Glioblastoma Multiforme and Lipid Nanocapsules: A Review

Epidemiological data on central nervous system disorders call for a focus on the major hindrance to brain drug delivery, blood-central nervous system barriers. Otherwise, there is little chance of improving the short-term survival of patients with diseases such as glioblastoma multiforme, which is one of the brain disorders associated with many years of life lost. Targetable nanocarriers for treating malignant gliomas are a unique way to overcome low chemotherapeutic levels at target sites devoid of systemic toxicity. This review describes the currently available targetable nanocarriers, focusing particularly on one of the newest nanocarriers, lipid nanocapsules. All of the strategies that are likely to be exploited by lipid nanocapsules to bypass blood-central nervous system barriers, including the most recent targeting approaches (mesenchymal cells), and novel administration routes (convection enhanced delivery) are discussed, together with their most remarkable achievements in glioma-implanted animal models. Although these systems are promising, much research remains to be done in this field.

Identifying blood-brain-barrier selective single-chain antibody fragments

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) represents an obstacle in targeting and delivering therapeutics to the central nervous system. In order to discover new BBB-targeting molecules, we panned a phage-displayed nonimmune human single-chain antibody fragment (scFv) library against a representative BBB model comprised of hydrocortisone-treated primary rat brain endothelial cells. Parallel screens were performed with or without pre-subtraction against primary rat heart and lung endothelial cells in an effort to identify antibodies that may have binding selectivity toward brain endothelial cells. After three rounds of screening, three unique scFvs, scFv15, scFv38, and scFv29, were identified that maintained binding to primary rat brain endothelial cells, both in phage and soluble scFv format. While scFv29 and to a lesser extent, scFv15, exhibited some brain endothelial cell specificity in tissue culture, scFv29 did not appear to bind a BBB antigen in vivo. In contrast, both scFv15 and scFv38 were capable of immunolabeling rat brain vessels in vivo and displayed brain vascular selectivity with respect to all peripheral organs tested other than heart. Taken together, scFv15 and scFv38 represent two new antibodies that are capable of binding antigens that are expressed at the BBB in vivo.

Nanocarrier-based approaches for treatment and detection of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurological disorder in people over the age of 65. It has been estimated that in 2010 there were 4.7 million individuals aged 65 years or older with AD dementia, and it is projected that the total number of individuals with AD dementia in 2050 will be 13.8 million. The most commonly believed cause and most frequently studied aspect of AD is the aggregation of beta amyloid (Abeta), both as soluble Abeta and in the form of extracellular plaque. Treatment options are limited mainly due to the inability of drugs to cross the blood-brain barrier. Nanoparticulate drug carriers that have been targeted to the brain are able to pass through by virtue of their size, surface potential, surface coatings (e.g., polyethylene glycol, polysorbate), surface decoration with ligands or antibodies attached toward the receptors on the blood-brain barrier. Herein, we discuss the current front-runner nanocarriers under investigation for effective delivery of pharmaceuticals active in the treatment and detection of AD and their mechanisms and discuss a few of the outstanding studies.

Nanoparticles and blood-brain barrier: the key to central nervous system diseases

Major central nervous system disorders represent a significant and worldwide public health problem. In fact, the therapeutic success of many pharmaceuticals developed to treat central nervous system diseases is still moderate, since the blood-brain barrier (BBB) limits the access of systemically administered compounds to the brain. Therefore, they require the application of a large total dose of a drug, and cause numerous toxic effects. The development of nanotechnological systems are useful tools to deliver therapeutics and/or diagnostic probes to the brain due to nanocarriers having the potential to improve the therapeutic effect of drugs and to reduce their side effects. This review provides a brief overview of the variety of carriers employed for central nervous system drug and diagnostic probes delivery. Further, this paper focuses on the novel nanocarriers developed to enhance brain delivery across the blood-brain barrier. Special attention is paid to liposomes, micelles, polymeric and lipid-based nanoparticles, dendrimers and carbon nanotubes. The recent developments in nanocarrier implementation through size/charge optimization and surface modifications (PEGylation, targeting delivery, and coating with surfactants) have been discussed. And a detailed description of the nanoscaled pharmaceutical delivery devices employed for the treatment of central nervous system disorders have also been defined. The aim of the review is to evaluate the nanotechnology-based drug delivery strategies to treat different central nervous system disorders.

