Complex dendrimer-lyotropic liquid crystalline systems: structural behavior and interactions

The Evaluations of Menthol and Propylene Glycol on the Transdermal Delivery System of Dual Drug-Loaded Lyotropic Liquid Crystalline Gels

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of two different structural alcohol permeation enhancers (menthol and propylene glycol) on the internal structure and in vitro properties of the dual drug-loaded lyotropic liquid crystalline (LLC) gels. The LLC gels were prepared and characterized by polarized light microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, differential scanning calorimetry, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectrum, and rheology. Based on the results, the inner structure of the gels was Q_II mesophase and exhibited a pseudoplastic fluid behavior. The level of internal order in the LLC mesophase would be affected by introduced 2 wt% menthol (MEN) and propylene glycol (PG). The in vitro release experiment showed that the release behavior of sinomenine hydrochloride (SH) and cinnamaldehyde (CA) from the LLC system was dominated by Fickian diffusion (n < 0.43). MEN and PG had the opposite effects on the release of hydrophilic SH, while the MEN and PG both increased the release of lipophilic drug CA. Furthermore, in vitro permeation studies indicated that MEN and PG could both improve the skin permeability of SH and CA, and MEN displayed more pronounced enhancement. All the samples showed no skin irritation on the normal rat skin. Collectively, in our research, monoterpenoid MEN exhibited a better penetration-promoting effect than straight-chain fatty alcohol PG on the dual drug-loaded LLC system.

A Novel Phytantriol-Based Lyotropic Liquid Crystalline Gel for Efficient Ophthalmic Delivery of Pilocarpine Nitrate

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the potential of liquid crystalline (LC) gels for ophthalmic delivery, so as to enhance the bioavailability of pilocarpine nitrate (PN). The gels were prepared by a vortex method using phytantriol and water (in the ratio of 73:27 w/w). Their inner structures were confirmed by crossed polarized light microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectrum, and rheology. The in vitro release studies revealed that PN could keep sustained release from the gels over a period of 12 h. The ex vivo apparent permeability coefficient of the gels demonstrated a 3.83-folds (P < 0.05) increase compared with that of eye drops. The corneal hydration levels of the gel maintained in the normal range of 79.46 ± 2.82%, hinting that the gel could be considered non-damaging and safe to the eyes. Furthermore, in vivo residence time evaluation suggested that a better retention performance of LC gel was observed in rabbit's eyes compared to eye drops. In vivo ocular irritation study indicated that LC gel was nonirritant and might be suitable for various eye applications. In conclusion, LC gels might represent a potential ophthalmic delivery strategy to overcome the limitations of eye drops.

Characterization of Lipid-Based Lyotropic Liquid Crystal and Effects of Guest Molecules on Its Microstructure: a Systematic Review

Liquid crystals (LCs) are conventionally divided into thermotropic or lyotropic, based on the organization and sequence of the controlled molecular system. Lipid-based lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC), such as lamellar (Lα), bicontinuous cubic (Q_II), or hexagonal (H_II) phases, have attracted wide interest in the last few decades due to their practical potential in diverse applications and notable structural complexity. Various guest molecules, such as biopharmaceuticals, chemicals, and additives, can be solubilized in either aqueous or oily phase. And the LLC microstructure can be altered to affect the rate of drug release eventually. To utilize these microstructural variations to adjust the drug release in drug delivery system (DDS), it is crucial to understand the structure variations of the LLC caused by different types of guest molecules. Therefore, in this article, we review the effect of guest molecules on lipid-based LLC microstructures. In particular, we focus on the different characterization methods to evaluate this change caused by guest substances, such as polarized light microscopy (PLM), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), self-diffusion nuclear magnetic resonance (SD-NMR), and so on.

Dynamics of different steps of the photopyrolytic cycle of an eminent anticancer drug topotecan inside biocompatible lyotropic liquid crystalline systems

Dynamics of different steps of photopyrolytic processes of an eminent anticancer drug topotecan have been investigated inside different lyotropic liquid crystalline systems.

Converting Nonliquid Crystals into Liquid Crystals by N-Methylation in the Central Linker of Triazine-Based Dendrimers

Two triazine-based dendrimers were successfully prepared in 60-75% yields. These newly prepared dendrimers 2a and 2b containing the -NMe(CH2)2NMe- and the -NMe(CH2)4NMe- linkers between two G3 dendrons, respectively, exhibit columnar phases during the thermal process. However, the corresponding dendrimers 1a and 1b containing the -NH(CH2)2NH- and the -NH(CH2)4NH- linkers between two G3 dendrons, respectively, do not show any LC phases on thermal treatment. Computational investigations on molecular conformations reveal that N-methylation of the dendritic central linker leads dendrimers to possess more isomeric conformations and thus successfully converts non-LC dendrimers (1a and 1b) into LC dendrimers (2a and 2b).

An Unconventional Approach to Induce Liquid-Crystalline Phases of Triazine-Based Dendrons by Breaking Their Self-Assembly into Dimers

Three triazine-based dendrons (1 a-c) were successfully prepared in 70-83 % yields. These newly prepared dendrons are found to be liquid crystalline (LC). Computational investigations on molecular conformations and dipoles of triazine-based dendrons reveal that the substituent on the central triazine unit interrupts strong dipole or H-bond interactions to avoid dimeric formation. The obtained dendrons, not favouring self-assembly into dimers but showing LC behaviours, provides evidence for an approach contrary to the conventional method of inducing LC behaviours of dendrons by dimer or trimer formation, mostly through H-bond interactions.

