Yoshinori Onuki

In vivo effects of highly purified docosahexaenoic acid on rectal insulin absorption.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and the toxicity of polyunsaturated fatty acid, such as oleic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA), as potential absorption enhancer for rectal delivery of insulin, using a water-in-oil-in water (W/O/W) multiple emulsion. In a single administration study, rectal insulin absorption was enhanced markedly, and marked hypoglycemia was induced by the emulsion incorporating various fatty acids in an insulin dose-related fashion. The pharmacological availability of the emulsion incorporating 2% oleic acid, EPA and DHA was approximately 7.7, 11.0 and 25.4%, respectively. The insulin absorption enhancement effect was not increased in proportion to the amount of DHA in the emulsion, the mean T(max) value of the serum glucose-time curve could be extended to twice that of the emulsion without PF 127. In a multiple administration study, the mean AUC(glucose) values of the emulsion incorporating DHA showed almost the same value on the first and the tenth day. From the morphological appearance of the mucosal surface, the emulsion incorporating DHA induced no or little mucosal damage. Our findings demonstrated that DHA has a strong insulin permeability enhancement effect and little toxicity. Thus, DHA is an attractive candidate as an absorption enhancer for intestinal delivery of insulin.

Displacement of tight junction proteins from detergent-resistant membrane domains by treatment with sodium caprate.

We have investigated the effect of sodium salt of capric acid (C10) on major tight junction proteins such as claudin and occludin, and also examined the involvement of lipid rafts with C10-induced alterations on these proteins. We firstly examined the C10 effect on the barrier function of tight junctions by measuring transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and the flux of FITC dextran 4400 (FD-4). As a result, the increase in the FD-4 flux and decrease in the TER value were observed by incubation with C10 (10 mM) for 30 min, suggesting loss of the barrier function. In addition, C10 incubation produced an increase in solubility to Triton X-100 for claudin 4, 5 and occludin but not for claudin 1, 2, 3. Since it has been reported lipid raft disruption causes an increase in Triton X-100 solubility, it is suggested that effect of C10 on these proteins are involved with lipid rafts. From the lipid raft isolation study, we clarified the distribution of these proteins in lipid rafts. These results strongly indicate the displacement of specific tight junction proteins, claudin 4, 5 and occludin, from lipid raft by the treatment with C10 and involvement of this displacement with the absorption enhancing mechanism of C10.

Mechanistic Study of the Uptake/Permeation of Cell-Penetrating Peptides Across a Caco-2 Monolayer and Their Stimulatory Effect on Epithelial Insulin Transport

Our recent studies have demonstrated the potential of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) to significantly stimulate the intestinal absorption of therapeutic peptides and proteins. This study examined the mechanisms underlying the intestinal epithelial uptake and permeation of CPPs and their contribution to the enhanced absorption of insulin. Fluorescein-tagged octaarginine (R8) and penetratin were used as the promising CPPs, and in vitro uptake and permeation assays were conducted using Caco-2 cell monolayer. The assay conducted under low temperature conditions revealed that energy-dependent pathways are not involved in d-form arginines (d-R8) uptake or its stimulatory effect on insulin uptake. The Km value (3.82 μM), calculated from the dose dependence of d-R8 uptake, suggested that a part of the d-R8 uptake was saturated at the functional concentration (60 μM d-R8). An analysis based on the binding parameters of insulin and d-R8 also showed an increase in the uptake clearance of the insulin/d-R8 complex, even at a saturated concentration of d-R8, implying that this complex is taken up by Caco-2 cells via pathways that differ from those that take up unbound d-R8. Thus, this study suggests that CPPs such as oligoarginines stimulate the intestinal epithelial transport of peptide and protein drugs via energy-independent unsaturable internalization.

Noninvasive visualization of in vivo release and intratumoral distribution of surrogate MR contrast agent using the dual MR contrast technique.