[Preliminary construction of studies on "pharmaceutical chemistry of cerebrospinal fluid containing Chinese medicine"]

According to the research methods for pharmaceutical chemistry of serum containing Chinese medicine, we put forward the concept, research ideas and methods of "pharmaceutical chemistry of cerebrospinal fluid containing Chinese medicine" for the first time on the basis of summary of the present situation in research on the base of single and compound Chinese medicine by applying the composition analysis methods on pharmaceutical chemistry of the drug through blood brain barrier. At the same time, scientific research value and prospect of pharmaceutical chemistry of cerebrospinal fluid containing Chinese medicine were discussed. The study on "pharmaceutical chemistry of cerebrospinal fluid containing Chinese medicine" will give an important complement to the study methods of material base of traditional Chinese medicine, and promote the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions.

Nanocarriers for tracking and treating diseases

Site directed drug delivery with high efficacy is the biggest challenge in the area of current pharmaceuticals. Biodegradable polymer-based controlled release nanoparticle platforms could be beneficial for targeted delivery of therapeutics and contrast agents for a myriad of important human diseases. Biodegradable nanoparticles, which can be engineered to load multiple drugs with varied physicochemical properties, contrast agents, and cellular or intracellular component targeting moieties, have emerged as potential alternatives for tracking and treating human diseases. In this review, we will highlight the current advances in the design and execution of such platforms for their potential application in the diagnosis and treatment of variety of diseases ranging from cancer to Alzheimer's and we will provide a critical analysis of the associated challenges for their possible clinical translation.

TNAP and EHD1 are over-expressed in bovine brain capillary endothelial cells after the re-induction of blood-brain barrier properties

Although the physiological properties of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) are relatively well known, the phenotype of the component brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) has yet to be described in detail. Likewise, the molecular mechanisms that govern the establishment and maintenance of the BBB are largely unknown. Proteomics can be used to assess quantitative changes in protein levels and identify proteins involved in the molecular pathways responsible for cellular differentiation. Using the well-established in vitro BBB model developed in our laboratory, we performed a differential nano-LC MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS study of Triton X-100-soluble protein species from bovine BCECs displaying either limited BBB functions or BBB functions re-induced by glial cells. Due to the heterogeneity of the crude extract, we increased identification yields by applying a repeatable, reproducible fractionation process based on the proteins' relative hydrophobicity. We present proteomic and biochemical evidence to show that tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) and Eps15 homology domain-containing protein 1(EDH1) are over-expressed by bovine BCECs after the re-induction of BBB properties. We discuss the impact of these findings on current knowledge of endothelial and BBB permeability.

Delivery of large molecules via poly(butyl cyanoacrylate) nanoparticles into the injured rat brain

Poly(n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate) (PBCA) nanoparticles have been successfully applied to deliver small-molecule drugs to the central nervous system (CNS). However, it is unclear whether PBCA nanoparticles can be used as the delivery system for large molecules to potentially treat traumatic brain injury (TBI). In this study, we tested the capacity of PBCA nanoparticles in passing through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and transporting large molecules into normal and injured brains in the rat. We first synthesized PBCA nanoparticles by dispersion polymerization and then loaded the particles with either horseradish peroxidase (HRP, 44 kDa) or enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP, 29 kDa), which were further coated with polysorbate 80. Next, the polysorbate 80-coated HRP or EGFP-loaded PBCA nanoparticles were intravenously injected into the normal and brain-injured rats. We found that, at 45 min after injection, PBCA nanoparticle-delivered HRP or EGFP was hardly detected in the normal brains of the rats, but a small amount of EGFP carried by PBCA nanoparticles was noted in the normal brains 48 h after administration, which was further confirmed by immunolocalization with anti-EGFP antibodies. In contrast, at 4 h after TBI with a circulation time of 45 min, although the penetration of HRP or EGFP alone was hampered by the BBB, the PBCA nanoparticle-delivered HRP or EGFP was widely distributed near injured sites. Together, our findings provide histological evidence that PBCA nanoparticles can be used as an efficient delivery system for large molecules to overcome the barrier in the brain with TBI.

