β-Cyclodextrin modifications as related to enzyme stability in dehydrated systems: Supramolecular transitions and molecular interactions

Science and art of protein formulation development

Protein pharmaceuticals have become a significant class of marketed drug products and are expected to grow steadily over the next decade. Development of a commercial protein product is, however, a rather complex process. A critical step in this process is formulation development, enabling the final product configuration. A number of challenges still exist in the formulation development process. This review is intended to discuss these challenges, to illustrate the basic formulation development processes, and to compare the options and strategies in practical formulation development.

Application of cyclodextrins in antibody microparticles: potentials for antibody protection in spray drying

OBJECTIVES

Dry powder formulations are extensively used to improve the stability of antibodies. Spray drying is one of important methods for protein drying. This study investigated the effects of trehalose, hydroxypropyl beta cyclodextrin (HPBCD) and beta cyclodextrin (BCD) on the stability and particle properties of spray-dried IgG.

METHODS

D-optimal design was employed for both experimental design and analysis and optimization of the variables. The size and aerodynamic behavior of particles were determined using laser light scattering and glass twin impinger, respectively. In addition, stability, ratio of beta sheets and morphology of antibody were analyzed using size exclusion chromatography, IR spectroscopy and electron microscopy, respectively.

RESULTS

Particle properties and antibody stability were significantly improved in the presence of HPBCD. In addition, particle aerodynamic behavior, in terms of fine-particle fraction (FPF), enhanced up to 52.23%. Furthermore, antibody was better preserved not only during spray drying, but also during long-term storage. In contrast, application of BCD resulted in the formation of larger particles. Although trehalose caused inappropriate aerodynamic property, it efficiently decreased antibody aggregation.

CONCLUSION

HPBCD is an efficient excipient for the development of inhalable protein formulations. In this regard, optimal particle property and antibody stability was obtained with proper combination of cyclodextrins and simple sugars, such as trehalose.

Polyethylene glycol-based low generation dendrimers functionalized with β-cyclodextrin as cryo- and dehydro-protectant of catalase formulations

Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based low generation dendrimers are analyzed as single excipient or combined with trehalose in relation to their structure and efficiency as enzyme stabilizers during freeze-thawing, freeze-drying, and thermal treatment. A novel functional dendrimer (DGo -CD) based on the known PEG's ability as cryo-protector and β-CD as supramolecular stabilizing agent is presented. During freeze-thawing, PEG and β-CD failed to prevent catalase denaturation, while dendrimers, and especially DGo -CD, offered the better protection to the enzyme. During freeze-drying, trehalose was the best protective additive but DGo -CD provided also an adequate catalase stability showing a synergistic behavior in comparison to the activities recovered employing PEG or β-CD as unique additives. Although all the studied dendrimers improved the enzyme remaining activity during thermal treatment of freeze-dried formulations, the presence of amorphous trehalose was critical to enhance enzyme stability. The crystallinity of the protective matrix, either of PEG derivatives or of trehalose, negatively affected catalase stability in the freeze-dried systems. When humidified at 52% of relative humidity, the dendrimers delayed trehalose crystallization in the combined matrices, allowing extending the protection at those conditions in which normally trehalose fails. The results show how a relatively simple covalent combination of a polymer such as PEG with β-CD could significantly affect the properties of the individual components. Also, the results provide further insights about the role played by polymer-enzyme supramolecular interactions (host-guest crosslink, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic interactions) on enzyme stability in dehydrated models, being the effect on the stabilization also influenced by the physical state of the matrix.