HP-β-CD for the formulation of IgG and Ig-based biotherapeutics

Investigation on the Combined Effect of Hydroxypropyl Beta-Cyclodextrin (HPβCD) and Polysorbate in Monoclonal Antibody Formulation

Monoclonal antibodies require careful formulation due to their inherent stability limitations. Polysorbates are commonly used to stabilize mAbs, but they are prone to degradation, which results in unwanted impurities. KLEPTOSE® HPβCD (hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin) has functioned as a stable stabilizer for protein formulations in our previous research. The current study investigates the collaborative impact of combining polysorbates and HPβCD as excipients in protein formulations. The introduction of HPβCD in formulations showed it considerably reduced aggregation in two model proteins, bevacizumab and ipilimumab, following exposure to various stress conditions. The diffusion interaction parameter revealed a reduction in protein-protein interactions by HPβCD. In bevacizumab formulations, the subvisible particle counts per 0.4 mL of samples in commercial formulations vs. formulations containing both HPβCD and polysorbates subjected to distinct stressors were as follows: agitation, 87,308 particles vs. 15,350 particles; light, 25,492 particles vs. 6765 particles; and heat, 1775 particles vs. 460 particles. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) measurement indicated a weak interaction between PS 80 and HPβCD, with a KD value of 74.7 ± 7.5 µM and binding sites of 5 × 10-3. Surface tension measurements illustrated that HPβCD enhanced the surface activity of polysorbates. The study suggests that combining these excipients can improve mAb stability in formulations, offering an alternative for the biopharmaceutical industry.

Celecoxib-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex in a chitosan/PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymer matrix: Structural effect and drug release

HYPOTHESIS

Triblock copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide)-based matrices, such as Poloxamer 407 (P407) or Pluronic® F127, are extensively utilized in drug delivery and permeation systems due to their FDA approval and listing in the US and European Pharmacopoeias. The study hypothesizes that incorporating 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) and the celecoxib-HP-β-CD inclusion complex into a 16 wt% P407 and chitosan blend in an aqueous acetic acid solution will affect the system's rheological and structural properties.

EXPERIMENTS

Rheological, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments were conducted to assess the impact of acetic acid and chitosan on the 16 wt% P407 and chitosan blend. Additionally, in vitro drug release studies were performed to monitor the drug release profile over time.

FINDINGS

The addition of HP-β-CD was found to inhibit gel formation in the 16 wt% P407 and chitosan blend. However, the presence of the celecoxib-HP-β-CD inclusion complex showed no significant structural effects compared to P407 blended with chitosan alone. Rheological and SAXS analyses demonstrated that acetic acid led to the formation of a lamellar phase due to the lower pH, facilitating injectability. The presence of chitosan in acetic acid resulted in the detection of a hexagonal phase, affecting the release of celecoxib.

Oxidation of polysorbates - An underestimated degradation pathway?

To ensure the stability of biologicals over their entire shelf-life, non-ionic surface-active compounds (surfactants) are added to protect biologics from denaturation and particle formation. In this context, polysorbate 20 and 80 are the most used detergents. Despite their benefits of low toxicity and high biocompatibility, specific factors are influencing the intrinsic stability of polysorbates, leading to degradation, loss in efficacy, or even particle formation. Polysorbate degradation can be categorized into chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis and oxidation. Under pharmaceutical relevant conditions, hydrolysis is commonly originated from host cell proteins, whereas oxidative degradation may be caused by multiple factors such as light, presence of residual metal traces, peroxides, or temperature, which can be introduced upon manufacturing or could be already present in the raw materials. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge on polysorbates with a focus on oxidative degradation. Subsequently, degradation products and key characteristics of oxidative-mediated polysorbate degradation in respect of different types and grades are summarized, followed by an extensive comparison between polysorbate 20 and 80. A better understanding of the radical-induced oxidative PS degradation pathway could support specific mitigation strategies. Finally, buffer conditions, various stressors, as well as appropriate mitigation strategies, reagents, and alternative stabilizers are discussed. Prior manufacturing, careful consideration and a meticulous risk-benefit analysis are highly recommended in terms of polysorbate qualities, buffers, storage conditions, as well as mitigation strategies.