In vitro evaluation on a model of blood brain barrier of idebenone-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles

The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the permeation of the antioxidant agent Idebenone (IDE) loaded into solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) across MDCKII-MDR1 cell monolayer, selected as an in vitro model of the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB). SLN were prepared using cetyl palmitate as solid lipid and different non-ionic surfactants, oleth-20, ceteth-20 and isoceth-20, by the phase inversion temperature (PIT) technique. The resulting SLN showed physiological pH and osmolarity values, a mean particle diameter in the range of 33-63 nm, a single peak in size distribution, and a zeta potential ranging from +3.14 to -2.89 mV. When incubating these SLN in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF), the particle size was maintained for all samples throughout the study. IDE permeability across MDCKII-MDR1 cell monolayers from the SLN under investigation was 0.40-0.53 fold lower than free IDE and no significant difference was observed comparing IDE permeation from all the SLN tested. It is noteworthy that IDE loading into SLN avoided the use of an organic solvent to solubilize IDE, a poor water soluble compound, allowing the parenteral administration of this drug in aqueous vehicles. Furthermore, the results of in vitro transport studies, performed using fluorescein-dextran 4000 (FD4) and diazepam (DZ) as markers of the paracellular pathway and the transcellular pathway, respectively, pointed out that IDE could permeate via a transcellular pathway. Therefore, these novel nanocarriers could be regarded as a promising strategy to design delivery systems for IDE administration to the brain, deserving further investigations under in vivo conditions.

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic detection of oligomannosidic n glycans in alpha-mannosidosis: a method of monitoring treatment

In Alpha-mannosidosis (MIM 248500) the patients accumulate mainly unbranched oligosaccharide chains in the lysosomes in all body tissues, including the brain. With ensuing therapeutic modalities in man (BMT and ERT) non-invasive methods of monitoring the effect of treatment are needed. Paramount is the possible effect of the treatment on the brain, since this organ is regarded as difficult to reach because of the blood-brain barrier. We therefore performed proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of the brain in two untreated patients, and a 16-year-old patient treated with BMT at the age of 10 to assess whether this non-invasive method could be applied in the monitoring of the accumulation of abnormal chemicals in the brain of patients. We found an abnormal peak that was not present in the treated patient. A similar pattern was also found in MRS of urine from patients, reflecting the concentration of oligosaccharides in serum and tissues. We therefore conclude that MRS can be a useful method to monitor the effect of treatment for Alpha-Mannosidosis.

Determination of the penetration of 9-fluoropropyl-(+)-dihydrotetrabenazine across the blood-brain barrier in rats by microdialysis combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

To evaluate the penetration of the blood-brain barrier by 9-fluoropropyl-(+)-dihydrotetrabenazine (AV-133), microdialysis probes were implanted simultaneously into rat blood and brain, and a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method was developed and validated to monitor the AV-133 concentration in the microdialysates. The chromatographic separation was performed on an XTerra C(18) column (150 mm × 2.1 mm i.d., 5 μm particles) with gradient elution. The mass spectrometer was operated in positive mode using electrospray ionization. The analytes were measured using the multiple-reaction-monitoring mode. The calibration curves were linear over the range of 5.00-1000 ng/mL AV-133, with a coefficient of determination >0.995. The accuracies ranged from 99.5% to 105.0% and the precisions were <10% for AV-133. This method was used to determine the concentrations of AV-133 and its pharmacokinetics in the brains and blood of rats. The blood and brain concentration-time profiles for AV-133 were obtained, and the blood-brain barrier penetration was evaluated.

