Preparation, Optimization and In vitro Evaluation of Glipizide Nanoparticles Integrated with Eudragit RS-100

Development of alkaline-stable nanoformulation of nisin: special insights through cytotoxic and antibacterial studies

Nisin, a thermostable, approved food preservative, has limited therapeutic applications because of its high pH and proteolytic enzyme instability. The unavailability of a rapid, simple method of detection also restricts the research of nisin. The objective of this study was to adapt the simple, rapid protein estimation method of detection for nisin formulation and to formulate and evaluate site-specific nanoformulation for therapeutic applications, viz. colon cancer, and anti-bacterial action. Three nanoformulations of nisin with chitosan, gellan gum, and dextran (ECN, EGN, and EDN) were prepared and characterized in vitro. Among three, EGN was selected as a good formulation based on its size surface charge, morphology, drug loading, and release characteristics. FT-IR and DSC revealed the interaction pattern and stability nature. The stability of nisin in an alkaline environment was confirmed by CD. Its therapeutic applications were proved by efficiency against colon cancer cells evaluated by MTT assay and AO/EB staining using Caco-2 cell lines. The in situ sol-gel mechanism imparted by gellan gum was proved the sole reason for the stability and activity of nisin in EGN at lower GIT. This was confirmed (using rheometer) by shear-thickening characteristics of formulation EGN in simulated colon fluid. The antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus by disk diffusion method was also performed to confirm the retention of antimicrobial activity of nisin in EGN. Hence, gellan gum-nisin colloidal nanoparticles are found good candidates for drug delivery at lower GIT and stabilizing alkaline food materials.

Enhanced oral delivery of hesperidin-loaded sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin/chitosan nanoparticles for augmenting its hypoglycemic activity: in vitro-in vivo assessment study

Hesperidin (Hsd), a bioactive phytomedicine, experienced an antidiabetic activity versus both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes mellitus. However, its intrinsic poor solubility and bioavailability is a key challenging obstacle reflecting its oral delivery. From such perspective, the purpose of the current study was to prepare and evaluate Hsd-loaded sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin/chitosan nanoparticles (Hsd/CD/CS NPs) for improving the hypoglycemic activity of the orally administered Hsd. Hsd was first complexed with sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD) and the complex (CX) was found to be formed with percent complexation efficiency and percent process efficiency of 50.53 ± 1.46 and 84.52 ± 3.16%, respectively. Also, solid state characterization of the complex ensured the inclusion of Hsd inside the cavity of SBE-β-CD. Then, Hsd/CD/CS NPs were prepared using the ionic gelation technique. The prepared NPs were fully characterized to select the most promising one (F1) with a homogenous particle size of 455.7 ± 9.04 nm, a positive zeta potential of + 32.28 ± 1.12 mV, and an entrapment efficiency of 77.46 ± 0.39%. The optimal formula (F1) was subjected to further investigation of in vitro release, ex vivo intestinal permeation, stability, cytotoxicity, and in vivo hypoglycemic activity. The results of the release and permeation studies of F1 manifested a modulated pattern between Hsd and CX. The preferential stability of F1 was observed at 4 ± 1 °C. Also, the biocompatibility of F1 with oral epithelial cell line (OEC) was retained up to a concentration of 100 µg/mL. After oral administration of F1, a noteworthy synergistic hypoglycemic effect was recorded with decreased blood glucose level until the end of the experiment. In conclusion, Hsd/CD/CS NPs could be regarded as a hopeful oral delivery system of Hsd with enhanced antidiabetic activity.

Computational Amendment of Parenteral In Situ Forming Particulates' Characteristics: Design of Experiment and PBPK Physiological Modeling

Lipid and/or polymer-based drug conjugates can potentially minimize side effects by increasing drug accumulation at target sites and thus augment patient compliance. Formulation factors can present a potent influence on the characteristics of the obtained systems. The selection of an appropriate solvent with satisfactory rheological properties, miscibility, and biocompatibility is essential to optimize drug release. This work presents a computational study of the effect of the basic formulation factors on the characteristics of the obtained in situ-forming particulates (IFPs) encapsulating a model drug using a 21.31 full factorial experimental design. The emulsion method was employed for the preparation of lipid and/or polymer-based IFPs. The IFP release profiles and parameters were computed. Additionally, a desirability study was carried out to choose the optimum formulation for further morphological examination, rheological study, and PBPK physiological modeling. Results revealed that the type of particulate forming agent (lipid/polymer) and the incorporation of structure additives like Brij 52 and Eudragit RL can effectively augment the release profile as well as the burst of the drug. The optimized formulation exhibited a pseudoplastic rheological behavior and yielded uniformly spherical-shaped dense particulates with a PS of 573.92 ± 23.5 nm upon injection. Physiological modeling simulation revealed the pioneer pharmacokinetic properties of the optimized formulation compared to the observed data. These results assure the importance of controlling the formulation factors during drug development, the potentiality of the optimized IFPs for the intramuscular delivery of piroxicam, and the reliability of PBPK physiological modeling in predicting the biological performance of new formulations with effective cost management.

