Mamta Kapoor

Efficient and safe delivery of siRNA using anionic lipids: Formulation optimization studies.

Novel formulations based on physiologically occurring anionic lipids have been designed to achieve safe and efficient siRNA delivery. Anionic liposomes (DOPG/DOPE) were complexed with siRNA using calcium ion bridges to prepare anionic lipoplexes. Various formulation parameters (liposome composition, lipid and calcium concentration) were evaluated and optimized to achieve efficient silencing and high cell viability in breast cancer cells. The optimal anionic lipoplexes composed of 1μg/mL lipid (40:60 (DOPG/DOPE m/m)), 2.4mM calcium and 10nM siRNA, showed maximum silencing (∼70% knockdown) without being cytotoxic. These lipoplexes also showed stability and high efficiency in the presence of serum. Additionally, optimal anionic lipoplexes showed efficient intracellular uptake and endosomal escape. Characterization studies indicated the optimal anionic formulations were 324.2±19.6nm with a surface charge of (-22.9±0.1)mV and 98.5±1.4% encapsulation efficiency. Control cationic lipoplexes (Lipofectamine 2000) showed silencing comparable to the anionic lipoplexes but were highly cytotoxic as indicated by IC50 values (cationic - 22.9μg/mL, compared to anionic - greater than 10(7)μg/mL). Calcium-siRNA complexes (without liposomes) showed low efficiency (∼50% silencing), and highly variable results. The optimized anionic formulations may offer a safer alternative to conventional cationic based systems for efficient in vitro as well as in vivo delivery of therapeutic siRNAs.

Cellular Uptake Mechanisms of Novel Anionic siRNA Lipoplexes

ABSTRACTPurposeTo investigate cellular uptake pathways of novel anionic siRNA-lipoplexes as a function of formulation composition.MethodsAnionic formulations with anionic lipid/Ca2+/siRNA ratio of 1.3/2.5/1 (AF1) and 1.3/0.3/1 (AF2) were utilized. Uptake mechanisms were investigated using uptake inhibition and co-localization approaches in breast cancer cells. Actin-mediated uptake was investigated using actin polymerization and rearrangement assays. Silencing efficiency and endosomal escaping capability of lipoplexes were evaluated. The cationic formulation Lipofectamine-2000 was used as a control.ResultsAnionic lipoplexes entered the breast cancer cells via endocytosis specifically via macropinocytosis or via both macropinocytosis and HSPG (heparin sulfate proteoglycans) pathways, depending on the Ca2+/siRNA ratio. Additionally, uptake of these lipoplexes was both microtubule and actin dependent. The control cationic lipid-siRNA complexes (Lipofectamine-2000) were internalized via both endocytic (phagocytosis, HSPG) and non-endocytic (membrane fusion) pathways. Their uptake was microtubule independent but actin dependent. Silencing efficiency of the AF2 formulation was negligible mainly due to poor endosomal release (rate-limiting step).ConclusionsFormulation composition significantly influences the internalization mechanism of anionic lipoplexes. Uptake mechanism together with formulation bioactivity helped in identification of the rate-limiting steps to efficient siRNA delivery. Such studies are extremely useful for formulation optimization to achieve enhanced intracellular delivery of nucleic acids.

A review of intranasal formulations for the treatment of seizure emergencies.

Epileptic seizure emergencies are life-threatening conditions, which in their most severe form, status epilepticus, have a high mortality rate if not quickly terminated. Treatment requires rapid delivery of anti-epileptics such as benzodiazepines to the brain. The nasal route is attractive due to its non-invasiveness, potential for direct nose to brain delivery, high vascularity, relatively large absorptive surface area, and avoidance of intestinal/liver metabolism. However, the limited volume of the nasal cavity and poor water solubility of anti-epileptics restrict absorption, leading to insufficient therapeutic brain levels. This review covers various formulation approaches adopted to improve nasal delivery of drugs, especially benzodiazepines, used to treat seizure emergencies. Other general topics such as nasal anatomy, challenges to nasal delivery, and drug/formulation considerations for nose to brain delivery are also discussed.

