Formulation and Characterization of a Multiple Emulsion for Use as a Red Blood Cell Substitute

Book Review

Book reviewed in this article:

The Shape of Powder-Particle Outlines, (Materials Science and Technology Series/1)

Glycopeptide Antibiotics, (Drugs and the Pharmaceutical Sciences Series/63) Edited by Ramakrishnan Nagarajan

Advances in Neutron Capture Therapy Edited by Albert H. Soloway Rolf F. Barth David E. Carpenter

Protocols for Oligonucleotide Conjugates. Synthesis and Analytical Techniques, (Methods in Molecular Biology/26), Edited by Sudhir Agrawal

New Pharmacological Approaches to the Therapy of Depressive Disorders, (International Academy for Biomedical and Drug Research Volume 5) Edited by J. Mendlewicz, N. Brunello, S. Z. Langer, G. Racagni

Achieving Sterility in Medical and Pharmaceutical Products, (Drugs and the Pharmaceutical Sciences/64), Nigel A. Halls

Principles of Clinical Toxicology. Third Edition, Edited by Thomas A. Gossel, J. Douglas Bricker

Nonselective Cation Channels. Pharmacology, Physiology and Biophysics, Edited by D. Siemen, J. Hescheler

Pharmaceutical Particulate Carriers. Therapeutic Applications, (Drugs and the Pharmaceutical Sciences Series/61), Edited by Alain Rolland

Preparation and evaluation of w/o/w type emulsions containing vancomycin

The objective of this contribution is to summarize the preparation and application of water-in-oil-in-water type multiple emulsions (w/o/w emulsions) entrapping vancomycin (VCM). Formulations of the emulsions (the composition of an oily phase or the type and concentrations of surfactants) and emulsification methods (a stirring method and a membrane method) or conditions (rotation rates, pore sizes of membrane or operation pressures) were evaluated in order to prepare stable w/o/w emulsions. The pharmaceutical properties of the w/o/w emulsions - particle sizes, viscosity, phase separation and drug entrapment efficiency were measured and evaluated. We prepared stable w/o/w emulsions with a particle size of about 3 micrometer and an entrapment efficiency of VCM of about 70%. When this emulsion was administered intravenously to rats, plasma concentrations of VCM were prolonged compared to the VCM solution alone. The results of this study show the potential of the w/o/w emulsions for several clinical applications as one of the drug delivery systems.

Basic study for stabilization of w/o/w emulsion and its application to transcatheter arterial embolization therapy

Stabilization of w/o/w emulsion and its application to transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) therapy are reviewed. W/o/w emulsion was stabilized by making inner aqueous phase hypertonic, addition of chitosan in inner phase, and techniques of phase-inversion with porous membrane. Lipiodol w/o/w emulsion for TAE therapy was prepared by using a two-step pumping emulsification procedure. The procedure is so easy that the emulsion could be prepared even during the surgical operation. The deposition after hepatic arterial administration of the emulsion was detected by an X-ray CT scanner. The concentration of epirubicin hydrochloride (EPI) in liver was increased and its residence was prolonged by encapsulating it in the w/o/w emulsion. The toxic effects of EPI and lipiodol on the normal hepatic cells were reduced. The w/o/w emulsion prepared by us is a suitable formulation for the TAE therapy.

Hemoglobin multiple emulsion as an oxygen delivery system

Multiple emulsion technology provides a mechanism for the encapsulation and in vivo delivery of drugs, proteins, and other materials which would otherwise be degraded, cleared rapidly, or toxic to the host. These feasibility studies were performed to evaluate a prototype Hb multiple emulsion as a stable oxygen delivery system. A concentrated solution of hemoglobin (Hb) was encapsulated in the form of a Hb-in-oil-in-water (Hb/O/W) multiple emulsion. Studies using mineral oil demonstrated that Hb multiple emulsions have several important characteristics that are compatible with utility as a blood substitute. These include: satisfactory rheological properties and good hydrodynamic stability compared to whole blood, high encapsulation concentration of Hb and high encapsulation efficiency with little met-hemoglobin generation, and satisfactory oxygen affinity and cooperativity compared to whole blood. Isovolemic exchange transfusions of Hb/O/W multiple emulsion can support life in rats whose hematocrit has been reduced to levels (5% or lower) that are incompatible with survival, and induces no acute toxicity. These results are consistent with the utility of Hb/O/W as an oxygen-carrying red blood cell substitute or organ perfusion media.

Liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin using film hydration processing to form artificial red blood cells

Process parameters using a Microfluidizer M110 to produce liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin (LEH) were further studied to examine their effect on hemoglobin (Hb) encapsulation efficiency (yield), steady shear viscosity, mechanical stability, and oxygen delivery. Liposome formulation loading ratios of up to 300 mumol of lipid per ml of Hb solution were evaluated; a maximum yield was obtained at 300 mumol/ml. Liposomes containing encapsulated Hb concentrations as high as 15.5 g/100 ml were prepared. LEH particle size distribution, determined from negatively stained whole mount preparations using transmission electron microscopy, resulted in average vesicle sizes for optimal batches of about 155 nm. Steady shear viscosity of LEH (up to 40% by volume) in an isotonic-isooncotic solution of PBS containing either albumin or dextran were evaluated for shear rates to 2000 s-1. Values obtained were generally higher than those of whole blood at all shear rates tested. Little leakage of Hb from liposomes stored in isotonic PBS was observed as a function of storage time and shear rate. Administration of LEH supported life in rats whose hematocrit had been reduced via isovolemic exchange transfusion to levels well below 5%, which was incompatible with survival when exchange transfusion was performed with the isotonic-isooncotic PBS solution.

Liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin processing methods

An effective and safe red blood cell substitute is being developed based on double emulsion/evaporation techniques followed by high pressure homogenization to form liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin (LEH). Formulations are made up of hydrogenated phosphatidylcholine (PC, soy or egg), cholesterol, phosphatidylinositol (PI), and alpha-tocopherol in a molar ratio of 1:1:0.2:0.02, respectively. Resulting LEH-encapsulated hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations are greater than 80% of precursor Hb solutions. Met-Hb generation accompanying LEH processing appears to be small with only a 3% increase for encapsulated over precursor. These results correspond to an oxygen content for an LEH suspension sample (50% by volume LEH) of 15 volume% oxygen. Oxygen affinity and cooperativity values for LEH suspensions appear to be near the normal values expected for whole blood. The viscosity of LEH suspension samples (50% by volume LEH in phosphate-buffered saline containing 7.5 wt% albumin) were slightly higher than that of whole blood. The effect of shear rate on leakage of encapsulated Hb from LEH was small, i.e. 0.5% or less. Nearly total isovolemic exchange transfusion using a cannulated rat model demonstrates efficacy of LEH suspension samples. There appears to be no difference in rat internal organ weights between rats exchanged with control compared to rats exchanged with LEH. Circulation half-life following 50% isovolemic exchange-transfusion is about 15 to 18 hours.