A direct evaluation of the in vivo release profile of drugs from carriers is a clinical demand in drug delivery systems, because drug release characterized in vitro correlates poorly with in vivo release. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the in vivo applicability of the dual MR contrast technique as a useful tool for noninvasive monitoring of the stability and the release profile of drug carriers, by visualizing in vivo release of the encapsulated surrogate MR contrast agent from carriers and its subsequent intratumoral distribution profile. The important aspect of this technique is that it incorporates both positive and negative contrast agents within a single carrier. GdDTPA, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, and 5-fluorouracil were encapsulated in nano- and microspheres composed of poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide), which was used as a model carrier. In vivo studies were performed with orthotopic xenograft of human breast cancer. The MR-based technique demonstrated here has enabled visualization of the delivery of carriers, and release and intratumoral distribution of the encapsulated positive contrast agent. This study demonstrated proof-of-principle results for the noninvasive monitoring of in vivo release and distribution profiles of MR contrast agents, and thus, this technique will make a great contribution to the field.

Formulation Optimization of an Indomethacin-Containing Photocrosslinked Polyacrylic Acid Hydrogel as an Anti-inflammatory Patch

Photocrosslinked polyacrylic acid hydrogel, made from polyacrylic acid (PAA) modified with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), is a promising candidate adhesive for dermatological patches. In this study, we investigated the further availability of hydrogel as an adhesive for dermatological patches using a hydrogel containing indomethacin (IDM) as a model anti-inflammatory patch. From an orthogonal experimental study, we clarified the relationships between formulation factors and characteristics of model formulation. Formulations with a lower degree of swelling were prepared by increasing the degree of HEMA modification and the addition of Tween 80. Apparent permeation rate was increased by addition of l-menthol and Tween 80. A tendency for higher HEMA modification to be accompanied by the prolongation of the lag time of IDM was observed. To obtain an applicable anti-inflammatory patch, we conducted a formulation optimization study using a novel optimization method, a response-surface method incorporating multivariate spline interpolation (RSM-S). Consequently, a highly functional anti-inflammatory patch in terms of its adhesive properties and bioavailability was successfully obtained. Since a wide range of functions can be fully controlled by manipulating the formulation factors, photocrosslinked polyacrylic acid hydrogel is an attractive candidate adhesive for dermatological patches.

Reliability evaluation of nonlinear design space in pharmaceutical product development

Formulation design space of indomethacin tablets was investigated using a nonlinear response surface method incorporating multivariate spline interpolation (RSM-S). In this study, a resampling method with replacement was applied to evaluate the reliability of border on the design space estimated by RSM-S. The quantities of lactose, cornstarch, and microcrystalline cellulose were chosen as the formulation factors. Response surfaces were estimated using RSM-S, and the nonlinear design space was defined under the restriction of more than 3 kgf hardness and more than 70% dissolution 30 min before and after an accelerated test. The accuracy of the resampling method was elucidated and high correlation coefficients were produced. However, the distribution of the border on the design space generated by the resampling method was far from normal, and the confidence interval of the border was estimated using a nonparametric percentile technique. Consequently, the reliability of the design space was decreased by approaching the edge of the experimental design. RSM-S and this resampling method might be useful for estimating the reliability of nonlinear design space.

Contribution of the Physicochemical Properties of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients to Tablet Properties Identified by Ensemble Artificial Neural Networks and Kohonen's Self-Organizing Maps

The aim of this study was to create a tablet database for use in designing tablet formulations. We focused on the contribution of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to tablet properties such as hardness and disintegration time (DT). Before we investigated the effects of the APIs, we optimized the tablet base formulation (placebo tablet) according to an expanded simplex search. The optimal placebo tablet showed sufficient hardness and rapid disintegration. We then tested 14 kinds of compounds as the model APIs. The APIs were characterized in terms of their physicochemical properties using Kohonens self-organizing maps. We also prepared model tablets by incorporating the APIs into the optimal placebo tablet, and then examined the tablet properties, including tensile strength and DT. On the basis of the experimental data, an ensemble artificial neural network incorporating general regression analysis was conducted. A reliable model of the correlation between the physicochemical properties of the APIs and the tablet properties was thus constructed. From the correlation model, we clarified the detailed contributions of each physicochemical property to the tablet attributes.

