Bypassing P-glycoprotein mediated efflux of afatinib by cyclodextrin complexation – Evaluation of intestinal absorption and anti-cancer activity

Continuously producible aztreonam-loaded inhalable lipid nanoparticles for cystic fibrosis-associated Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections - Development and in-vitro characterization

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder affecting nearly 105,000 patients worldwide and is characterized by poor respiratory function due to accumulation of thick mucus in the lungs, which not just acts as a physical barrier, but also provides a breeding ground for bacterial infections. These infections can be controlled with the help of antibiotics which can be delivered directly into the lungs for amplifying the local anti-bacterial effect. More than 50 % of CF patients are associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in their lungs which requires antibiotics such as Aztreonam (AZT). In this study, we prepared inhalable AZT-loaded lipid nanoparticles using Hot-melt extrusion (HME) coupled with probe sonication to target Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in the lungs. The optimized nanoparticles were tested for physicochemical properties, stability profile, in-vitro aerosolization, and antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The optimized nanoparticles with a PEI concentration of 0.1 % demonstrated a uniform particle size of <50 nm, a spherical shape observed under a transmission electron microscope, and >70 % drug entrapment. Incorporating cationic polymer, PEI, resulted in sustained drug release from the lipid nanoparticles. The in-vitro aerosolization studies exhibited a mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of <4.3 μm, suggesting deposition of the nanoparticles in the respirable airway. The antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed the minimum inhibitory concentration of the formulation is 2-fold lower than plain AZT. Stability profile showed the formulations are stable after exposure to accelerated conditions. In conclusion, hot-melt extrusion in combination with probe sonication can be used as a potential method for the continuous production of AZT-loaded lipid nanoparticles with enhanced anti-bacterial activity.

Chitosan/bovine serum albumin layer-by-layer assembled particles for non-invasive inhaled drug delivery to the lungs

Layer-by-Layer (LbL) assembly of polyelectrolytes on a solid core particle is a well-established technique used to deliver drugs, proteins, regenerative medicines, combinatorial therapy, etc. It is a multifunctional delivery system which can be engineered using various core template particles and coating polymers. This study reports the development and in-vitro evaluation of LbL assembled particles for non-invasive inhaled delivery to the lungs. The LbL assembled particles were prepared by successively coating polyelectrolyte macromolecules, glycol chitosan and bovine serum albumin on 0.5- and 4.5-μm polystyrene particles. The LbL assembly of polyelectrolytes was confirmed by reversible change in zeta potential and sequential increase in the particle size after accumulation of the layer. The prepared LbL particles were further assessed for aerodynamic properties using two distinct nebulizers, and toxicity assessment in normal lung cells. The in-vitro aerosolization study performed using next generation impactor coupled with Pari LC Plus and Aeroeclipse nebulizer showed that both the LbL assembled 0.5 and 4.5-μm particles had MMAD <5 μm confirming suitable aerodynamic properties for non-invasive lung delivery. The in-vitro cytotoxicity, and TEER integrity following treatment with the LbL assembled particles in normal lung epithelial and fibroblasts showed no significant cytotoxicity rendering the LbL assembled particles safe. This study extends the efficiency of LbL assembled particles for novel applications towards delivery of small and large molecules into the lungs.

Chitosan and Anionic Solubility Enhancer Sulfobutylether-β-Cyclodextrin-Based Nanoparticles as Dexamethasone Ophthalmic Delivery System for Anti-Inflammatory Therapy

Cataract surgery interventions are constantly increasing, particularly among adult and elderly patients. This type of surgery can lead to inflammatory states of the ocular anterior segment (AS), usually healed via postoperative treatment with dexamethasone (DEX)-containing eye drops. The application of eye drops is challenging due to the high number of daily administrations. In this study, mucoadhesive nanoparticles (NPs) were formulated to improve the residence time of DEX on the corneal mucosa, enhancing the drug's solubility and bioavailability. The NPs were generated using an ionotropic gelation technique, exploiting the interaction between the cationic group of chitosan (CS) and the anionic group of sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD). The formation of the inclusion complex and its stoichiometry were studied through phase solubility studies, Job's plot method, and Bi-directional transport studies on MDCKII-MDR1. The obtained NPs showed good chemical and physical characteristics suitable for drug loading and subsequent testing on animal mucosa. The DEX-loaded CS/SBE-β-CD NPs exhibited a prolonged residence time on animal mucosa and demonstrated enhanced drug permeability through the corneal membrane, showing a sustained release profile. The developed NPs posed no irritation or toxicity concerns upon local administration, making them an optimal and innovative drug delivery system for inflammatory AS diseases treatment.

