Vapor-induced phase transformations in docetaxel

Docetaxel Loaded in Copaiba Oil-Nanostructured Lipid Carriers as a Promising DDS for Breast Cancer Treatment

Breast cancer is the neoplasia of highest incidence in women worldwide. Docetaxel (DTX), a taxoid used to treat breast cancer, is a BCS-class-IV compound (low oral bioavailability, solubility and intestinal permeability). Nanotechnological strategies can improve chemotherapy effectiveness by promoting sustained release and reducing systemic toxicity. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) encapsulate hydrophobic drugs in their blend-of-lipids matrix, and imperfections prevent drug expulsion during storage. This work describes the preparation, by design of experiments (2³ factorial design) of a novel NLC formulation containing copaiba oil (CO) as a functional excipient. The optimized formulation (NLC_DTX) showed approximately 100% DTX encapsulation efficiency and was characterized by different techniques (DLS, NTA, TEM/FE-SEM, DSC and XRD) and was stable for 12 months of storage, at 25 °C. Incorporation into the NLC prolonged drug release for 54 h, compared to commercial DTX (10 h). In vitro cytotoxicity tests revealed the antiproliferative effect of CO and NLC_DTX, by reducing the cell viability of breast cancer (4T1/MCF-7) and healthy (NIH-3T3) cells more than commercial DTX. NLC_DTX thus emerges as a promising drug delivery system of remarkable anticancer effect, (strengthened by CO) and sustained release that, in clinics, may decrease systemic toxicity at lower DTX doses.

Development of self-assembled nanocarriers to enhance antitumor efficacy of docetaxel trihydrate in MDA-MB-231 cell line

Self-assembled nanocarriers (SANs) as a novel colloidal controlled delivery for docetaxel trihydrate (DTX) were engineered by high-pressure homogenization method to overcome the several clinical problems. Drug-excipient compatibility was studied using DSC and FTIR spectroscopy. The fabricated SANs was characterized by particle size, zeta potential, and SEM. QbD based central composite design of experiment was employed for formula optimization. The cell viability of DTX-hydroalcoholic solution (DTX-HA) and DTX-loaded SANs has been determined in MDA-MB-231 cell line by MTT assay. The stability study of selected SANs formulations were carried out at various storage conditions as per ICH guidelines. The summary of results obtained shows high drug content with higher entrapment efficiency (91.23 ± 3.41% w/w) of DTX-loaded SANs. It shows diffusion controlled release of DTX over the period of 12 h which is higher than DTX-HA solution, releases the DTX within 4 h. The MTT assay expressed lower cellular viability and improved cell inhibition leads to increase cytotoxicity of formulations towards cells. The stability study reveals stability of DTX-loaded SANs formulations at various storage conditions over a period of three months. The strong experimental evidence confirms the SANs as an effective approach to formulate the controlled delivery system of antineoplastics with improved stability.

Enhancing biopharmaceutical performance of an anticancer drug by long chain PUFA based self-nanoemulsifying lipidic nanomicellar systems

The aim of this study was to develop polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) long chain glyceride (LCG) enriched self-nanoemulsifying lipidic nanomicelles systems (SNELS) for augmenting lymphatic uptake and enhancing oral bioavailability of docetaxel and compare its biopharmaceutical performance with a medium-chain fatty acid glyceride (MCG) SNELS. Equilibrium solubility and pseudo ternary phase studies facilitated the selection of suitable LCG and MCG. The critical material attributes (CMAs) and critical process parameters (CPPs) were earmarked using Placket-Burman Design (PBD) and Fractional Factorial Design (FFD) for LCG- and MCG-SNELS respectively, and nano micelles were subsequently optimized using I- and D-optimal designs. Desirability function unearthed the optimized SNELS with T_emul <5min, D_nm <100nm, Rel_15min >85% and Perm_45min >75%. The SNELS demonstrated efficient biocompatibility and energy dependent cellular uptake, reduced P-gp efflux and increased permeability using bi-directional Caco-2 model. Optimal PUFA enriched LCG-SNELS exhibited distinctly superior permeability and absorption parameters during ex vivo permeation, in situ single pass intestinal perfusion, lymphatic uptake and in vivo pharmacokinetic studies over MCG-SNELS.

Enhancement of docetaxel solubility using binary and ternary solid dispersion systems

CONTEXT

Poor biopharmaceutical properties and toxicities associated with the intravenous formulation of docetaxel (DTX) necessitate the exploration of an alternate oral route of delivery.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims at enhancing the solubility of poorly soluble drug, DTX with the help of solid dispersion (SD) technique.

METHOD

DTX SDs were formulated with selected solubilizers, including Kollidon 12PF, Lutrol F68, Soluplus and Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin in different weight ratios. Freeze-drying method was used to prepare the binary and ternary SDs. Kinetic solubility of the SDs was evaluated in order to select best DTX-solubilizer combination. Best performing combination was then characterized using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Among all SDs tested, Soluplus outperformed all the excipients at equivalent weight ratio. Binary SD of DTX and Soluplus (1:10) resulted in the highest improvement in solubility (362.93 ± 11.01 µg/mL). This is approximately a 93-fold increment as compared to the solubility of crystalline DTX (3.9 ± 0.2 µg/mL). This exceptional performance can be attributed to solid-state transformation as well as micellization.

CONCLUSION

Among all the excipients tested, Soluplus dispersion is the most promising candidate for oral formulation development.