Preparation, characterization and pharmacokinetic evaluation of rosuvastatin calcium incorporated cyclodextrin-polyanhydride nanoparticles

Polyanhydride Chemistry

Polyanhydrides (PAs) are a class of synthetic biodegradable polymers employed as controlled drug delivery vehicles. They can be synthesized and scaled up from low-cost starting materials. The structure of PAs can be manipulated synthetically to meet desirable characteristics. PAs are biocompatible, biodegradable, and generate nontoxic metabolites upon degradation, which are easily eliminated from the body. The rate of water penetrating into the polyanhydride (PA) matrix is slower than the anhydride bond cleavage. This phenomenon sets PAs as "surface-eroding drug delivery carriers." Consequently, a variety of PA-based drug delivery carriers in the form of solid implants, pasty injectable formulations, microspheres, nanoparticles, etc. have been developed for the sustained release of small molecule drugs, and vaccines, peptide drugs, and nucleic acid-based active agents. The rate of drug delivery is often controlled by the polymer erosion rate, which is influenced by the polymer structure and composition, crystallinity, hydrophobicity, pH of the release medium, device size, configuration, etc. Owing to the above-mentioned interesting physicochemical and mechanical properties of PAs, the present review focuses on the advancements made in the domain of synthetic biodegradable biomedical PAs for therapeutic delivery applications. Various classes of PAs, their structures, their unique characteristics, their physicochemical and mechanical properties, and factors influencing surface erosion are discussed in detail. The review also summarizes various methods involved in the synthesis of PAs and their utility in the biomedical domain as drug, vaccine, and peptide delivery carriers in different formulations are reviewed.

Development and Characterization of Eudragit® EPO-Based Solid Dispersion of Rosuvastatin Calcium to Foresee the Impact on Solubility, Dissolution and Antihyperlipidemic Activity

Poor solubility is the major challenge involved in the formulation development of new chemical entities (NCEs), as more than 40% of NCEs are practically insoluble in water. Solid dispersion (SD) is a promising technology for improving dissolution and, thereby, the bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs. This study investigates the influence of a pH-sensitive acrylate polymer, EPO, on the physicochemical properties of rosuvastatin calcium, an antihyperlipidemic drug. In silico docking was conducted with numerous polymers to predict drug polymer miscibility. The screened-out polymer was used to fabricate the binary SD of RoC in variable ratios using the co-grinding and solvent evaporation methods. The prepared formulations were assessed for physiochemical parameters such as saturation solubility, drug content and in vitro drug release. The optimized formulations were further ruled out using solid-state characterization (FTIR, DSC, XRD and SEM) and in vitro cytotoxicity. The results revealed that all SDs profoundly increased solubility as well as drug release. However, the formulation RSE-2, with a remarkable 71.88-fold increase in solubility, presented 92% of drug release in the initial 5 min. The molecular interaction studied using FTIR, XRD, DSC and SEM analysis evidenced the improvement of in vitro dissolution. The enhancement in solubility of RoC may be important for the modulation of the dyslipidemia response. Therefore, pharmacodynamic activity was conducted for optimized formulations. Our findings suggested an ameliorative effect of RSE-2 in dyslipidemia and its associated complications. Moreover, RSE-2 exhibited nonexistence of cytotoxicity against human liver cell lines. Convincingly, this study demonstrates that SD of RoC can be successfully fabricated by EPO, and have all the characteristics that are favourable for superior dissolution and better therapeutic response to the drug.

