Microparticles as a Strategy for Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin Delivery

Thrombolytic Agents: Nanocarriers in Controlled Release

Thrombosis is a life-threatening pathological condition in which blood clots form in blood vessels, obstructing or interfering with blood flow. Thrombolytic agents (TAs) are enzymes that can catalyze the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin to dissolve blood clots. The plasmin formed by TAs breaks down fibrin clots into soluble fibrin that finally dissolves thrombi. Several TAs have been developed to treat various thromboembolic diseases, such as pulmonary embolisms, acute myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, and extensive coronary emboli. However, systemic TA administration can trigger non-specific activation that can increase the incidence of bleeding. Moreover, protein-based TAs are rapidly inactivated upon injection resulting in the need for large doses. To overcome these limitations, various types of nanocarriers have been introduced that enhance the pharmacokinetic effects by protecting the TA from the biological environment and targeting the release into coagulation. The nanocarriers show increasing half-life, reducing side effects, and improving overall TA efficacy. In this work, the recent advances in various types of TAs and nanocarriers are thoroughly reviewed. Various types of nanocarriers, including lipid-based, polymer-based, and metal-based nanoparticles are described, for the targeted delivery of TAs. This work also provides insights into issues related to the future of TA development and successful clinical translation.

In Vitro and In Silico Analyses of Nicotine Release from a Gelisphere-Loaded Compressed Polymeric Matrix for Potential Parkinson's Disease Interventions

This study aimed to develop a prolonged-release device for the potential site-specific delivery of a neuroprotective agent (nicotine). The device was formulated as a novel reinforced crosslinked composite polymeric system with the potential for intrastriatal implantation in Parkinson's disease interventions. Polymers with biocompatible and bioerodible characteristics were selected to incorporate nicotine within electrolyte-crosslinked alginate-hydroxyethylcellulose gelispheres compressed within a release rate-modulating external polymeric matrix, comprising either hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), polyethylene oxide (PEO), or poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) to prolong nicotine release. The degradation and erosion studies showed that the produced device had desirable robustness with the essential attributes for entrapping drug molecules and retarding their release. Zero-order drug release was observed over 50 days from the device comprising PLGA as the external matrix. Furthermore, the alginate-nicotine interaction, the effects of crosslinking on the alginate-hydroxyethycellulose (HEC) blend, and the effects of blending PLGA, HPMC, and PEO on device performance were mechanistically elucidated using molecular modelling simulations of the 3D structure of the respective molecular complexes to predict the molecular interactions and possible geometrical orientation of the polymer morphologies affecting the geometrical preferences. The compressed polymeric matrices successfully retarded the release of nicotine over several days. PLGA matrices offered minimal rates of matrix degradation and successfully retarded nicotine release, leading to the achieved zero-order release for 50 days following exposure to simulated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Investigation of cationized triblock and diblock poly(ε-caprolactone)-co-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers for oral delivery of enoxaparin: In vitro approach

In this study, poly(ε-caprolactone)-co-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers grafted with a cationic ligand, propargyltrimethyl ammonium iodide (PTA), to fabricate the cationized triblock (P(CatCLCL)₂-PEG) and diblock (P(CatCLCL)-mPEG) copolymers were investigated their potential use for oral delivery of enoxaparin (ENX). Influences of various PTA contents and different structures of the copolymers on molecular characteristics, ENX encapsulation, particle characteristics, and capability of drug transport across Caco-2 cells were elucidated. The results showed that P(CatCLCL)₂-PEG and P(CatCLCL)-mPEG copolymers self-aggregated and encapsulated ENX into spherical particles of ∼200-450nm. The increasing amount of PTA on the copolymers increased encapsulation efficiency of over 90%. The ENX release from both types of the cationized copolymer particles was pH-dependent which was retarded at pH 1.2 and accelerated at pH 7.4, supporting the drug protection in the acidic environment and possible release in the blood circulation. The toxicity of ENX-loaded particles on Caco-2 cells decreased when decreasing the amount of PTA. The triblock and diblock particles dramatically enhanced ENX uptake and transport across Caco-2 cells as compared to the ENX solution. However, the different structures of the copolymers slightly affected ENX transport. These results suggested that P(CatCLCL)₂-PEG and P(CatCLCL)-mPEG copolymers would be potential carriers for oral delivery of ENX.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The anionic drugs such as proteins, peptides or polysaccharides are generally administered via invasive route causing patient incompliance and high cost of hospitalization. The development of biomaterials for non-invasive delivery of those drugs has gained much attention, especially for oral delivery. However, they have limitation due to non-biocompatibility and poor drug bioavailability. In this study, the novel poly(ε-caprolactone)-co-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers grafted with propargyltrimethyl ammonium iodide, a small cationic ligand, were introduced to use as a carrier for oral delivery of enoxaparin, a highly negatively charged drug. The study showed that these cationized copolymers could achieve high enoxaparin entrapment efficiency, protect drug release in an acidic environment and enhance enoxaparin permeability across Caco-2 cells, the intestinal cell model. These characteristics of the cationized copolymers make them a potential candidate for oral delivery of anionic drugs for biomaterial applications.

pH-responsive thiolated chitosan nanoparticles for oral low-molecular weight heparin delivery: in vitro and in vivo evaluation

The aim of present study was to investigate a pH-responsive and mucoadhesive nanoparticle system for oral bioavailability enhancement of low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH). The thioglycolic acid (TGA) was first covalently attached to chitosan (CS) with 396.97 ± 54.54 μmol thiol groups per gram of polymer and then the nanoparticles were prepared with thiolated chitosan (TCS) and pH-sensitive polymer hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate (HPMCP) by ionic cross-linking method. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized for the shape, particle size, zeta potential, drug entrapment efficiency and loading capacity. In vitro results revealed the acid stability of pH-responsive nanoparticles, which had a significant control over LMWH release and could effectively protect entrapped drugs in simulated gastric conditions. By the attachment of the thiol ligand, an improvement of permeation-enhancing effect on freshly excised carp intestine (1.86-fold improvement) could be found. The mucoadhesive properties were evaluated using fluorescently labeled TCS or CS nanoparticles. As compared with the controls, a significant improvement of mucoadhesion on rat intestinal mucosa was observed in TCS/HPMCP nanoparticles via confocal laser scanning microscopy. The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was significantly prolonged and an increase in the oral bioavailability of LMWH was turned out to be pronounced after oral delivered LMWH-loaded TCS/HPMCP nanoparticles in rats, which suggested enhanced anticoagulant effects and improved absorption of LMWH. In conclusion, pH-responsive TCS/HPMCP nanoparticles hold promise for oral delivery of LMWH.