Greater efficiency of polyherbal drug encapsulated biosynthesized chitosan nano-biopolymer on diabetes and its complications

Diabetes is a highly complex disease that has an adverse impact on the lives of individuals, and the current medicines used to manage diabetes have obvious side effects. Medicinal plants, on the other hand, may serve as an alternate source of anti-diabetic drugs. A polyherbal combination has a higher and more extensive therapeutic potential than a single herb. Yet, due to deterioration during the absorption process, the usage of this drug still yields inadequate results. Encapsulation of polyherbal drug with chitosan nanoparticles is one of the key ways to solve this problem due to its biocombatibilty, slow and targeted drug delivery characteristics. In the present study, the chitosan was derived from prawn shell and the chitosan nanoparticles had been prepared by ionic-gelation method. The anti-diabetic polyherbal drug (Andrographis paniculata, Andrographis alata, Adhatoda zeylanica, Gymnema sylvestre, Syzygium cumini, and Justicia glabra) was encapsulated with a bio-derived chitosan biopolymer. The drug loading efficiency was about 85 %. The chemical and physical properties of the chitosan and drug-loaded chitosan nanoparticles had been analyzed by FT-IR absorption, XRD, SEM, TEM and EDAX analysis. The antidiabetic efficiency, hepatoprotective activity and antihyperlipedimic activity of the chitosan nanoparticles, polyherbal drug and polyherbal drug encapsulated with chitosan nanoparticles were assessed in a group of rats. The polyherbal drug reduced the serum glucose level from 306.4 mg/dL to 134.47 mg/dL, while the polyherbal drug encapsulated with chitosan nanoparticles reduced to 127.017 mg/dL. This was very close to the serum glucose level of non-diabetic rat (124.65 mg/dL). Further, it considerably increased the insulin level close to that of non-diabetic rat. Thus, the polyherbal drug encapsulated with chitosan nanoparticles showed superior efficiency in antidiabetic and also diabetic complications.

Development of a smart pH-responsive nano-polymer drug, 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol conjugate against the intestinal pathogen, Vibrio cholerae

Vibrio cholerae causes cholera, an acute diarrhoeal disease. The virulence in V. cholerae is regulated by the quorum-sensing mechanism and response regulator LuxO positively regulates the expression of virulence determinants adhesion, biofilm formation, and cholera toxin production. Previous in-silico studies revealed that 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol could bind to the ATP binding site of LuxO and the complex was compact and stable in pHs like intestinal pHs. Here, we have explored the polymeric nano-formulation of 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol using cellulose acetate phthalate for controlled drug release and their effectiveness in attenuating the expression of V. cholerae virulence. Physico-chemical characterization of the formulation showed particles with a mean size of 91.8 ± 14 nm diameter and surface charge of - 14.7 ± 0.07 mV. The uniform round polymeric nanoparticles formed displayed about 51% burst release of the drug at pH 7 by 3rd h, followed by a controlled linear release in alkaline pH. The polymeric nanoparticles demonstrated a tenfold increase in intestinal membrane permeability ex-vivo. At lower concentrations, the 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol polymeric nanoparticles were non-cytotoxic to Int 407 cells. In-vitro analysis at pH 6, pH 7, pH 8, and pH 9 revealed that cellulose acetate phthalate-2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol nanoparticles were non-bactericidal at concentrations up to 500 μg/mL. At 31.25 μg/mL, the nanoparticles inhibited about 50% of the biofilm formation of V. cholerae MTCC 3905 and HYR14 strains. At this concentration, the adherence of V. cholerae MTCC 3905 and HYR14 to Int 407 cell lines were also significantly affected. Gene expression analysis revealed that the expression of tcp, qrr, and ct at pH 6, 7, 8, and 9 has reduced. The CAP-2M4VP nanoparticles have demonstrated the potential to effectively reduce the virulence of V. cholerae in-vitro.