Change in the Kinetic Regime of Aggregation of Yeast Alcohol Dehydrogenase in the Presence of 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin

Chemical chaperones are low-molecular-weight compounds that suppress protein aggregation. They can influence different stages of the aggregation process-the stage of protein denaturation, the nucleation stage and the stage of aggregate growth-and this may lead to a change in the aggregation kinetic regime. Here, the possibility of changing the kinetic regime in the presence of a chemical chaperone 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (2-HP-β-CD) was investigated for a test system based on the thermally induced aggregation of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (yADH) at 56 °C. According to differential scanning calorimetry data, 2-HP-β-CD did not affect the stage of the protein molecule unfolding. Dynamic light scattering data indicated changes in the aggregation kinetics of yADH during the nucleation and aggregate growth stages in the presence of the chaperone. The analysis of kinetic curves showed that the order of aggregation with respect to protein (nc), calculated for the stage of aggregate growth, changed from nc = 1 to nc = 2 with the addition of 100 mM 2-HP-β-CD. The mechanism of 2-HP-β-CD action on the yADH thermal aggregation leading to a change in its kinetic regime of aggregation is discussed.

Research progress of starch as microencapsulated wall material

Starch is non-toxic, low cost, and possesses good biocompatibility and biodegradability. As a natural polymer material, starch is an ideal choice for microcapsule wall materials. Starch-based microcapsules have a wide range of applications and application prospects in fields such as food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and others. This paper firstly reviews the commonly used wall materials and preparation methods of starch-based microcapsules. Then the effect of starch wall materials on microcapsule properties is introduced in detail. It is expected to provide researchers with design inspiration and ideas for the development of starch-based microcapsules. Next the applications of starch-based microcapsules in various fields are presented. Finally, the future trends of starch-based microcapsules are discussed. Molecular simulation, green chemistry, and solutions to the main problems faced by resistant starch microcapsules may be the future research trends of starch-based microcapsules.

Preparation and characterisation of linalool oil-in-water starch-based Pickering emulsions and the effects of the addition of cellulose nanocrystals on their stability

Creaming could be generated during storage of the starch-based Pickering emulsions. And cellulose nanocrystals in the solution are usually dispersed by relatively strong mechanical force, otherwise they may appear in the form of aggregates. In this work, we investigated the effects of cellulose nanocrystals on the stability of the starch-based Pickering emulsions. Results showed that the stability of Pickering emulsions was significantly improved by adding cellulose nanocrystals. Cellulose nanocrystals increased the viscosity, electrostatic repulsion and steric hindrance of the emulsions, which delayed the movement of droplets and obstructed the contact between droplets. This study provides new insights into the preparation and stabilisation of starch-based Pickering emulsions.

Impact of Different Saccharides on the In-Process Stability of a Protein Drug During Evaporative Drying: From Sessile Droplet Drying to Lab-Scale Spray Drying

OBJECTIVES

Solid biopharmaceutical products can circumvent lower temperature storage and transport and increase remote access with lower carbon emissions and energy consumption. Saccharides are known stabilizers in a solid protein produced via lyophilization and spray drying (SD). Thus, it is essential to understand the interactions between saccharides and proteins and the stabilization mechanism.

METHODS

A miniaturized single droplet drying (MD) method was developed to understand how different saccharides stabilize proteins during drying. We applied our MD to different aqueous saccharide-protein systems and transferred our findings to SD.

RESULTS

The poly- and oligosaccharides tend to destabilize the protein during drying. The oligosaccharide, Hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) shows high aggregation at a high saccharide-to-protein molar ratio (S/P ratio) during MD, and the finding is supported by nanoDSF results. The polysaccharide, Dextran (DEX) leads to larger particles, whereas HPBCD leads to smaller particles. Furthermore, DEX is not able to stabilize the protein at higher S/P ratios either. In contrast, the disaccharide Trehalose Dihydrate (TD) does not increase or induce protein aggregation during the drying of the formulation. It can preserve the protein's secondary structure during drying, already at low concentrations.