Solvation Dynamics in Different Phases of the Lyotropic Liquid Crystalline System

Reverse hexagonal (HII) liquid crystalline material based on glycerol monooleate (GMO) is considered as a potential carrier for drugs and other important biomolecules due to its thermotropic phase change and excellent morphology. In this work, the dynamics of encapsulated water, which plays important role in stabilization and formation of reverse hexagonal mesophase, has been investigated by time dependent Stokes shift method using Coumarin-343 as a solvation probe. The formation of the reverse hexagonal mesophase (HII) and transformation to the L2 phase have been monitored using small-angle X-ray scattering and polarized light microscopy experiments. REES studies suggest the existence of different polar regions in both HII and L2 systems. The solvation dynamics study inside the reverse hexagonal (HII) phase reveals the existence of two different types of water molecules exhibiting dynamics on a 120-900 ps time scale. The estimated diffusion coefficients of both types of water molecules obtained from the observed dynamics are in good agreement with the measured diffusion coefficient collected from the NMR study. The calculated activation energy is found to be 2.05 kcal/mol, which is associated with coupled rotational-translational water relaxation dynamics upon the transition from "bound" to "quasi-free" state. The observed ∼2 ns faster dynamics of the L2 phase compared to the HII phase may be associated with both the phase transformation as well as thermotropic effect on the relaxation process. Microviscosities calculated from time-resolved anisotropy studies infer that the interface is almost ∼22 times higher viscous than the central part of the cylinder. Overall, our results reveal the unique dynamical features of water inside the cylinder of reverse hexagonal and inverse micellar phases.

Dendrimer-stabilized smart-nanoparticle (DSSN) platform for targeted delivery of hydrophobic antitumor therapeutics

PURPOSE

To formulate dendrimer-stabilized smart-nanoparticle (DSSN; pD-ANP-f) for the targeted delivery of the highly hydrophobic anticancer drug, Paclitaxel (PTXL).

METHOD

The developed nanoformulations were evaluated for particle size, surface-charge, loading efficiency, particle density, in-vitro drug release, SEM/TEM, cytotoxicity assay, fluorescence uptake, HPLC quantitative cell uptake assay, flow cytometry, tubulin polymerization, and stability assessments.

RESULTS

The developed pD-ANP-f nanoformulation (135.17 ± 7.39 nm; -2.05 ± 0.37 mV and 80.11 ± 4.39% entrapment) exhibited a pH-dependent drug release; remained stable in physiological pH, while rapid releasing PTXL under tumorous environment (pH 5.5). The cytotoxicity assay performed in cervical, breast, blood, and liver cancer cell lines showed pD-ANP-f to be strongly suppressing the growth of cancer cells. We investigated the fluorescence based intracellular trafficking and HPLC based cellular uptake of nanoformulated drug and the result indicates higher cellular uptake of pD-ANP-f compared to other formulations. pD-ANP-f prominently induced apoptosis (73.11 ± 3.84%) and higher polymerization of tubulins (59.73 ± 6.22%). DSSN nanoformulation was found to be extremely biocompatible (<1% hemolytic) compared to naked PTXL (19.22 ± 1.01%) as well as PTXL-dendrimer nanocomplex (8.29 ± 0.71%).

CONCLUSION

DSSN strategy is a novel and promising platform for biomedical applications that can be effectively engaged for the delivery of drug/gene/siRNA targeting.

Key Factors Regulating the Mass Delivery of Macromolecules to Model Cell Membranes: Gravity and Electrostatics

We show that both gravity and electrostatics are key factors regulating interactions between model cell membranes and self-assembled liquid crystalline aggregates of dendrimers and phospholipids. The system is a proxy for the trafficking of reservoirs of therapeutic drugs to cell membranes for slow diffusion and continuous delivery. Neutron reflectometry measurements were carried out on supported lipid bilayers of varying charge and on hydrophilic silica surfaces. Translocation of the macromolecule across the membrane and adsorption of the lamellar aggregates occur only when the membrane (1) is located above the bulk liquid and (2) has sufficient negative charge. The impact of such dramatic directionality effects due to bulk phase separation and gravity is emphasized for future biochemical investigations. Further, the potential to switch on the interaction mechanism through tuning the charge of the aggregates to activate endocytosis pathways on specific cell types is discussed in the context of targeted drug delivery applications.

Structural characterization of lyotropic liquid crystals containing a dendrimer for solubilization and release of gallic acid

The role of 2nd generation polypropyleneimine (PPIG2) dendrimer in controlling the release of gallic acid (GA) as a model drug from lyotropic liquid crystal was explored. GA (0.2wt%) was solubilized in three types of mesophases: lamellar (Lα), cubic (space group of Ia3d, Q(G)), and reverse hexagonal (HII), composed of GMO and water (and d-α-tocopherol, or tricaprylin in the case of HII mesophases). Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) along with UV spectrophotometry were utilized to elucidate the structure modifications and release resulting from the cosolubilization of GA and PPIG2. Solubilization of PPIG2 into Lα and Q(G) phases caused transformation of both structures to HII. The diffusion of GA out of the mesophases was found to be dependent on water content and PPIG2 concentration. Rapid release from Lα+PPIG2 and Q(G)+PPIG2 mesophases was recorded. The release from both HII mixtures (with d-α-tocopherol and tricaprylin) was shown to be dependent on the type of oil. Release studies conducted for 72h showed that GA release can be modulated and sustained by the presence of PPIG2, supposedly due to the electrostatic interactions between the dendrimer and the drug molecule.