Meijuan Zou

Characterization and Pharmacokinetic Study of Aprepitant Solid Dispersions with Soluplus

Solid dispersions are a useful approach to improve the dissolution rate and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The aim of this study was to improve the physicochemical properties and bioavailability of a poorly water-soluble aprepitant by preparation of solid dispersions. The solid dispersions were characterized by dissolution, FTIR, XRPD, DSC, SEM and pharmacokinetic studies in rats. The dissolution rate of the aprepitant was significantly increased by solid dispersions, and XRD, DSC, and SEM analysis indicated that the aprepitant existed in an amorphous form within the solid dispersions. The result of dissolution study showed that the dissolution rate of SDs was nearly five-fold faster than aprepitant. FTIR spectrometry suggested the presence of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the aprepitant and polymer. Pharmacokinetic studies in rats indicated that the degree drug absorption was comparable with that of Emend®. Aprepitant exists in an amorphous state in solid dispersions and the solid dispersions can markedly improve the dissolution and oral bioavailability of the aprepitant. The AUC0–t of the SDs was 2.4-fold that of the aprepitant. In addition, the method and its associated techniques are very easy to carry out.

Tissue distribution of borneol-modified ganciclovir-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles in mice after intravenous administration

The main purpose of this research was to prepare borneol-modified and non-borneol ganciclovir-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) to study whether borneol could enhance the transport of ganciclovir (GCV) incorporated in SLN to the brain in mice after their intravenous administration. Ganciclovir injection (GCV-inj) was selected as a control. The SLNs were prepared using a modified microemulsion method. Pharmacokinetic and biodistribution studies were conducted in kunming mice after intravenous administration of GCV-inj, GCV solid lipid nanoparticles without borneol (GCV-SLN), and three types of GCV solid lipid nanoparticles containing different ratios of borneol (GCVb-SLN). It was found that, in plasma, the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC 0 ∼ t) for GCVb-SLN and GCV-SLN was greater than that for the GCV-inj. In the brain, the AUC 0 ∼ t of GCVb-SLN was significantly increased compared with that of a GCV-inj and GCV-SLN. In the other mouse tissues, the peak concentration of GCV achieved was always lower after the injection of any of the four types of SLN than after the commercial injection. These results indicate that GCV-SLN modified with borneol enhances the transport of ganciclovir to the brain. Therefore, SLN modified with borneol is a potential delivery system for transporting drugs to the central nervous system (CNS).

A potent preparation method combining neutralization with microfluidization for rebamipide nanosuspensions and its in vivo evaluation

Backgrounds: Rebamipide (REB) is classified as a Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) Class-IV compound with poor aqueous solubility and poor permeability. The local concentration in the mucosa makes REB exhibiting the therapeutic activities, and the strategy of increasing the dissolution rate has the possibility to improve the oral gastrointestinal (GI) distribution when using REB nanosuspensions. Objective: The purpose of this work was to prepare REB nanosuspensions (REB-NSs) by combining neutralization with microfluidization to improve its dissolution rate and orally pharmacokinetic properties. Methods: The feasibility of using acid-base neutralization and microfluidization to prepare REB-NSs was studied, and the preparation was optimized by central composite design (CCD). Physical states were characterized by using some technical methods, while the plasma drug concentration and GI distribution in rodents were determined. Results: The experimental results identified a formulation with 10 mg/mL REB, 0.9% (w/v) Lutrol F127, and 0.6% (w/v) Kollidon 90F. The dissolution rate of the dried REB-NSs was faster than that of Mucosta® tablets in different media, and the pharmacokinetic study showed a slight increase (1.3-fold and 1.1-fold) in the AUC0–12 h compared with unprocessed conventional suspensions (CSs) and solutions. Also, the GI distribution of REB-NSs improved compared with REB-CSs, and this would be preferable to assist in protecting GI mucosa. Conclusion: The REB-NSs prepared by the combining method exhibited a higher plasma drug concentration and superior GI distribution, thereby demonstrating positive results for preparing nanosuspensions of local effective BCS IV drugs with pH dependence such as REB by this method.

