Urban Skantze

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.

Core–Shell Structure of Organic Crystalline Nanoparticles Determined by Relayed Dynamic Nuclear Polarization NMR

The structure of crystalline nanoparticles (CNPs) is determined using dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) enhanced NMR spectroscopy experiments. The CNPs are composed of a crystalline core containing an active pharmaceutical ingredient (compound P), coated with a layer of PEG (DSPE-PEG 5000) located at the crystal surface, in a D2O suspension. Relayed DNP experiments are performed to study 1H-1H spin diffusion and to determine the size of the crystalline core as well as the thickness of the PEG overlayer. This is achieved through selective doping to create a heterogeneous system in which the D2O contains glycerol and organic radicals, which act as polarization sources, and the CNPs are exempt of radical molecules. We observe features that are characteristic of a core-shell system: high and constant DNP enhancement for components located in the surrounding radical solution, short build-up times for the PEG layer, and longer build-up times and time dependent enhancements for compound P. By comparing numerical simulations and experimental data, we propose a structural model for the CNPs with a core-shell organization and a high affinity between the radical and the PEG molecules.