Methods to study glycoproteins at the blood-brain barrier using mass spectrometry

Glycosylation is the most common posttranslational modification of proteins in mammalian cells and is limited mainly to membrane and secreted proteins. Glycoproteins play several key roles in the physiology and pathophysiology of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and are attractive as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for many neurological diseases. However, large-scale glycoproteomic studies of the BBB have been lacking, largely due to the complexity of analyzing glycoproteins and a lack of available tools for this analysis. Recent development of the hydrazide capture method and significant advances in mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics over the last few years have enabled selective enrichment of glycoproteins from complex biological samples and their quantitative comparisons in multiple conditions. In this chapter, we describe methods for: (1) isolating membrane and secreted proteins from BEC and other cells of the neurovascular unit, (2) enriching glycoproteins using hydrazide capture, and (3) performing label-free quantitative proteomics to identify differential glycoprotein expression in various biological conditions. Hydrazide capture, when coupled with label-free quantitative proteomics, is a reproducible and sensitive method that allows for quantitative profiling of a large number of glycoproteins from biological samples for the purposes of differential expression measurements and biomarker discovery.

Xenobiotic metabolism and berry flavonoid transport across the blood-brain barrier

A compelling body of literature suggests berry phytochemicals play beneficial roles in reversing age-related cognitive impairment and protect against neurodegenerative disorders. Anthocyanins are bioactive phytochemicals in berries suspected to be responsible for some of these neuroprotective effects. The plausible mechanisms of anthocyanin bioactivity in brain tissue are dependent on their bioavailability to the brain. Pigs were fed 2% whole freeze-dried, powdered blueberry in the diet for 8 weeks. Anthocyanin and anthocyanin glucuronides were measured in the cortex, cerebellum, and midbrain and diencephalon by LC-MS/MS. Anthocyanins and their glucuronides were found in the range of femtomoles per gram of fresh weight of tissue at 18 h postprandial, after anthocyanins had been removed from the blood by xenobiotic metabolism. Xenobiotic metabolism, anthocyanin interaction, and transporter barriers to brain bioavailability are briefly discussed. The plausible mechanism of neuroprotective action of anthocyanins may be via modulation of signal transduction processes and/or gene expression in brain tissue rather than by direct antioxidant radical quenching.

Directed evolution of a novel adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector that crosses the seizure-compromised blood-brain barrier (BBB)

DNA shuffling and directed evolution were employed to develop a novel adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector capable of crossing the seizure-compromised blood-brain barrier (BBB) and transducing cells in the brain. Capsid DNA from AAV serotypes 1-6, 8, and 9 were shuffled and recombined to create a library of chimeric AAVs. One day after kainic acid-induced limbic seizure activity in rats, the virus library was infused intravenously (i.v.), and 3 days later, neuron-rich cells were mechanically dissociated from seizure-sensitive brain sites, collected and viral DNA extracted. After three cycles of selection, green fluorescent protein (GFP)-packaged clones were administered directly into brain or i.v. 1 day after kainic acid-induced seizures. Several clones that were effective after intracranial administration did not transduce brain cells after the i.v. administration. However, two clones (32 and 83) transduced the cells after direct brain infusion and after i.v. administration transduced the cells that were localized to the piriform cortex and ventral hippocampus, areas exhibiting a seizure-compromised BBB. No transduction occurred in areas devoid of BBB compromise. Only one parental serotype (AAV8) exhibited a similar expression profile, but the biodistribution of 32 and 83 diverged dramatically from this parental serotype. Thus, novel AAV vectors have been created that can selectively cross the seizure-compromised BBB and transduce cells.

Sarcoglycan[s] are not muscle-specific: hypothetical roles

The sarcoglycan complex is a multimember transmembrane complex interacting with other proteins to provide a mechano-signaling connection from the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix in myofibers. This complex plays a key role at the membrane and is crucial in maintaining sarcolemma viability in muscle fibers. Recent observations have demonstrated that in the lung this glycoprotein is associated with both alveoli and bronchioles, and that the urogenital and digestive tracts are epsilon-sarcoglycan positive. Further addressing this issue, in this work we extend our previous studies to better verify whether the sarcoglycan complex also exists in epithelial tissue. All our observations showed staining for all sarcoglycans to be a normal pattern in all tested epithelial cells. We hypothesize a key role for sarcoglycans in bidirectional signaling between cells and extracellular matrix, and an important role in the regulation of inhibitory synapses and of blood brain barrier.