Multi-armed antibiotics for Gram-positive bacteria

Antibiotic resistance is a serious threat to public health. Here, we propose a multi-armed chemical scaffold (MACS) for antibiotic screening, which refers to multi-armed molecules (MAMs) consisting of a core unit and three or four arms, neither of which is active for pathogens. Based on a structure-activity relationship study of MAMs, we discover a class of multi-armed antibiotics (MAAs) with a core similar to ethylene (E), carbon atom (C), benzene (B), nitrogen atom (N), and triazine (T) and three or four 4-phenylbenzoic acid (PBA) arms, or a B core and three 4-vinylbenzoic acid (VBA) or 4-ethynylbenzoic acid (EBA) arms. They can selectively interact with Gram-positive bacteria and inhibit cell wall assembly by targeting the lipid carriers of cell wall biosynthesis. MAAs have excellent antibacterial activities against Gram-positive bacteria, including clinical multi-drug-resistant (MDR) isolates. Our study provides a chemical scaffold and identifies eight antibacterial lead compounds for the development of antibiotics.

Recent Advances in Boosting EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors-Based Cancer Therapy

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a key role in signal transduction pathways associated with cell proliferation, growth, and survival. Its overexpression and aberrant activation in malignancy correlate with poor prognosis and short survival. Targeting inhibition of EGFR by small-molecular tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is emerging as an important treatment model besides of chemotherapy, greatly reshaping the landscape of cancer therapy. However, they are still challenged by the off-targeted toxicity, relatively limited cancer types, and drug resistance after long-term therapy. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of oral, pulmonary, and injectable drug delivery systems for enhanced and targeting TKI delivery to tumors and reduced side effects. Importantly, EGFR-TKI-based combination therapies not only greatly broaden the applicable cancer types of EGFR-TKI but also significantly improve the anticancer effect. The mechanisms of TKI resistance are summarized, and current strategies to overcome TKI resistance as well as the application of TKI in reversing chemotherapy resistance are discussed. Finally, we provide a perspective on the future research of EGFR-TKI-based cancer therapy.

Cyclodextrin-Based Arsenal for Anti-Cancer Treatments

Anti-cancer drugs are mostly limited in their use due to poor physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties. Their lower solubility is the most common hurdle limiting their use upto their potential. In the recent years, the cyclodextrin (CD) complexation have emerged as existing approach to overcome the problem of poor solubility. CD-based nano-technological approaches are safe, stable and showed well in vivo tolerance and greater payload for encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs for the targeted delivery. They are generally chosen due to their ability to get self-assembled to form liposomes, nanoparticles, micelles and nano-sponges etc. This review paper describes a birds-eye view of the various CD-based nano-technological approaches applied for the delivery of anti-cancer moieties to the desired target such as CD based liposomes, niosomes, niosoponges, micelles, nanoparticles, monoclonal antibody, magnetic nanoparticles, small interfering RNA, nanorods, miscellaneous formulation of anti-cancer drugs containing CD. Moreover, the author also summarizes the various shortcomings of such a system and their way ahead.

Hispolon Cyclodextrin Complexes and Their Inclusion in Liposomes for Enhanced Delivery in Melanoma Cell Lines

Hispolon, a phenolic pigment isolated from the mushroom species Phellinus linteus, has been investigated for anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties; however, low solubility and poor bioavailability have limited its potential clinical translation. In this study, the inclusion complex of hispolon with Sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBEβCD) was characterized, and the Hispolon-SBEβCD Complex (HSC) was included within the sterically stabilized liposomes (SL) to further investigate its anticancer activity against melanoma cell lines. The HSC-trapped-Liposome (HSC-SL) formulation was investigated for its sustained drug delivery and enhanced cytotoxicity. The inclusion complex in the solid=state was confirmed by a Job’s plot analysis, molecular modeling, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The HSC-SL showed no appreciable deviation in size (<150 nm) and polydispersity index (<0.2) and improved drug encapsulation efficiency (>90%) as compared to control hispolon liposomes. Individually incorporated hispolon and SBEβCD in the liposomes (H-CD-SL) was not significant in loading the drug in the liposomes, compared to HSC-SL, as a substantial amount of free drug was separated during dialysis. The HSC-SL formulation showed a sustained release compared to hispolon liposomes (H-SLs) and Hispolon-SBEβCD liposomes (H-CD-SLs). The anticancer activity on melanoma cell lines (B16BL6) of HSC and HSC-SL was higher than in H-CD-SL and hispolon solution. These findings suggest that HSC inclusion in the HSC-SL liposomes stands out as a potential formulation approach for enhancing drug loading, encapsulation, and chemotherapeutic efficiency of hispolon and similar water insoluble drug molecules.

