Cyclodextrin/weak-electrolyte complexation: interpretation and estimation of association constants from phase solubility diagrams

Cytomegalovirus protease targeted prodrug development

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a prevalent virus that infects up to 90% of the population. The goal of this research is to determine if small molecular prodrug substrates can be developed for a specific HCMV encoded protease and thus achieve site-specific activation. HCMV encodes a 256 amino acid serine protease that is responsible for capsid assembly, an essential process for herpes virus production. The esterase activity of the more stable HCMV A143T/A144T protease mutant was evaluated with model p-nitrophenol (ONp) esters, Boc-Xaa-ONp (Ala, Leu, Ile, Val, Gln, Phe at the Xaa position). We demonstrate that the A143T/A144T mutant has esterase activity toward specific small ester compounds, e.g., Boc-l-Ala-ONp. Mono amino acid and dipeptide prodrugs of ganciclovir (GCV) were also synthesized and evaluated for hydrolysis by the A143T/A144T protease mutant in solution. Hydrolysis of these prodrugs was also evaluated in Caco-2 cell homogenates, human liver microsomes (HLMs), and rat and human plasma. For the selectivity potential of the prodrugs, the hydrolysis ratio was evaluated as a percentage of prodrug hydrolyzed by the HCMV protease over the percentages of prodrug hydrolyses by Caco-2 cell homogenates, HLMs, and human/rat plasma. A dipeptide prodrug of ganciclovir, Ac-l-Gln-l-Ala-GCV, emerged as a potential selective prodrug candidate. The results of this research demonstrate that targeting prodrugs for activation by a specific protease encoded by the infectious HCMV pathogen may be achievable.

Developing early formulations: Practice and perspective

Early formulations are prepared mostly for drug compounds at both discovery and preclinical stages and are used to animals via various routes such as oral and intravenous dosing. They serve the purpose of evaluating these compounds on a broad range of pharmaceutical interests, notably pharmacology (activity/efficacy), pharmacokinetics (PK), and toxicology. It is estimated that approx. 40% of all drug compounds discovered have certain delivery limitations due to poor solubility or poor bioavailability. This brings tremendous challenges to the scientists working in the field of early formulations. This study intends to cover a broad spectrum of early formulations including basic aspect and development aspect. On basic aspect, it summarized early formulation study purpose, objectives, dosing route, animal species, etc. It then evaluated a variety of dosage forms and solubility enhancement approaches including various solutions, suspensions, lipid-based formulations, solid dispersions, etc. On development aspect, this study broadly reviewed literatures and current practice in the field, the issues and challenges. It offered authors' own approaches and strategies including general development schemes for oral and for i.v., recommended excipient use range for oral and for i.v., experimental procedures for vitro serial dilution method, for kinetic solubility, etc. The study also discussed a number of case analyses and emphasized scientific rationales and experimental approaches in each of them. The study concluded with authors' summary and some comments on early formulation practice, thoughts and perspectives on its future trend. The study is a mixture of literature review and investigational research. It provides many useful information, practical procedures, and recommendations. It is expected that the study will fill the void of literature of such kind, and provide direct benefit to everyday practitioners in the field.

Predicting solubility in multiple nonpolar drugs-cyclodextrin system

This study presents a model to predict the solubility of a nonpolar drug D(A) in the presence of other nonpolar drugs D(1) em leader D(n) in a complexing ligand L system such as hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPbetaCD). Using an equilibrium approach, the model describes the molecular interactions among these drug species and the ligand. The model indicates that the solubility of D(A) invariably decreases as a result of the presence of D(1) em leader D(n). Furthermore, the decrease in D(A) solubility is related to the sum of the products of the intrinsic solubilities of the other drugs and drug-ligand complexation constants. To test the model, three steroids (prednisolone, 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, and progesterone) were used as model compounds in HPbetaCD solutions. The experimental data showed that the solubility of any particular drug decreased in the presence of other drugs. At all tested HPbetaCD concentrations, these experimental solubility data were in good agreement with the predicted solubility data. This result lends strong support to the reliability and effectiveness of the proposed model.

