to those of non-transfected cells. Our data indicate that these RBPs could end up in exosomes together with RNA molecules in the form of RNA–ribonucleoprotein complexes, which could be important for the transport of RNAs into exosomes and the maintenance of RNAs inside exosomes. This type of maintenance may favor the shuttling of RNAs from exosomes to recipient cells in the form of stable complexes.