Prodrug/Enzyme based acceleration of absorption of hydrophobic drugs: An in vitro study

Poor water solubility of APIs is a key challenge in drug discovery and development as it results in low drug bioavailability upon local or systemic administration. The prodrug approach is commonly utilized to enhance solubility of hydrophobic drugs. However, for accelerated drug absorption, supersaturated solutions need to be employed. In this work, a novel prodrug/enzyme based system was developed wherein prodrug and enzyme are coadministered at the point of absorption (e.g., nasal cavity) to form in situ supersaturated drug solutions for enhanced bioavailability. A combination of fosphenytoin/alkaline phosphatase was used as a model system. Prodrug conversion kinetics were evaluated with various prodrug/enzyme ratios at pH 7.4 and 32 °C. Phenytoin permeation rates were determined at various degrees of supersaturation (S = 0.8-6.1), across confluent Madin Darby canine kidney II-wild type monolayers (a nasal epithelium model), with prodrug and enzyme spiked into the apical chamber. Membrane intactness was confirmed by measuring transepithelial electrical resistance and inulin permeability. Fosphenytoin and phenytoin concentrations were analyzed using HPLC. Results indicated that a supersaturated solution could be formed using such prodrug/enzyme systems. Drug absorption increased proportionately with increasing degrees of supersaturation; this flux was 1.5-6 fold greater than that for the saturated phenytoin solution. The experimental data fitted reasonably well to a two compartment pharmacokinetic (PK) model with first order conversion of prodrug to drug. This prodrug/enzyme system markedly enhances drug transport across the model membrane. Applied in vivo, this strategy could be used to facilitate drug absorption through mucosal membranes when absorption is limited by solubility.

Targeted Delivery of Nucleic Acid Therapeutics via Nonviral Vectors

Nucleic acid therapeutics were initially considered for treating hereditary diseases, but their potential role in the treatment of acquired diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases etc., is now widely recognized. The main objective in gene therapy via a systemic pathway is the development of a stable and nontoxic targeted nonviral gene vector that can encapsulate and deliver foreign genetic materials into cells with the transfection efficiency of viral vectors. Targeting of such gene delivery systems to the diseased site can further improve efficacy, minimize toxicity, and also lower the cost of therapy. This chapter discusses various nucleic acid therapeutics, nonviral gene delivery vectors as well as targeting approaches to achieve safe and efficient nucleic acid delivery.

Chirally Pure Prodrugs and Their Converting Enzymes Lead to High Supersaturation and Rapid Transcellular Permeation of Benzodiazepines.

Water-soluble prodrugs can be rapidly converted by enzymes to hydrophobic drugs, whose aqueous thermodynamic solubilities are low, but are maintained in aqueous solution at supersaturated concentrations due to slow precipitation kinetics. Recently, we investigated avizafone (AVF) in combination with Aspergillus oryzae protease as a prodrug/enzyme system intended to produce supersaturated diazepam (DZP). Several fold enhancement of permeation of supersaturated DZP across Madin-Darby canine kidney II-wild type (MDCKII-wt) monolayers was observed, compared to saturated DZP solutions. However, prodrug conversion was incomplete, putatively due to partial racemization of AVF and stereoselectivity of A oryzae protease. Here we report synthesis of chirally pure AVF, and demonstrate complete conversion to supersaturated DZP followed by complete DZP permeation at enhanced rates across MDCKII-wt cell monolayers. We also synthesized, for the first time, a chirally pure prodrug of midazolam (MDZ-pro) and carried out the same sequence of studies. A oryzae protease was identified as a benign and efficient activating enzyme for MDZ-pro. The MDZ-pro/A oryzae protease system showed greater than 25-fold increase in absorption rate of MDZ across MDCKII-wt monolayers, compared to saturated MDZ. Such chirally pure prodrug/enzyme systems are promising candidates for efficient intranasal delivery of benzodiazepine drugs used in the treatment of seizure emergencies.