Aggregation behavior of sodium fusidate in aqueous solution

Extending the Pseudo-Phase Model of Detergent-Lipid Dispersions by a Detergent-Binding Protein

Mixed micellar drug delivery systems for poorly soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are easy to produce and long-term stable, because they represent equilibrium structures. However, their fate after intravenous injection is still largely unknown. Once injected into the bloodstream, they can potentially convert to vesicles or disappear altogether, with both API and excipients being picked up by blood components. Our study aimed at reducing the gap between the good, quantitative understanding of aqueous glycocholate (GC)-lecithin dispersions alone and the highly complex situation in the blood. To this end, we extended the pseudophase model previously established for lipid-detergent dispersions to include the detergent-binding protein albumin as another component. The model predicted a quaternary phase diagram with planar phase boundaries defined by key parameters of the ternary subsystems, which were then determined by isothermal titration calorimetry. They include the aqueous GC concentration upon bilayer-micelle coexistence, 5.2 mM, the GC-to-lipid mole ratios in coexisting bilayers (R_e^sat = 0.2) and micelles (R_e^sol = 0.7), as well as the capacity of the albumin to bind 0.1 GC molecules with a dissociation constant of K_D = 0.1 mM and 6 GC molecules with K_D = 0.7 mM. Subsequent measurements in the quaternary system showed phase boundaries in good agreement with the model predictions. In addition, the critical micelle concentration of GC shows a minimal value (midpoint of transition) of 9.1 mM at the temperature of 24 °C where the demicellization enthalpy is zero. The demicellization process is accompanied by a heat capacity change of 29 cal/mol K. The model improves the understanding of the mixed micellar drug delivery systems. The success of the approach encourages including even more blood components, like lipoproteins, to a quantitative treatment.

Aggregation behavior of tetracarboxylic surfactants derived from cholic and deoxycholic acids and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

The reaction of 3beta-aminoderivatives of cholic and deoxycholic acids (steroid residues) with dimethyl ester of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (bridge) leads to the formation of dimers carrying four carboxylic organic functions, two of them located on the side chain of each steroid residue and the other two on the bridge. As tetrasodium salts, these new compounds behave as surfactants and have been characterized by surface tension, fluorescence intensity of pyrene (as a probe), and static and dynamic light scattering measurements. Thermodynamic parameters for micellization were obtained from the dependence of the critical micelle concentration (cmc) with temperature. For both surfactants, the fraction of bound counterions is close to 0.5. The aggregation behavior is similar to one of their bile salt residues [i.e., sodium cholate (NaC) and sodium deoxycholate (NaDC)] and can be summarized as follows: (i) molecular areas at the interface for the new surfactants are fairly close to twice the value for a single molecule in a monolayer of natural bile salts; (ii) the environment where pyrene is solubilized is very apolar, as in natural bile salt aggregates; (iii) Gibbs free energies (per steroid residue) for micellization are not far from published values for NaC and NaDC, and the differences can be understood on the basis of less hydrophobicity of the new surfactants due to the charges in the bridge; and (iv) as for NaC and NaDC, aggregates have rather low aggregation numbers (which depend on the amount of added inert salt, NaCl). A structure based on the disklike model accepted for small bile salt aggregates is proposed.

Scavenger receptor class B type I reduces cholesterol absorption in cultured enterocyte CaCo-2 cells

Scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) mediates selective uptake of cholesteryl esters from HDL as well as efflux of cellular free cholesterol to HDL. It is unclear whether the receptor is involved in intestinal cholesterol absorption. We addressed this issue by studying [3H]cholesterol flux in differentiated CaCo-2 cells incubated at their apical side with mixed taurocholate/phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol micelles. Biotinylation and HDL binding experiments showed predominant apical expression of endogenous and overexpressed SR-BI. Mixed micellar cholesterol saturation affected the magnitude and direction of cholesterol flux with significant net uptake only from supersaturated micelles and net efflux from unsaturated micelles. Incubation with micelles that depleted cellular cholesterol resulted in a decrease of SR-BI protein, whereas incubation with cholesterol-loading micelles resulted in a significant increase of SR-BI protein. Apical cholesterol uptake by CaCo-2 cells was increased in the presence of a SR-BI-blocking antibody and by partial inhibition of SR-BI expression with small inhibitory RNA. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of apical SR-BI did not affect cholesterol uptake but stimulated apical cholesterol efflux, even to supersaturated mixed micelles. Partial inhibition of SR-BI with small inhibitory RNA reduced apical cholesterol efflux. Our data argue against a direct role for SR-BI in micellar cholesterol uptake. However, SR-BI might be involved in cholesterol absorption by facilitating cholesterol efflux to micelles.

Spectra and structure of complexes formed by sodium fusidate and potassium helvolate with beta- and gamma-cyclodextrin

The complexation of two steroid antibiotics of the fusidane family, sodium fusidate and potassium helvolate, by beta-CD and gamma-CD has been studied by using 1D and 2D-NMR techniques. Both guests form 1:1 complexes with gamma-CD and 1:2 (guest:cyclodextrin) complexes with beta-CD. Thus, both antibiotics behave as monotopic and ditopic guests when they are complexed by gamma-CD and beta-CD, respectively. Both steroids enter into the cavity of the gamma-CD by the side chain, reaching the central region of the steroid (rings C and D), whereas the A and B (partially) rings remain outside. For beta-CD complexes, ROESY spectra show a remarkable absence of interactions of the protons of the C and D rings, whereas clear interactions corresponding to the side chain, and A and B rings are observed. The obtained equilibrium constants (see previous paper) are discussed in terms of the structures proposed for the complexes. NMR spectra of sodium fusidate are revised, and a full assignment of the 1H and 13C NMR spectra is presented for potassium helvolate.

Fusidic acid pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics

Fusidic acid comes in a variety of formulations for oral, intravenous and topical use. After oral administration of 500 mg Cmax values range from 14.5-3.3 mg/l and an elimination half-life of 8.9-11.0 h. Similar values are obtained with intravenous administration of the sodium salt, although peaks tend to be higher. Bioavailability for the new film-coated tablet is approximately 91% while that of the suspension formulation appears to be much lower. Repeated dosing results in substantial drug accumulation when given 8-hourly, and to a variable extent depending on dose when administered 12-hourly. One study has demonstrated a modest dose-dependency for pharmacokinetics, with decreased clearance at higher doses. Fusidic acid is primarily eliminated by non-renal mechanisms, and a proportion of the drug is metabolised to seven or more breakdown products that can be detected in bile. Hypoalbuminaemia increases fusidic acid clearance, while clearance is decreased in the presence of severe cholestasis, and essentially unchanged in renal failure. Fusidic acid is highly protein-bound (91-98S), but has good penetration to a number of tissues including skin blisters, burns, infected bone and joints. Topical application of fusidic acid results in poor penetration through skin but good penetration into aqueous and vitreous humour. Little is known about the pharmacodynamics of fusidic acid, apart from the fact that it is slowly bactericidal against Staphylococcus aureus, and produces moderate post-antibiotic effects in vitro.

Aggregation behavior of bile salts in aqueous solution

Freezing point depression, delta T/k, and pNa are measured and analyzed for aqueous solutions of trihydroxy (NaTC) and dihydroxy (NaDC and NaTDC) bile salts. The results show the existence of break points in the plot of delta T/k vs molality at 0.018, 0.013, and 0.007 m, respectively, in good agreement with previous published critical micelle concentration values. Above the break point bile salts form aggregates with average aggregation numbers of 2.59 +/- 0.12 (NaTC), 5.82 +/- 0.04 (NaDC), and 5.42 +/- 0.47 (NaTDC). Fractions of bound counterions are also deduced, being close to 0.3 for the three bile salts studied. This indicates that only one counterion is bound for every three monomers in the aggregate. The different structural models published for the bile salt aggregates are discussed.