Wettability and contact angle affect precorneal retention and pharmacodynamic behavior of microspheres

In the present study, we describe the development of betaxolol hydrochloride and montmorillonite with ion exchange in a single formulation to create a novel micro-interactive dual-functioning sustained-release delivery system (MIDFDS) for the treatment of glaucoma. Betaxolol hydrochloride molecule was loaded onto the montmorillonite by ion exchange and MIDFDS formation was confirmed by XPS data. MIDFDS showed similar physicochemical properties to those of Betoptic, such as particle size, pH, osmotic pressure, and rheological properties. Nevertheless, the microdialysis and intraocular pressure test revealed better in vivo performance of MIDFDS, such as pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. With regards to wettability, MIDFDS had a larger contact angle (54.66 ± 5.35°) than Betoptic (36.68 ± 1.77°), enabling the MIDFDS (2.93 s) to spread slower on the cornea than Betoptic (2.50 s). Moderate spreading behavior and oppositely charged electrostatic micro-interactions had a comprehensive influence on micro-interactions with the tear film residue, resulting in a longer precorneal retention time. Furthermore, MIDFDS had a significant sustained-release effect, with complete release near the cornea. The dual-functioning sustained-release carrier together with prolonged pre-corneal retention time (80 min) provided sufficiently high drug concentrations in the aqueous humor to achieve a more stable and long-term IOP reduction for 10 h. In addition, cytotoxicity and hemolysis tests showed that MIDFDS had better biocompatibility than Betoptic. The dual-functioning microspheres presented in this study provide the possibility for improved compliance due to low cytotoxicity and hemolysis, which suggests promising clinical implications.

Design of Lamivudine Loaded Nanoparticles for Oral Application by Nano Spray Drying Method: A New Approach to use an Antiretroviral Drug for Lung Cancer Treatment

AIMS

To prepare lamivudine (LAM)-loaded-nanoparticles (NPs) that can be used in lung cancer treatment. To change the antiviral indication of LAM to anticancer.

BACKGROUND

The development of anticancer drugs is a difficult process. One approach to accelerate the availability of drugs is to reclassify drugs approved for other conditions as anticancer. The most common route of administration of anticancer drugs is intravenous injection. Oral administration of anticancer drugs may considerably change current treatment modalities of chemotherapy and improve the life quality of cancer patients. There is also a potentially significant economic advantage.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the LAM-loaded-NPs and examine the anticancer activity.

METHODS

LAM-loaded-NPs were prepared using Nano Spray-Dryer. Properties of NPs were elucidated by particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential (ZP), SEM, encapsulation efficiency (EE%), dissolution, release kinetics, DSC and FT-IR. Then, the anticancer activity of all NPs was examined.

RESULTS

The PS values of the LAM-loaded-NPs were between 373 and 486 nm. All NPs prepared have spherical structure and positive ZP. EE% was in a range of 61-79%. NPs showed prolonged release and the release kinetics fitted to the Weibull model. NPs structures were clarified by DSC and FT-IR analysis. The results showed that the properties of NPs were directly related to the drug:polymer ratio of feed solution. NPs have potential anticancer properties against A549 cell line at low concentrations and non-toxic to CCD 19-Lu cell line.

CONCLUSION

NPs have potential anticancer properties against human lung adenocarcinoma cells and may induce cell death effectively and be a potent modality to treat this type of cancer. These experiments also indicate that our formulations are non-toxic to normal cells. It is clear that this study would bring a new perspective to cancer therapy.

Designing and Formulation Optimization of Hyaluronic Acid Conjugated PLGA Nanoparticles of Tamoxifen for Tumor Targeting

BACKGROUND

Tamoxifen is widely used for the treatment of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. However, it is associated with severe side effects of cancerous proliferation on the uterus endometrium. The tumor-targeting formulation strategies can effectively overcome drug side effects of tamoxifen and provide safer drug treatment.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to design tumor-targeted PLGA nanoparticles of tamoxifen by attaching hyaluronic acid (HA) as a ligand to actively target the CD44 receptors present at breast cancer cells surface.

METHODS

PLGA-PEG-HA conjugate was synthesized in the laboratory, and its tamoxifen-loaded nanoparticles were fabricated and characterized by FTIR, NMR, DSC, and XRD analysis. Formulation optimization was done by Box-Behnken design using Design-Expert software. The formulations were evaluated for in vitro drug release and cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cell lines.

RESULTS

The particle size, PDI, and drug encapsulation efficiency of optimized nanoparticles were 294.8, 0.626, and 65.16%, respectively. Optimized formulation showed 9.56% burst release and sustained drug release for 8h. The drug release was affected by non-Fickian diffusion process and supplemented further by the erosion of polymeric matrix which followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. MTT cell line assay showed 47.48% cell mortality when treated with tamoxifen-loaded PLGA- PEG-HA nanoparticles.

CONCLUSION

Hyaluronic acid conjugated PLGA-PEG nanoparticles of tamoxifen were designed for active targeting to cancerous breast cells. The results of the MTT assay showed that tamoxifen nanoparticles formulation was more cytotoxic than tamoxifen drug alone, which is attributed to their preferential uptake by cell lines by the affinity of CD44 receptors of cell lines to HA ligand present in nanoparticles.