An Updated Overview of Cyclodextrin-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy

Encompassing a group of complex and heterogeneous diseases, cancer continues to be a challenge for patients and healthcare systems worldwide. Thus, it is of vital importance to develop advanced treatment strategies that could reduce the trends of cancer-associated morbidity and mortality rates. Scientists have focused on creating performant delivery vehicles for anti-cancer agents. Among the possible materials, cyclodextrins (CDs) attracted increasing interest over the past few years, leading to the emergence of promising anti-tumor nanomedicines. Tackling their advantageous chemical structure, ease of modification, natural origin, biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and commercial availability, researchers investigated CD-based therapeutical formulations against many types of cancer. In this respect, in this paper, we briefly present the properties of interest of CDs for designing performant nanocarriers, further reviewing some of the most recent potential applications of CD-based delivery systems in cancer management.

An Updated Overview of Cyclodextrin-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapy

Encompassing a group of complex and heterogeneous diseases, cancer continues to be a challenge for patients and healthcare systems worldwide. Thus, it is of vital importance to develop advanced treatment strategies that could reduce the trends of cancer-associated morbidity and mortality rates. Scientists have focused on creating performant delivery vehicles for anti-cancer agents. Among the possible materials, cyclodextrins (CDs) attracted increasing interest over the past few years, leading to the emergence of promising anti-tumor nanomedicines. Tackling their advantageous chemical structure, ease of modification, natural origin, biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and commercial availability, researchers investigated CD-based therapeutical formulations against many types of cancer. In this respect, in this paper, we briefly present the properties of interest of CDs for designing performant nanocarriers, further reviewing some of the most recent potential applications of CD-based delivery systems in cancer management.

Development and characterization of inhalable transferrin functionalized amodiaquine nanoparticles - Efficacy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) treatment

New drug discovery and development processes encounter significant challenges including requirement of huge investments and lengthy time frames especially in cancer research field. Repurposing of old drugs against cancer provides a possible alternative while associated scale-up complexities with production of nanoparticles at industrial scale could be overcome by using a scalable nanoparticle technique. We previously described use of polymeric nanoparticles for inhaled delivery of amodiaquine (AQ) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. In this study, targeting potential of transferrin ligand conjugated inhalable AQ-loaded nanoparticles (Tf-AMQ NPs) was investigated against NSCLC. Tf-AMQ NP (liquid formulation) demonstrated an aerodynamic diameter of 4.4 ± 0.1 µm and fine particle fraction of 83.2 ± 3.0%, representing AQ deposition in the respirable region of airways. Cytotoxicity studies in NSCLC cell line with overexpressed transferrin receptors shown significant reduction in IC₅₀ values with Tf-decorated AQ-loaded nanoparticles compared to AQ or non-targeted NPs, along with significant apoptosis induction (caspase assay) and reduced % colony growth in A549 and H1299 cells with Tf-AMQ NP. Furthermore, 3D spheroid studies (~7-fold reduction in spheroid volume compared to AMQ NPs) explained efficiency of conjugated nanoparticles in penetrating tumor core, and growth inhibition. AQ's autophagy inhibition ability significantly increased with nanoparticle encapsulation and transferrin conjugation. In conclusion, amodiaquine can be an assuring candidate for repurposing to consider for NSCLC treatment while delivering inhalable transferrin conjugated nanoparticles developed using a scalable HPH process to the target site, thus reducing the dose, side effects.

Repurposing Bedaquiline for Effective Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Therapy as Inhalable Cyclodextrin-Based Molecular Inclusion Complexes

There is growing evidence that repurposed drugs demonstrate excellent efficacy against many cancers, while facilitating accelerated drug development process. In this study, bedaquiline (BDQ), an FDA approved anti-mycobacterial agent, was repurposed and an inhalable cyclodextrin complex formulation was developed to explore its anti-cancer activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A sulfobutyl ether derivative of β-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD) was selected based on phase solubility studies and molecular modeling to prepare an inclusion complex of BDQ and cyclodextrin. Aqueous solubility of BDQ was increased by 2.8 × 10³-fold after complexation with SBE-β-CD, as compared to its intrinsic solubility. Solid-state characterization studies confirmed the successful incorporation of BDQ in the SBE-β-CD cavity. In vitro lung deposition study results demonstrated excellent inhalable properties (mass median aerodynamic diameter: 2.9 ± 0.6 µm (<5 µm) and fine particle fraction: 83.3 ± 3.8%) of BDQ-CD complex. Accelerated stability studies showed BDQ-CD complex to be stable up to 3 weeks. From cytotoxicity studies, a slight enhancement in the anti-cancer efficacy was observed with BDQ-cyclodextrin complex, compared to BDQ alone in H1299 cell line. The IC₅₀ values for BDQ and BDQ-CD complex were found to be ~40 µM in case of H1299 cell line at 72 h, whereas BDQ/BDQ-CD were not found to be cytotoxic up to concentrations of 50 µM in A549 cell line. Taken together, BDQ-CD complex offers a promising inhalation strategy with efficient lung deposition and cytotoxicity for NSCLC treatment.