Self-Organizing Map Analysis Using Multivariate Data from Theophylline Powders Predicted by a Thin-Plate Spline Interpolation

The quality by design concept in pharmaceutical formulation development requires establishment of a science-based rationale and a design space. We integrated thin-plate spline (TPS) interpolation and Kohonens self-organizing map (SOM) to visualize the latent structure underlying causal factors and pharmaceutical responses. As a model pharmaceutical product, theophylline powders were prepared based on the standard formulation. The angle of repose, compressibility, cohesion, and dispersibility were measured as the response variables. These responses were predicted quantitatively on the basis of a nonlinear TPS. A large amount of data on these powders was generated and classified into several clusters using an SOM. The experimental values of the responses were predicted with high accuracy, and the data generated for the powders could be classified into several distinctive clusters. The SOM feature map allowed us to analyze the global and local correlations between causal factors and powder characteristics. For instance, the quantities of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and magnesium stearate (Mg-St) were classified distinctly into each cluster, indicating that the quantities of MCC and Mg-St were crucial for determining the powder characteristics. This technique provides a better understanding of the relationships between causal factors and pharmaceutical responses in theophylline powder formulations.

Comparative pharmaceutical evaluation of brand and generic clobetasone butyrate ointments

In the present study, we performed comprehensive pharmaceutical evaluation among an original clobetasone butyrate (CLB) ointment product and three generic products. Although spherocrystal images were observed under a polarizing microscope for only Kindavate®, the original product, distribution of active and inactive ingredients was chemically equivalent between the original and generic medicine by the attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy. These results suggest that the spherocrystals observed in Kindavate® are composed of hydrocarbon. On GC/MS, it was revealed that linear alkanes having 25-27 carbon atoms are densely present in Sun White®, the base used in Kindavate®. On the other hand, linear alkanes having 22-31 carbon atoms were broadly distributed in most other white petrolatums. In the CLB ointment products, the distribution equivalent of linear alkane to Sun White® was observed only in Kindavate®. Thus, the GC/MS method is extremely useful for identification of white petrolatum used in the ointment. A similar amount of CLB among the pharmaceutical products was detected in the skin tissue by skin accumulation test, although there were the differences in rheological properties and the quality of white petrolatum. The present results will be very useful for pharmacists in selecting medicine products that match the needs of the patient. Such pharmaceutical information will help spread objective knowledge about products in the future, and will contribute to the appropriate selection of medication.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Phase Separation in Mixed Preparations of Moisturizing Cream and Steroid Ointment after Centrifugation

A mixed preparation consisting of a water-in-oil emulsion-type moisturizing cream and a steroid ointment is frequently prescribed for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. We have investigated the compatibility of moisturizing creams and ointments because there are concerns regarding the physical stability of these mixed preparations. The key technology used in this study was magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A commercial moisturizing cream and white petrolatum or clobetasone butyrate (CLB) ointment samples were mixed in a weight ratio of 1 : 1. A centrifugation test protocol (20000×g for 3 min) was implemented to accelerate the destabilization processes in the samples. After centrifugation, the mixed preparations separated into three distinct layers (upper, middle, and lower), while no phase separation was observed using moisturizing cream alone. The phase separation was monitored using chemical shift selective images of water and oil and quantitative T2 maps. In addition, MR and near-infrared spectroscopy were employed for component analysis of each phase-separated layer. Collectively, it was confirmed that the lower layer contained water, oils, and organic solvent, while the upper and middle layers were composed solely of oils. Furthermore, this study investigated the distribution of CLB in the phase-separated samples and showed that a heterogeneous distribution existed. From our results, it was confirmed that the mixed preparation became unstable because of the incompatibility of the moisturizing cream and ointment.