CONCLUSION

During the drying of S/P formulations containing the saccharides TD and DEX, the MD approach could anticipate the in-process (in) stability of protein X at laboratory-scale SD. In contrast, for the systems with HPβCD, the results obtained by SD were contradictory to MD. This underlines that depending on the drying operation, careful consideration needs to be applied to the selection of saccharides and their ratios.

Exploring the Protein Stabilizing Capability of Surfactants Against Agitation Stress and the Underlying Mechanisms

The application of surfactants in liquid protein formulation is a common practice to protect proteins from liquid-air interface-induced protein aggregation. Typically, Polysorbate 20 or 80 are used, but degradation of these surfactants can result in particle formation and/or protein degradation. The purpose of the current study was to directly compare three alternative protein stabilizing molecules - Poloxamer 188, hydroxypropyl-cyclodextrin and a trehalose-based surfactant - to Polysorbate 80 for their capacities to reduce agitation-induced protein aggregation and particle formation; and furthermore, investigate their underlying protein stabilizing mechanisms. To this end, a small-volume, rapid agitation stress approach was used to quantify the molecules' abilities to stabilize two model proteins. This assay was presented to be a powerful tool to screen the protein stabilizing capability of surfactants using minimum of material and time. SEC, turbidity measurements and particle analysis showed an efficient protein stabilization of all tested surfactants as well as cyclodextrin. STD-NMR and dynamic surface tension measurements indicated the competitive surface adsorption to be the main protein stabilizing mechanism of the three surfactants tested. It might also play a role to some extent in the protein stabilization by HPβCD. However, additional mechanisms might also contribute to protein stabilization leaving room for further investigations.

Alternative Excipients for Protein Stabilization in Protein Therapeutics: Overcoming the Limitations of Polysorbates

Given their safety and efficiency in protecting protein integrity, polysorbates (PSs) have been the most widely used excipients for the stabilization of protein therapeutics for years. In recent decades, however, there have been numerous reports about visible or sub-visible particles in PS-containing biotherapeutic products, which is a major quality concern for parenteral drugs. Alternative excipients that are safe for parenteral administration, efficient in protecting different protein drugs against various stress conditions, effective in protein stabilization in high-concentrated liquid formulations, stable under the storage conditions for the duration of the product's shelf-life, and compatible with other formulation components and the primary packaging are highly sought after. The aim of this paper is to review potential alternative excipients from different families, including surfactants, carbohydrate- and amino acid-based excipients, synthetic amphiphilic polymers, and ionic liquids that enable protein stabilization. For each category, important characteristics such as the ability to stabilize proteins against thermal and mechanical stresses, current knowledge related to the safety profile for parenteral administration, potential interactions with other formulation components, and primary packaging are debated. Based on the provided information and the detailed discussion thereof, this paper may pave the way for the identification or development of efficient excipients for biotherapeutic protein stabilization.

Polysorbates versus Hydroxypropyl Beta-Cyclodextrin (HPβCD): Comparative Study on Excipient Stability and Stabilization Benefits on Monoclonal Antibodies

Polysorbates (PS 20 and PS 80) are the most widely used surfactants in biopharmaceutical formulations to protect proteins from denaturation, aggregation, and surface adsorption. To date, around 70% of marketed therapeutic antibodies contain either PS 20 or PS 80 in their formulations. However, polysorbates are chemically diverse mixtures, which are prone to degradation by oxidation and hydrolysis to produce peroxides and fatty acids, which, in turn, induce protein oxidation, aggregation, and insoluble particle formation. These will negatively impact protein quality and stability. Thus, polysorbate degradation has emerged as one of the major challenges in the development and commercialization of therapeutic protein products. KLEPTOSE^® HPβCD (hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin), a new multifunctional excipient, has been shown to provide protein stabilization functions in biopharmaceutical downstream processes and in their final formulations. This study aims to evaluate HPβCD, a new molecule of its class, against polysorbates as a stabilizer in biologics formulations. In this study, the chemical stability of KLEPTOSE^® HPβCDs is compared with polysorbates (20 and 80) under various stress conditions. When subjected to heat stress, HPβCDs show little change in product recovery (90.7–100.7% recovery for different HPβCDs), while polysorbates 20 and 80 show significant degradation, with only 11.5% and 7.3% undegraded product remaining, respectively. When subjected to other chemical stressors, namely, autoclave, light, and oxidative stresses, HPβCD remains almost stable, while polysorbates show more severe degradation, with 95.5% to 98.8% remaining for polysorbate 20 and 85.5% to 97.4% remaining for polysorbate 80. Further, profiling characterization and degradation analysis reveal that chemical structures of HPβCDs remain intact, while polysorbates undergo significant hydrolytic degradation and oxidation. Lastly, the physicochemical stability of monoclonal antibodies in formulations is investigated. When subjected to light stress, adalimumab, as a model mAb, formulated in the presence of HPβCD, shows a significant decrease in protein aggregation, and superior monomer and total protein recovery compared to PS 80-containing formulations. HPβCD also reduces both agitation and thermal stress-induced protein aggregation and prevents subvisible particle formation compared to PS 80.

