Narong Sarisuta

Influence of methylation process on the degree of quaternization of N-trimethyl chitosan chloride.

N-Trimethyl chitosan chloride (TMC) is a soluble chitosan derivative that shows effective enhancing properties for peptide and protein drug transport across mucosal membranes. TMC was synthesized by reductive methylation of chitosan in an alkaline environment at elevated temperature. The number of methylation process steps and the base used in the process was demonstrated to affect the degree of quaternization of the primary amino group and methylation of 3- and 6-hydroxyl groups. 1H-Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra showed that the degree of quaternization of TMC was higher when using sodium hydroxide as the base compared to using dimethyl amino pyridine. The degrees of quaternization as well as O-methylation of TMC increased with the number of reaction steps. O-Methylation resulted in decreased solubility of TMC. The high degree of quaternization of TMC with a low degree of O-methylation was prepared by employing one reaction step with two subsequent addition steps and a controlled alkaline environment of the mixture reaction.

Targeted delivery of doxorubicin to A549 lung cancer cells by CXCR4 antagonist conjugated PLGA nanoparticles.

Doxorubicin is used to treat a variety of cancers, but dose limiting toxicity or intrinsic and acquired resistance limits its application in many types of cancer. CXCR4 is a chemokine receptor which implicates in metastasis of cancers including lung cancer. LFC131, a peptide inhibitor of CXCR4-ligand binding, is a linear type of low molecular weight CXCR4 antagonist. In this study, we investigated the possibility of using LFC131 conjugated nanoparticles for targeted delivering doxorubicin to CXCR4 expressing lung cancer cells. The LFC131 peptide was conjugated to sodium carboxylmethyl cellulose coated poly(dl-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles. Binding and cellular uptake of doxorubicin-loaded LFC131 conjugated nanoparticles (LFC131-DOX NP) in adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells called A549 cells were higher and faster than that of untargeted nanoparticles. The specificity of CXCR4-mediated internalization of LFC131-DOX NPs was confirmed by using free LFC131 peptide or anti-CXCR4 monoclonal antibody. Cell studies suggested that sustained release of doxorubicin afforded by PLGA nanoparticles may enable LFC131-DOX NP as a targeted and controlled release drug delivery system.

Dependence of Reactive Oxygen Species and FLICE Inhibitory Protein on Lipofectamine-Induced Apoptosis in Human Lung Epithelial Cells

Cationic liposomes such as Lipofectamine (LF) are widely used as nonviral gene delivery vectors; however, their clinical application is limited by their cytotoxicity. These agents have been shown to induce apoptosis as the primary mode of cell death, but their mechanism of action is not well understood. The present study investigated the mechanism of LF-induced apoptosis and examined the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in this process. We found that LF induced apoptosis of human epithelial H460 cells through a mechanism that involves caspase activation and ROS generation. Inhibition of caspase activity by pan-caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk) or by specific caspase-8 inhibitor (z-IETD-fmk) or caspase-9 inhibitor (z-LEHD-fmk) inhibited the apoptotic effect of LF. Overexpression of FLICE-inhibitory protein (FLIP) or B-cell lymphoma-2, which are known inhibitors of the extrinsic and intrinsic death pathways, respectively, similarly inhibited apoptosis by LF. Induction of apoptosis by LF was shown to require ROS generation because its inhibition by ROS scavengers or by ectopic expression of antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase strongly inhibited the apoptotic effect of LF. Electron spin resonance studies showed that LF induced multiple ROS; however, superoxide was found to be the primary ROS responsible for LF-induced apoptosis. The mechanism by which ROS mediate the apoptotic effect of LF involves down-regulation of FLIP through the ubiquitination pathway. In demonstrating the role of FLIP and ROS in LF death signaling, we document a novel mechanism of apoptosis regulation that may be exploited to decrease cytotoxicity and increase gene transfection efficiency of cationic liposomes.

In vitro properties of film-coated diltiazem hydrochloride pellets compressed into tablets

Abstract The mechanical properties of ethylcellulose films were determined to evaluate effects of polymer, plasticizer, and dispersed solid. The concentration of propylene glycol was shown to exhibit no significant effect on the tensile strength while that of diethyl phthalate did. Both plasticizers were also found to have significant effects on the film elongation. Theoretical calculations revealed that the release of diltiazem hydrochloride from ethylcellulose film-coated pellets could be described by the combination of constant and non-constant activity source diffusion-controlled model. A dramatic modification in drug release characteristics was observed after the film-coated pellets had been compressed into tablets. However, the increase in compression force within the working range (181.8, 272.7, and 363.6 kg) was distinctly found to slightly affect the release from pellets being compressed. These behaviors may not be caused by flaws or failures within the film, but instead by the appreciable alterations in some physical properties of the film itself under pressure. The electron photomicrographs confirmed such a hypothesis.

In vitro characterization of pluronic F127 and D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate mixed micelles as nanocarriers for targeted anticancer-drug delivery

Mixed micelles of Pluronic F127 and d-a-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) in different molar ratios (10 : 0, 7 : 3, 5 : 5, and 3 : 7) were prepared to characterize this system as nanocarriers for targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic agents. Their size, zeta potential, critical micelle concentration, drug loading content, entrapment efficiency, drug release, cytotoxicity, and stability in serum were evaluated in vitro by using doxorubicin as the model anticancer drug. The micellar sizes ranged from 25 to 35 nm. The 7 : 3 and 5 : 5 micellar combinations had lower critical micelle concentrations (5 × 10-5 M) than the 10 : 0 combination (5×10-4 M). The entrapment efficiencies of the 7 : 3, 5 : 5, and 3 : 7 micellar combinations were 72%, 88%, and 69%, respectively. Doxorubicin release was greater at acidic tumour pH than at normal physiological pH. The doxorubicin-loaded mixed micelles showed greater percent inhibition and apoptosis activity in human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and acutemonocytic leukaemia (THP-1) cell lines than free doxorubicin did. The mixed micelles were also stable against aggregation and precipitation in serum. These findings suggest that Pluronic F127-TPGS mixed micelles could be used as nanocarriers for targeted anticancerdrug delivery.

