Nanomedicine: a new paradigm to overcome drug incompatibilities

In vitro and in silico evaluation of the design of nano-phyto-drug candidate for oral use against Staphylococcus aureus

Onopordum acanthium is a medicinal plant with many important properties, such as antibacterial, anticancer, and anti-hypotensive properties. Although various studies reported the biological activities of O. acanthium, there is no study on its nano-phyto-drug formulation. The aim of this study is to develop a candidate nano-drug based on phytotherapeutic constituents and evaluate its efficiency in vitro and in silico. In this context, poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) of O. acanthium extract (OAE) were synthesized and characterized. It was determined that the average particle size of OAE-PLGA-NPs was 214.9 ± 6.77 nm, and the zeta potential was -8.03 ± 0.85 mV, and PdI value was 0.064 ± 0.013. The encapsulation efficiency of OAE-PLGA-NPs was calculated as 91%, and the loading capacity as 75.83%. The in vitro drug release study showed that OAE was released from the PLGA NPs with 99.39% over the 6 days. Furthermore, the mutagenic and cytotoxic activity of free OAE and OAE-PLGA-NPs were evaluated by the Ames test and MTT test, respectively. Although 0.75 and 0.37 mg/mL free OAE concentrations caused both frameshift mutation and base pair substitution (p < 0.05), the administered OAE-PLGA NP concentrations were not mutagenic. It was determined with the MTT analysis that the doses of 0.75 and 1.5 mg/mL of free OAE had a cytotoxic effect on the L929 fibroblast cell line (p < 0.05), and OAE-PLGA-NPs had no cytotoxic effect. Moreover, the interaction between the OAE and S. aureus was also investigated using the molecular docking analysis method. The molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) results were implemented to elucidate the S. aureus MurE inhibition potential of OAE. It was shown that quercetin in the OAE content interacted significantly with the substantial residues in the catalytic pocket of the S. aureus MurE enzyme, and quercetin performed four hydrogen bond interactions corresponding to a low binding energy of -6.77 kcal/mol with catalytic pocket binding residues, which are crucial for the inhibition mechanism of S. aureus MurE. Finally, the bacterial inhibition values of free OAE and OAE-PLGA NPs were determined against S. aureus using a microdilution method. The antibacterial results showed that the inhibition value of the OAE-PLGA NPs was 69%. In conclusion, from the in vitro and in silico results of the nano-sized OAE-PLGA NP formulation produced in this study, it was evaluated that the formulation may be recommended as a safe and effective nano-phyto-drug candidate against S. aureus.

The Physical Compatibility of Glycopyrrolate and Rocuronium

OBJECTIVE

Scientific evidence has rarely, if at all, been reported in the literature demonstrating analytical confirmation of the physical compatibility and stability of glycopyrrolate and rocuronium combined. The purpose of this experiment was to determine if glycopyrrolate and rocuronium are physically compatible.

METHODS

Glycopyrrolate and rocuronium were combined in various containers, observed over a 60-minute period, and compared against positive and negative controls. Measured metrics included color change, precipitate formation, Tyndall beam test, turbidity, and pH. Statistical analyses were used to assess significance of data trends.

RESULTS

The combination of glycopyrrolate and rocuronium did not result in any color change, precipitate formation, a positive Tyndall beam test, or a significantly positive turbidity and did not result in any significant change in pH, regardless of container.

CONCLUSION

Per the protocol used in this study, glycopyrrolate and rocuronium were determined to be physically compatible.

Effective loading of incompatible drugs into nanosized vesicles: a strategy to allow concurrent administration of furosemide and midazolam in simulated clinical settings

The current study aims to assess the use of nanocarriers to limit drug incompatibilities in clinical settings, and thus eliminating serious clinical consequences (e.g., catheter obstruction and embolism), and enhancing in vivo bioavailability and efficacy. As a proof-of-concept, the impact of loading well-documented physically incompatible drugs (i.e., furosemide and midazolam) into nanosized vesicles on in vitro stability and in vivo bioavailability of the two drugs was investigated. Furosemide and midazolam were loaded into nanosized spherical vesicles at high entrapment efficiency (ca. 62-69%). The drug-loaded vesicles demonstrated a sustained drug release patterns, high physical stability and negligible hemolytic activity. Physical incompatibility was assessed by exploiting microscopic technique coupled with image processing and analysis, dynamic light scattering and laser Doppler anemometry. Incorporation of drugs separately inside the nanosized vesicles dramatically decreased size and number of the precipitated particles. In vivo, the niosomal drug mixture demonstrated a significant improvement in pharmacokinetic profiles of furosemide and midazolam compared to the mixed free drug solutions, as evidenced by their longer circulation half-lives and higher area under the plasma-concentration time curves of both drugs. Nanocarriers could provide an auspicious strategy for circumventing drug incompatibilities, thus reducing adverse reactions, hospitalization period and improving therapeutic outcomes.

A novel fixed-combination timolol-netarsudil-latanoprost ophthalmic solution for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension

Currently commercial fixed-concomitant three agents have multiple problems such as multiple dosing administration, poor efficacy and side effects. Once-daily fixed-combination timolol-netarsudil-latanoprost ophthalmic solution (FC-TNL) has the ability to treat glaucoma by lowering the intraocular pressure (IOP) with great efficacy and improving patient compliance. However, the commercialized netarsudil dimesylate precipitated when the pH of the solution was above 5.4, or when maleic acid, the salt of commercial timolol maleate, was mixed with netarsudil dimesylate. Consequently, the homologous salt engineering strategy was used to make netarsudil dimesylate soluble in pH 4.8-5.2 solution by synthesizing timolol mesylate. Next, the morphology of timolol mesylate was observed by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and powder X-ray diffraction. The prepared FC-TNL showed good stability during refrigeration storage. Additionally, FC-TNL exerted no influence on the intraocular penetration of each active compounds in the pharmacokinetic study. Importantly, once-daily FC-TNL exerted potent IOP-lowering effect and protective effect on retinal ganglion cells. The FC-TNL was stable, safe and effective, being a promising glaucoma therapeutic.

In vitro review of nanoparticles attacking macrophages: Interaction and cell death

In recent years, the wide application of nanoparticles (NPs) inevitably leads to environmental pollution and human exposure, and its safety has attracted more and more attention. Since macrophages are the cells most directly exposed to multi-pathway invading NPs in the body, it is necessary to assess of toxic effects of NPs in macrophages, clarify the potential mechanisms of NPs toxicity to improve our understanding about the interaction of NPs with macrophages in vivo, and avoid body damage. Currently, studies on the toxicity of NPs to macrophages are rare and mainly focused on in vitro, so this paper integrated the toxic effect of macrophages exposed to NPs and the macrophages cellular changes following the interaction with NPs, including NPs internalization, ROS production, cytokines alterations, DNA damage and cell death, and further explored the involved mechanisms. This review aims to provide some insights into the further toxicological studies of NPs.