The blood-brain barrier thyroxine transporter organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1c1 displays atypical transport kinetics

Organic anion-transporting polypeptide (Oatp) 1c1 is a high-affinity T(4) transporter expressed in brain barrier cells. Oatp1c1 transports a variety of additional ligands including the conjugated sterol estradiol 17beta-glucuronide (E(2)17betaG). Intriguingly, published data suggest that E(2)17betaG inhibition of Oatp1c1-mediated T(4) transport exhibits characteristics suggestive of atypical transport kinetics. To determine whether Oatp1c1 exhibits atypical transport kinetics, we first performed detailed T(4) and E(2)17betaG uptake assays using Oatp1c1 stably transfected HEK293 cells and a wide range of T(4) and E(2)17betaG concentrations (100 pm to 300 nm and 27 nm to 200 mum, respectively). Eadie-Hofstee plots derived from these detailed T(4) and E(2)17betaG uptake experiments display a biphasic profile consistent with atypical transport kinetics. These data along with T(4) and E(2)17betaG cis-inhibition dose-response measurements revealed shared high- and low-affinity Oatp1c1 binding sites for T(4) and E(2)17betaG. T(4) and E(2)17betaG recognized these Oatp1c1 binding sites with opposite preferences. In addition, sterols glucuronidated in the 17 or 21 position, exhibited preferential substrate-dependent inhibition of Oatp1c1 transport, inhibiting Oatp1c1-mediated E(2)17betaG transport more strongly than T(4) transport. Together these data reveal that Oatp1c1-dependent substrate transport is a complex process involving substrate interaction with multiple binding sites and competition for binding with a variety of other substrates. A thorough understanding of atypical Oatp1c1 transport processes and substrate-dependent inhibition will allow better prediction of endo- and xenobiotic interactions with the Oatp transporter.

Exogenous expression of claudin-5 induces barrier properties in cultured rat brain capillary endothelial cells

Claudins are thought to be major components of tight junctions (TJs), and claudin-5 and -12 are localized at TJs of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Claudin-5-deficient mice exhibit size-selective (<800 Da) opening of the BBB. The purpose of this study was to clarify the expression levels of claudin-5 and -12 in rat brain capillary endothelial cells, and to examine the ability of claudin-5 to form TJs in cultured rat brain capillary endothelial cells (TR-BBB). Expression of claudin-5 mRNA in rat brain capillary fraction was 751-fold greater than that of claudin-12. The level of claudin-5 mRNA in the rat brain capillary fraction (per total mRNA) was 35.6-fold greater than that in whole brain, while the level of claudin-12 mRNA was only 13.9% of that in whole brain, suggesting that expression of claudin-12 mRNA is not restricted to brain capillaries. Transfection of TR-BBB cells with the claudin-5 gene afforded TR-BBB/CLD5 cells, which showed no change in expression of claudin-12 or ZO-1, while the expressed claudin-5 was detected at the cell-cell boundaries. The permeability surface product of [(14)C]inulin at a TR-BBB/CLD5 cell monolayer was significantly smaller (P < 0.01) than that for the parental TR-BBB cells, and the values of the permeability coefficient (Pe) were 1.14 x 10(-3) and 11.6 x 10(-3) cm/min, respectively. These results indicate that claudin-5, but not claudin-12, is predominantly expressed in brain capillaries, and plays a key role in the appearance of barrier properties of brain capillary endothelial cells.

Induction of the antimicrobial peptide CRAMP in the blood-brain barrier and meninges after meningococcal infection

Antimicrobial peptides are present in most living species and constitute important effector molecules of innate immunity. Recently, we and others have detected antimicrobial peptides in the brain. This is an organ that is rarely infected, which has mainly been ascribed to the protective functions of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and meninges. Since the bactericidal properties of the BBB and meninges are not known, we hypothesized that antimicrobial peptides could play a role in these barriers. We addressed this hypothesis by infecting mice with the neuropathogenic bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. Brains were analyzed for expression of the antimicrobial peptide CRAMP by immunohistochemistry in combination with confocal microscopy. After infection, we observed induction of CRAMP in endothelial cells of the BBB and in cells of the meninges. To explore the functional role of CRAMP in meningococcal disease, we infected mice deficient of the CRAMP gene. Even though CRAMP did not appear to protect the brain from invasion of meningococci, CRAMP knockout mice were more susceptible to meningococcal infection than wild-type mice and exhibited increased meningococcal growth in blood, liver, and spleen. Moreover, we could demonstrate that carbonate, a compound that accumulates in the circulation during metabolic acidosis, makes meningococci more susceptible to CRAMP.