Comparison of two self-assembled macromolecular prodrug micelles with different conjugate positions of SN38 for enhancing antitumor activity

7-Ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38), an active metabolite of irinotecan (CPT-11), is a remarkably potent antitumor agent. The clinical application of SN38 has been extremely restricted by its insolubility in water. In this study, we successfully synthesized two macromolecular prodrugs of SN38 with different conjugate positions (chitosan-(C10-OH)SN38 and chitosan-(C20-OH)SN38) to improve the water solubility and antitumor activity of SN38. These prodrugs can self-assemble into micelles in aqueous medium. The particle size, morphology, zeta potential, and in vitro drug release of SN38 and its derivatives, as well as their cytotoxicity, pharmacokinetics, and in vivo antitumor activity in a xenograft BALB/c mouse model were studied. In vitro, chitosan-(C10-OH)SN38 (CS-(10s)SN38) and chitosan-(C20-OH) SN38 (CS-(20s)SN38) were 13.3- and 25.9-fold more potent than CPT-11 in the murine colon adenocarcinoma cell line CT26, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC)0–24 of SN38 after intravenously administering CS-(10s)SN38 and CS-(20s)SN38 to Sprague Dawley rats was greatly improved when compared with CPT-11 (both P<0.01). A larger AUC0–24 of CS-(20s)SN38 was observed when compared to CS-(10s)SN38 (P<0.05). Both of the novel self-assembled chitosan-SN38 prodrugs demonstrated superior anticancer activity to CPT-11 in the CT26 xenograft BALB/c mouse model. We have also investigated the differences between these macromolecular prodrug micelles with regards to enhancing the antitumor activity of SN38. CS-(20s)SN38 exhibited better in vivo antitumor activity than CS-(10s)SN38 at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg (P<0.05). In conclusion, both macromolecular prodrug micelles improved the in vivo conversion rate and antitumor activity of SN38, but the prodrug in which C20-OH was conjugated to macromolecular materials could be a more promising platform for SN38 delivery.

Increased bioavailability of efonidipine hydrochloride nanosuspensions by the wet-milling method

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to improve the oral bioavailability of a practically insoluble drug, efonidipine hydrochloride (EFH), by agglomeration in acid solution/gastric fluid. The EFH nanosuspension was prepared by the wet‐milling method with F68 as a dispersing agent, SDS as an auxiliary stabilizer and l‐arginine as a pH adjusting agent. The EFH nanosuspension have been prepared in industrial scale‐up. The dissolution rate of the EFH nanosuspension was greater than that of bulk EFH. An in vitro intestinal permeability study showed a clear increase in the apparent permeability of different intestinal segments compared with bulk EFH. Also, a pharmacokinetic study showed that the Cmax and AUC0–24h of the nanosuspensions were approximately 1.76‐fold and 2.2‐fold greater than that of bulk EFH, respectively, and there was no significant difference compared with commercial tablets. It appears that wet‐milling offers an effective approach to improve the dissolution rate and oral absorption of this practically insoluble drug.

Design and optimization of gastric floating sustained-release mini-tablets of alfuzosin hydrochloride based on a factorial design: in vitro/in vivo evaluation

Abstract The purpose of this research was to develop multiple-unit gastric floating mini-tablets and to evaluate the possibility of using these mini-tablets as a delivery system to improve the drug absorption for drugs with a narrow absorption window. Mini-tablets were prepared using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC K100M) and carbopol 971P as release retarding agents and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) as gas-forming agent. The properties of the prepared mini-tablets in terms of floating characteristic parameters and in vitro release were evaluated. Furthermore, in vivo gastric retention study in rats and in vivo pharmacokinetic study in rabbits of the optimized formulation were performed. The optimized mini-tablets containing 45% HPMC K100M, 15% stearyl alcohol, 13% carbopol 971P, and 12% NaHCO3 were found to float immediately within 1 min and duration more than 9 h. The in vivo gastric retention study results indicated that the mini-tablets could retain in the stomach for more than 6.67 h. Furthermore, the AUC0−t of the floating mini-tablets (6849.83 ± 753.80 h ng·mL−1) was significantly higher than that of marketed sustained-release tablets XATRAL®XL (4970.16 ± 924.60 h ng·mL−1). All these results illustrated that the gastric floating mini-tablets might be a promising drug delivery system for drugs with a narrow absorption window.