Thermodynamic study on the effects of beta-cyclodextrin inclusion with berberine

The fluorescence enhancement of berberine (Berb) as a result of complex with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) is investigated. The association constants of alpha-CD and beta-CD with Berb are 60 and 137 M(-1) at 20 degrees C in pH 7.20 aqueous solution. Effects of temperature on the forming inclusion complexes of beta-CD with Berb have been examined through using fluorescence titration. Enthalpy and entropy values calculated from fluorescence data are -33.7 kJ mol(-1) and 74.3 J x mol(-1) K(-1) respectively. It was found that the dielectric constant of beta-CD cavity is about 24 in a rough analogy with absolute alcohol. These results suggest that the extrusion of 'high energy water' molecules from the cavity of beta-CD and hydrophobic interaction upon the inclusion complex formation are the main forces of the inclusion reaction. Effect of pH on the association of beta-CD with Berb was also studied. Mechanism of the inclusion of beta-CD with Berb is further studied by absorption and NMR measurements. Results show that beta-CD forms a 1:1 inclusion complex with Berb.

Development and testing of an improved parenteral formulation of phenytoin using 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin

The objective of this study was to increase the solubility of phenytoin by complexing it with varying concentrations of 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPBCD) and create an entirely aqueous formulation with a pH significantly closer to physiologic pH (7.4). The phenytoin-HPBCD complexation was characterized using phase-solubility analysis at HPBCD concentrations ranging from 10 to 50% w/v over the pH range of 7.4-11.0. The two most promising formulations, i.e., a formulation consisting of 40% HPBCD at pH 10.4, and a second formulation consisting of 20% HPBCD at pH 11.0, were selected for further study. Both formulations were entirely aqueous and had a significantly decreased pH compared to the original commercial formulation (Parke-Davis, pH 12.0). These formulations also exhibited a significantly decreased tendency to precipitate in vitro. The tissue irritation potential of the 20% w/v HPBCD formulation at pH 11.0 was found to be reduced considerably compared to the commercial injection in a BALB/c mouse model.

Drug/cyclodextrin/hydroxy acid multicomponent systems. Properties and pharmaceutical applications

The objective of this mini-review is to summarize the findings concerning the properties and the pharmaceutical applications of multicomponent complexes made of a sparingly water-soluble amino-type drug, a cyclodextrin, and a hydroxy carboxylic acid. Simultaneous complexation and salt formation with these acids significantly increase the solubilizing power, allowing us to reduce the amount of cyclodextrin necessary for making the targeted formulation. In many cases, the aqueous solubility of the hydrophobic drug can be enhanced by several orders of magnitude, while that of CD can be enhanced more than 10-fold. The mechanism through which these complexes elicit their synergetic effects on the drug solubility is also discussed. Finally, some general observations are made concerning the structural requirements of the drug necessary for exploiting the aforementioned effect.

Controlled systemic absorption and increased anesthetic effect of bupivacaine following epidural administration of bupivacaine-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin complex

PURPOSE

To investigate the influence of complexation between bupivacaine and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) on the systemic absorption and on the pharmacodynamic effect of bupivacaine following epidural administration in a rabbit model.

METHODS

Bupivacaine and bupivacaine-HP-beta-CD complex were administered according to a randomized and cross-over design in six rabbits chronically instrumented with an epidural catheter. The plasma concentrations of bupivacaine and the duration and intensity of the motor blockade were evaluated.

RESULTS

Complexation with HP-beta-CD led to a decrease in the maximum plasma concentration of bupivacaine. Individual absorption kinetics evaluated by Loo-Riegelman absorption analysis indicated that systemic absorption resulted from two parallel first-order processes. Only the faster absorption phase was slowed by complexation with HP-beta-CD. The duration of the motor blockade was increased almost twice but the intensity was not modified.

CONCLUSIONS

Complexation with HP-beta-CD could be a promising drug delivery system to improve the therapeutic index of bupivacaine.

Pharmaceutical applications of cyclodextrins. 1. Drug solubilization and stabilization

Cyclodextrins are cyclic oligosaccharides which have recently been recognized as useful pharmaceutical excipients. The molecular structure of these glucose derivatives, which approximates a truncated cone or torus, generates a hydrophilic exterior surface and a nonpolar cavity interior. As such, cyclodextrins can interact with appropriately sized molecules to result in the formation of inclusion complexes. These noncovalent complexes offer a variety of physicochemical advantages over the unmanipulated drugs including the possibility for increased water solubility and solution stability. Further, chemical modification to the parent cyclodextrin can result in an increase in the extent of drug complexation and interaction. In this short review, the effects of substitution on various cyclodextrin properties and the forces involved in the drug-cyclodextrin complex formation are discussed. Some general observations are made predicting drug solubilization by cyclodextrins. In addition, methods which are useful in the optimization of complexation efficacy are reviewed. Finally, the stabilizing/destabilizing effects of cyclodextrins on chemically labile drugs are evaluated.