Development of cyclosporine A nanosuspension: cytotoxicity and permeability on Caco-2 cell lines

Cyclosporine A is a calcineurin inhibitor and is usually used as an immunosuppressant medication. The main purpose of this study is to develop nanosuspension of polypeptide cyclosporine A by using the wet milling method for oral administration. Cell culture studies were also performed with human intestinal Caco-2 cell lines. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and sodium dodecyl sulfate were used as stabilizers in nanosuspension. In vitro characterization studies such as Fourier-transform infrared analysis and morphological imaging with scanning electron microscopy have been carried out with obtained cyclosporine A nanosuspension. The particle size, particle size distribution, and zeta potential values of the nanosuspension were measured approximately 400 nm, 0.4, and -25 mV, respectively. The solubility of cyclosporine A was increased 4.5 times in nanosuspension compared to the coarse cyclosporine A powder. As a result of cytotoxicity studies conducted with different concentrations, it was decided to conduct permeability studies at a dose equivalent to 150 µg/mL cyclosporine A. Permeation studies have shown that the nanosuspension increases cyclosporine A transport by 5 and 1.5 times, respectively, compared to coarse powder and commercial product.

Nano Spray-Dried Drugs for Oral Administration: A Review

Spray drying is an important technology that is fast, simple, reproducible, and scalable. It has a wide application range, that is, in food, chemicals, and encapsulation of pharmaceuticals. The technology can be divided into conventional spray drying and nano spray drying. The key advantage of nano spray drying is the production of drug-loaded nanosized particles for various drug delivery applications. The recent developments in nano spray dryer technology and the market launch of the Nano Spray Dryer B-90 by Büchi Labortechnik AG in 2009 enabled the production of submicron spray-dried particles. This review focuses on nanosized drug delivery systems intended for oral administration produced by nano spray drying. First, the nano spray drying concept, the basic technologies implemented in the equipment, and the effects of the various process parameters on the final dry submicron powder properties are presented. Then, the topics of new formulation strategies of oral drugs are highlighted with examples that have entered the research literature in recent years. Next, the subjects of direct conversion of poorly water-soluble drugs, encapsulation of drugs, and drying of preformed nanoparticles are considered. Finally, topics such as morphology, particle size, size distribution, surface analysis, bioavailability, drug release, release kinetics, and solid-state characterization (by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance) of oral drug delivery systems produced by nano spray drying are discussed. The review attempts to provide a comprehensive knowledge base with current literature and foresight to researchers working in the field of pharmaceutical technology and nanotechnology and especially in the field of nano spray drying.

Attenuation of lipid levels in triton induced hyperlipidemia rats through rosuvastatin calcium nanoparticles: Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies

The aim of this research was to study the effect of marketed tablet (Crestor®) powder suspension (MTPS) and nanoparticle formulation of rosuvastatin calcium (RC) on the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) parameters in hyperlipidemia rats. The hyperlipidemia is induced by intraperitoneal injection of Triton-X-100 in 0.9 %w/v saline solution. The marketed tablet was dispersed into suspension. The RC loaded nanoparticles (RC-NPs) are prepared by homogenization method. The prepared RC-NP formulation was characterized for size, drug excipient compatibility and crystallization by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), morphology by SEM, stability at room temperature, in-vitro dissolution and in-situ absorption in rats. Further, the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies were conducted in hyperlipidemia rats. The size of the RC-NP formulation was found to be 183.4 ± 4.5 nm and to be nearly spherical by SEM. DSC studies revealed that no interaction and RC converted to amorphous form in RC-NP formulation. RC-NP formulation was physically and chemically stable over two months at room temperature. The drug release was found to be 25.8 ± 2.5 and 89.96 ± 2.8 % in five mins, respectively from MTPS and RC-NP formulations. The P_eff of MTPS and NP of RC was 1.8 ± 0.2 × 10^-5 and 2.7 ± 0.3 × 10^-5 cm/s, respectively. From the PK studies, the enhancement in the oral bioavailability was found to be 2.4-folds when compared to MTPS formulation and statistically significant (p < 0.05). PD study of RC-NP formulation in hyperlipidemic rats exhibited decrease in lipid profile for 24 h, while MTPS exhibited a decrease in lipid profile for 12 h. Therefore, the results conclusively demonstrate the nanoparticles of RC showed significant enhancement in the PK and PD parameters.