In silico prediction of blood brain barrier permeability: an Artificial Neural Network model

This paper has two objectives: first to develop an in silico model for the prediction of blood brain barrier permeability of new chemical entities and second to find the role of active transport specific to the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrate probability in blood brain barrier permeability. An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model has been developed to predict the ratios of the steady-state concentrations of drugs in the brain to those in the blood (logBB) from their molecular structural parameters. Seven descriptors including P-gp substrate probability have been used for model development. The developed model is able to capture a relationship between P-gp and logBB. The predictive ability of the ANN model has also been compared with earlier computational models.

Capillary liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry of tetrahydroisoquinoline derived neurotoxins: A study on the blood–brain barrier of rat brain

Certain tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives such as 1-benzyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (1-BnTIQ) and N-methylsalsolinol are parkinsonian neurotoxins. This paper describes a sensitive and reliable analytical method based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the determination of tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives (TIQs) in brain dialysate. Samples (20 microL injected) were effectively stacked and cleaned up in-line on a capillary column (5 cm x 0.25 mm I.D.) packed with 5 microm phenyl reversed-phase silica particles. Under the optimized conditions, electrospray ionisation-MS/MS detection of TIQs was highly sensitive. The capillary LC-MS/MS method had a detection limit of 2 ng/ml for TIQ. The method was used in combination with in vivo microdialysis to study the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for TIQs. The microdialysis probe was implanted in the frontal cortex of rat brain. Test compounds were administered intraperitoneally (i.p.). Four TIQs including 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (TIQ), 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisoquinoline (5-TIQ), 1-BnTIQ, and salsolinol (SAL) were studied. A concentration maximum was detected in brain dialysate for TIQ, 5-TIQ, and 1-BnTIQ about 40 min after drug administration. However, SAL, the precursor of N-methylsalsolinol was found unable to cross the BBB of rat brain.

Mannose receptor expression specifically reveals perivascular macrophages in normal, injured, and diseased mouse brain

Perivascular macrophages are believed to have a significant role in inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS). They express a number of different receptors that point toward functions in both innate immunity, through pathogen-associated molecular pattern recognition, phagocytosis, and cytokine responsiveness, and acquired immunity, through antigen presentation and co-stimulation. We are interested in the receptors that are differentially expressed by perivascular macrophages and microglia in both the normal CNS as well as in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. In this article we report the use of a well-characterized monoclonal antibody, 5D3, to localize the expression of the mannose receptor to perivascular macrophages in the normal CNS and in various models of brain pathology. Mannose receptor expression was limited to perivascular, meningeal, and choroid plexus macrophages in normal, inflamed, injured, and diseased CNS. In particular, activated microglia and invading hematogenous leukocytes were mannose receptor negative while expressing the F4/80 antigen, macrosialin (CD68), FcRII (CD32), scavenger receptor (CD204), and CR3 (CD11b/CD18). Since the perivascular macrophages expressing the mannose receptor are known to be the only constitutively phagocytic cells in the normal CNS, we injected clodronate-loaded liposomes intracerebroventricularly in control mice to deplete these cells. In these mice, there was no detectable mannose receptor expression in perivascular spaces after immunocytochemistry with the 5D3 monoclonal antibody. This finding underlines the value of the monoclonal antibody 5D3 as a tool to study murine perivascular macrophages selectively. Mannose receptor expression by macrophages located at blood-brain (perivascular), brain-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (meningeal), and CSF-blood (choroid plexus) interfaces supports a functional role of these cells in responding to external stimuli such as infection.

A Fluorometric Screening Assay for Drug Efflux Transporter Activity in the Blood-Brain Barrier

PURPOSE

To examine the capability of a fluorometric assay to identify and characterize the drug efflux interactions of a broad spectrum of drug agents in an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

METHODS

Various concentrations of drug agent (1, 10, and 100 microM) were evaluated for their effect on the cellular accumulation of the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) probe R123 (3.2 microM), and the mixed P-gp and multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) probe, BCECF (1 microM), in bovine brain microvessel endothelial cell (BBMEC) monolayers. Drugs demonstrating a significant effect were further quantitated using an expanded concentration range and a nonlinear regression curve fit to determine the potency (IC50) and efficacy (Imax) of the drug for P-gp and/or MRP.