Modified beta-cyclodextrin (SBE7-beta-CyD) with viscous vehicle improves the ocular delivery and tolerability of pilocarpine prodrug in rabbits

The complexation of pilocarpine prodrug, O,O'-dipropionyl-(1,4-xylylene) bispilocarpate, with various beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CyD) derivatives was studied by the phase solubility method. The effects of coadministered sulphobutyl ether beta-CyD (SBE7-beta-CyD) with and without poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) on the miotic response and eye irritation of the prodrug were investigated in pigmented rabbits. The pilocarpine prodrug formed 1:1 inclusion complexes with variably substituted sulphobutyl ether derivatives of beta-CyD (SBE4-beta-CyD and SBE7-beta-CyD), and 1:1 and 1:2 complexes with hydroxypropyl-beta-CyD (HP-beta-CyD) at pH 7-4. Coadministered SBE7-beta-CyD eliminated the eye irritation due to the pilocarpine prodrug, but also decreased the miotic response. Ocular absorption of the prodrug was improved by increasing the viscosity of prodrug/SBE7-beta-CyD solution with PVA without inducing any eye irritation. Eye irritation due to viscous prodrug/SBE7-beta-CyD solutions was comparable with isotonic NaCl solution. We conclude that administration of pilocarpine prodrug in viscous SBE7-beta-CyD solution decreases substantially eye irritation while ocular absorption is not affected.

The interaction of charged and uncharged drugs with neutral (HP-beta-CD) and anionically charged (SBE7-beta-CD) beta-cyclodextrins

PURPOSE

The objective of this work was to determine the role that charge might play in the interaction of charged and uncharged drugs with neutral (2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin, HP-beta-CD) and anionically charged (SBE7-beta-CD) modified beta-cyclodextrins. SBE7-beta-CD is a sulfobutyl ether, sodium salt, derivative variably substituted on the 2-, 3- and the 6-positions of beta-cyclodextrin. The number seven refers to the average degree of substitution.

METHODS

The binding of the acidic drugs, indomethacin, naproxen and warfarin and the basic drugs, papaverine, thiabendazole, miconazole and cinnarizine with the two cyclodextrins was determined at 25 degrees C as a function of pH and cyclodextrin concentration by the phase-solubility method.

RESULTS

Except for miconazole and cinnarizine (Ap-type diagrams), all other materials studied displayed AL-type diagrams. By comparing the binding constants of both the charged and uncharged forms of the same drugs to both HP-beta-CD and SBE7-beta-CD, the following conclusions could be drawn. The binding constants for the neutral forms of the drugs were always greater with SBE7-beta-CD than with HP-beta-CD. For the anionic agents, the binding constants between SBE7-beta-CD and HP-beta-CD were similar while the binding constants for the cationic agents with SBE7-beta-CD were superior to those of HP-beta-CD, especially when compared with the neutral form of the same drug.

CONCLUSIONS

A clear charge effect on complexation, attraction in the case of cationic drugs and perhaps inhibition in the case of anionic drugs, was seen with the SBE7-beta-CD.

Use of 'soluble lipids' for biochemical processes: linoleic acid-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes in aqueous solutions

The equilibria of linoleic acid (LA)-cyclodextrin (CD) complexes were studied to investigate the behaviour of 'soluble lipids' in solution as a function of factors that typically affect biochemical processes, such as pH, temperature and CD structure. The above complexes are formed with a stoicheiometry of 1:2 in solution. The first CD molecule interacts with LA through hydrogen bonds when the pH is below the fatty acid pK; hydrophobic interactions may also play an important role at high pH. The second CD molecule makes only hydrophobic contact with the LA hydrocarbon chain. The formation of hydrogen bonds is dependent on the inner diameter of the CD whereas the strength of the hydrophobic interactions between CD and LA can be related to the presence of hydrophobic groups in the CD. The first CD molecule interacts more strongly with LA at increased temperatures. The quantitative description of the LA-CD interaction allows absolute control of the effects produced by the lipid on biochemical processes.