Therapeutic applications of herbal/synthetic/bio-drug in oral cancer: An update

Oral cancer, as one of the most prevalent and invasive cancers that invade local tissue, can cause metastasis, and have high mortality. In 2018, around 355,000 worldwide oral cancers occurred and resulted in 177,000 deaths. Estimates for the year 2020 include about 53,260 new cases added to previous year's cases, and the estimated death toll from this cancer in 2020 is about 10,750 deaths more than previous years. Despite recent advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment, unfortunately, 50% of people with cancer cannot be cured. Of course, it should be remembered that the type of treatment used greatly influences patient recovery. There are not many choices when it comes to treating oral cancer. Research efforts focusing on the discovery and evolution of innovative therapeutic approaches for oral cancer are essential. Such traditional methods of treating this type of cancer like surgery and chemotherapy, have evolved dramatically during the past thirty to forty years, but they continue to cause panic among patients due to their side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to study and use drugs that are less risky for the patient as well as to provide solutions to reduce chemotherapy-induced adverse events that prevent many therapeutic risks. As mentioned above, this study examines low-risk therapies such as herbal remedies, biological drugs, and synthetic drugs in the hope that they will be useful to physicians, researchers, and scientists around the world.

A new sponge-type hydrogel based on hyaluronic acid and poly(methylvinylether-alt-maleic acid) as a 3D platform for tumor cell growth

A new sponge-type hydrogel was obtained by cross-linking hyaluronic acid (HA) and poly(methylvinylether-alt-maleic acid) P(MVE-alt-MA) through a solvent-free thermal method. The sponge-type hydrogel was characterized and checked as a support for cell growth. The influence of concentration and weight ratio of polymers on the morphology and hydrogel stability was investigated. The total polymers concentration of 3% (w/w) and the weight ratio of 1:1 were optimal for the synthesis of a stable hydrogel (HA³P50) and to promote cell proliferation. The swelling measurements revealed a high-water absorption capacity of the hydrogel in basic medium. Diphenhydramine (DPH), lidocaine (Lid) and propranolol (Prop) were loaded within the hydrogel as a model drugs to investigate the ability of drug transport and release. In vitro studies revealed that HA³P50 hydrogel promoted the adhesion and proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2, providing a good support for 3D cell culture to obtain surrogate tumor scaffold suitable for preclinical anti-cancer drug screening.

Preparation and in vitro characterization of rosuvastatin calcium incorporated methyl beta cyclodextrin and Captisol® inclusion complexes

Despite being the most effective hypolipidemic agent, poor physicochemical properties of Rosuvastatin calcium (RCa) remain challenging obstacles in the development of pharmaceutical dosage forms. Inclusion complexes (ICs) of RCa with cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives; methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (M-β-CD) and sulfobutylether-beta-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD; Captisol^®) were formulated by kneading and freeze-drying (lyophilization) methods. Pysicochemical properties of ICs were evaluated by SEM, DSC, XRD, FT-IR, ¹H-NMR analyses. Entrapment efficiency (EE), water solubility, in vitro release analyses were also performed. Safety and efficacy of the ICs were analyzed by cytotoxicity and permeation studies on Caco-2 cell lines. Both CDs indicated A_L type phase solubility diagrams showing that [1:1] molar ratio. Apparent stability constants (K_1:1) were found to be 60.93 M^-1 for M-β-CD and 158.07 M^-1 for Captisol^®. High EE in the range of 93.50-105.40% was achieved. Molar solubility of RCa was increased 3.7- and 4.1-fold with M-β-CD and Captisol^® ICs, respectively. In vitro release analyses have indicated the equivalence of dissolution profiles for M-β-CD and Captisol^® based ICs to that of pure RCa (f₂ > 50). Cytotoxicity studies on Caco-2 cell lines have revealed the safety of ICs for oral use. Permeability studies demonstrated that selected lyophilized F6 formulation has shown the best permeation rate with P_app value of 3.08 × 10^-7 cm·s^-1. Considering greater water solubility, lower toxicity, high efficiency of complexation as well as, RCa-like permeability and in vitro release behavior at pH 6.8; Captisol^® based lyophilized F6 formulation was selected as the best IC to be used in oral dosage forms of RCa.