Hydroxylpropyl-β-cyclodextrin as Potential Excipient to Prevent Stress-Induced Aggregation in Liquid Protein Formulations

Due to the growing demand for patient-friendly subcutaneous dosage forms, the ability to increasing protein solubility and stability in formulations to deliver on the required high protein concentrations is crucial. A common approach to ensure protein solubility and stability in high concentration protein formulations is the addition of excipients such as sugars, amino acids, surfactants, approved by the Food and Drug Administration. In a best-case scenario, these excipients fulfil multiple demands simultaneously, such as increasing long-term stability of the formulation, reducing protein adsorption on surfaces/interfaces, and stabilizing the protein against thermal or mechanical stress. 2-Hydroxylpropyl-β-cyclodextrin (derivative of β-cyclodextrin) holds this potential, but has not yet been sufficiently investigated for use in protein formulations. Within this work, we have systematically investigated the relevant molecular interactions to identify the potential of Kleptose^®HPB (2-hydroxylpropyl-β-cyclodextrin from Roquette Freres, Lestrem, France) as “multirole” excipient within liquid protein formulations. Based on our results three factors determine the influence of Kleptose^®HPB on protein formulation stability: (1) concentration of Kleptose^®HPB, (2) protein type and protein concentration, and (3) quality of the protein formulation. Our results not only contribute to the understanding of the relevant interactions but also enable the target-oriented use of Kleptose^®HPB within formulation design.

Cyclodextrin-based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for the determination of fungicides in water, juice, and vinegar samples via HPLC

Cyclodextrin-based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (CD-DLLME) was developed for the determination of triazole and strobilurin fungicides in water, juice, and vinegar samples using high-performance liquid chromatography-diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD). Undecanol, which is a green solvent, was selected as the extraction solvent. A cyclodextrin aqueous solution was chosen as the dispersion solvent and demulsifier to avoid the use of a toxic dispersion solvent and eliminate the centrifugation step. Dispersion and phase separation were completed within 1 and 60 s, respectively. The linear range of this method was 1 to 100 µg L^-1. The limits of detection were 0.3 μg L^-1 along with the preconcentration factor of 133 and enrichment factor of 124. The recovery was 83.2% to 103.2%. This pretreatment method was fast, simple, and environmentally friendly and was successfully applied to the analysis of triazole and strobilurin fungicide residues in water, juice, and vinegar samples.

Cyclodextrins in the antiviral therapy

The main antiviral drug-cyclodextrin interactions, changes in physicochemical and physiological properties of the most commonly used virucides are summarized. The potential complexation of antiviral molecules against the SARS-Cov2 also pointed out the lack of detailed information in designing effective and general medicines against viral infections. The principal problem of the current molecules is the 3D structures of the currently active compounds. Improving the solubility or bioavailability of antiviral molecules is possible, however, there is no universal solution, and the complexation experiments dominantly use the already approved cyclodextrin derivatives. This review discusses the basic properties of the different cyclodextrin derivatives, their potential in antiviral formulations, and the prevention and treatment of viral infections. The biologically active new cyclodextrin derivatives are also discussed.