Physico-chemical characterization of interactions between erythromycin and various film polymers.

In this study the interactions between erythromycin and various polymers (Eudragit L100, shellac, polyvinyl acetate phthalate (PVAP), cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate phthalate (HPMCP), and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)) were investigated. The polymer films containing drugs were prepared and characterized by the use of infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction analysis, thermal analysis, thin layer chromatography, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Preliminary studies of pure drug powders recrystallized in various organic solvent systems suggested a mixture of amorphous and crystalline forms whereas those recrystallized in water and organic solvent-water mixture led to the dihydrate form. Erythromycin in drug-polymer mixtures exhibited molecular dispersions in all six polymers studied. The amine salt interaction between the carboxyl group of the acid polymers and N-atom of erythromycin was indicated by the NMR technique. The solid solution of erythromycin in all polymer films studied was physically stable under stress conditions (8 degrees C/3 days and 40 degrees C/3 days for six cycles).

Influence of microenvironment and liposomal formulation on secondary structure and bilayer interaction of lysozyme

The conformation of peptide and protein drugs in various microenvironments and the interaction with drug carriers such as liposomes are of considerable interest. In this study the influence of microenvironments such as pH, salt concentration, and surface charge on the secondary structure of a model protein, lysozyme, either in solution or entrapped in liposomes with various molar ratios of phosphatidylcholine (PC):cholesterol (Chol) was investigated. It was found that entrapment efficiency was more pronounced in negatively charged liposomes than in non-charged liposomes, which was independent of Chol content and pH of hydration medium. The occurrence of aggregation, decrease in zeta potential, and alteration of 31P NMR chemical shift of negatively charged lysozyme liposomes compared to blank liposomes suggested that the electrostatic interaction plays a major role in protein-lipid binding. Addition of sodium chloride could impair the neutralizing ability of positively charged lysozyme on negatively charged membrane via chloride counterion binding. Neither lysozyme in various buffer solutions with sodium chloride nor that entrapped in liposomes showed any significant change in their secondary structures. However, significant decrease in alpha-helical content of lysozyme in non-charged liposomes at higher pH and salt concentrations was discovered.

The Influence of Drug-Excipient and Drug-Polymer Interactions on Butt Adhesive Strength of Ranitidine Hydrochloride Film-Coated Tablets

ABSTRACT The influence of fillers and polymeric films on adhesive strength of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and Eudragit E100® films coated on ranitidine HCl tablets containing either spray-dried rice starch (SDRS) or lactose monohydrate as fillers after storage at 45°C/75% RH for four weeks was investigated by the use of butt adhesion technique. The adhesive strength of film-coated tablets of fillers without drug was found to slightly decrease after storage. In contrast, the adhesive strength of drug-containing film-coated tablets significantly reduced, the degree of which was higher for Eudragit E100® than HPMC. Physicochemical characterization by employing differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) revealed that the drug was obviously incompatible with lactose and possibly mild interaction with Eudragit E100® was suggested. The results indicated that the adhesive strength of film-coated tablets would be affected not only by the drug-excipient interaction, but also by the drug-polymeric film interaction.

Effects of Temperature, Humidity, and Aging on the Disintegration and Dissolution of Acetaminophen Tablets

AbstractThe effect of storage for 8 weeks at 40°C in moderate and high humidity on acetaminophen tablets prepared by the wet granulation method using povidone or pregelatinized starch as a binder was studies. Storage at 52% relative humidity produced an increase in hardness of acetaminophen tablets and storage at 94% relative humidity caused a decrease in hardness. In all cases tablets granulated with pregelatinized starch were less susceptible to change caused by humidity than tablets granulated with povidone. The disintegration of tablets containing starch or povidone was slowed as the humidity was increased. Tablets stored at 40 =C and 94 V. relative humidity showed a substantial slowing of dissolution, but there was little change of dissolution of tablets when aged at 40 -C / 52% relative humidity. In comparing starch and povidone as binders, acetaminophen tablets prepared with pregelatinized starch were less effected by high humidity than tablets prepared with povidone.

Physicochemical Properties of Amphotericin B Liposomes Prepared by Reverse-Phase Evaporation Method

Abstract The physicochemical properties of phosphatidylcholine-cholesterol liposomes containing amphotericin B and prepared by reverse-phase evaporation method were studied. Uniformly dispersed liposomal suspensions were obtained by employing 3:1 ratio (by volume) of diethyl ether to normal saline, 5 min sonication time at 7°C, and evaporation of diethyl ether at 25°C. Microscopic examination showed that the prepared liposomes were spheroids with unilamellar, oligolamellar, or multilamellar structure. The liposomes containing amphotericin B 2.0 mol% of total lipid led to the highest percentage of drug entrapment. Liposomes with maximum entrapment efficiency were obtained from using 250 µmol of total lipid. The liposomal amphotericin B possessing the highest drug entrapment efficiency (approximately 95%) with particle size range of 1307–1451 nm was the one composed of 1:1 molar ratio of phosphatidylcholine to cholesterol.