RESULTS

Several of the 36 therapeutic agents examined showed drug efflux transporter interactions in BBMEC monlayers. Melphalan and risperidone significantly enhanced the accumulation of R123 over control (1.47- and 1.82-fold, respectively) with resulting IC50s of 1.4 and 14.6 microM, respectively. Chlorambucil and valproic acid significantly enhanced the accumulation of BCECF compared to control monolayers (2.02- and 4.01-fold, respectively) with resulting IC50s of 146.1 and 768.5 microM, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study demonstrates the feasibility of a fluorometric assay consisting of R123 and BCECF in assessing the drug efflux interactions of a variety of drugs in the BBB.

Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Molecular Modeling Studies of a Novel, Peripherally Selective Inhibitor of Catechol-O-methyltransferase

A novel series of potent, peripherally selective, and long-acting inhibitors of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) has been synthesized. The introduction and nature of heteroatom-containing substituents to the side-chain of the nitrocatechol pharmacophore was found to have a profound effect on both peripheral selectivity and duration of COMT inhibition in the mouse. This approach led to the discovery of 1-(3,4-dihydroxy-5-nitrophenyl)-3-[4-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-piperazinyl]-1-propanone hydrochloride 35 (BIA 3-335), which was found to possess a superior inhibitory profile in vivo over both the nonselective inhibitor tolcapone 1 and the peripherally selective but short-acting entacapone 2. In this model, 35 retained 75% inhibition of peripheral COMT at 6 h after oral administration, yet significantly, only a minor reduction of central (cerebral) COMT activity was observed. Molecular modeling techniques were applied to review the analysis of the ternary enzyme-inhibitor complex previously determined by X-ray crystallography and to provide a deeper understanding of the structure-activity relationships within this novel series. Furthermore, a computational approach was applied in an effort to elucidate the particular structural factors relevant to the poor blood-brain permeability of 35. In conclusion, the improved biological properties herein reported reveal 35 as a candidate for clinical studies as an adjunct to L-DOPA therapy for Parkinson's disease.

Surface activity profiling of drugs applied to the prediction of blood-brain barrier permeability

The present study describes a novel in vitro platform for physicochemical profiling of compounds, based on their impact on the air/water interfacial tension. Interfacial partitioning coefficient, cross-sectional area, and critical micelle concentration were derived from the Gibbs adsorption isotherms recorded for 76 structurally diverse drugs. An approximation for the membrane partitioning coefficient, K(memb), is introduced and calculated for the measured compounds. This methodology provides a fully automatic, high-throughput screening technique for compound characterization, yielding precise thermodynamic information on the partitioning behavior of molecules at air/water interfaces, which can be directly related to their anisotropic interaction with lipid bilayers in biological membranes. The latter represents the barrier for the passive entry of compounds into cells. The surface activity profiles are shown to correlate to the ability of the compounds to pass passively through the blood-brain barrier.

Influence of the surface properties on nanoparticle-mediated transport of drugs to the brain

Poly(alkyl cyanoacrylate) nanoparticles enable the delivery of a number of drugs, including doxorubicin, loperamide, tubocurarine, the NMDA receptor antagonist MRZ 2/576, and the peptides dalargin and kytorphin across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) after coating with surfactants. However, only the surfactants polysorbate (Tween) 20, 40, 60 and 80, and some poloxamers (Pluronic F 68) can induce this uptake. The mechanism for the delivery across the BBB most likely is endocytosis via the LDL receptor by the endothelial cells lining the brain blood capillaries after injection of the nanoparticles into the blood stream. This endocytotic uptake seems to be mediated by the adsorption of apolipoprotein B and/or E adsorption from the blood. Thus, the nanoparticles could mimic lipoprotein particles and act as "Trojan Horses." The drug, then, may be released either within these cells followed by passive diffusion into the brain or be transported into the brain by transcytosis.