Development of phospholipid complex loaded self-microemulsifying drug delivery system to improve the oral bioavailability of resveratrol

Preparation of ceftiofur-encapsulated hen-egg low-density lipoproteins and their antibacterial effects on intracellular Staphylococcus aureus

Hen egg low-density lipoprotein (heLDL), as alternative of serum-derived LDL, was used as drug delivery system of ceftiofur (CEF). The CEF-loaded hen egg low-density lipoprotein (CEF-heLDL) with complete apolipoprotein structure and high drug loading rate was synthesized, possesses suitable particle size. CEF-heLDL undergoes cellular uptake and colocalizes with lysosomes in vitro. An intracellular infection model of the bovine endometrial epithelial cells and a coeliac-induced inflammation model of mice by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were established, and significantly lower intracellular S. aureus levels of CEF-heLDL group than CEF-free group (P < 0.001) was observed. The antibacterial efficacy was sustained for 24 h. Up to 400 mg/kg of CEF-heLDL, 20 times the clinical practice, were intraperitoneally administrated, and no significant toxicity signs on mice were observed. HeLDLs is an effective, safe, and cheap drug carrier, and could also be used for transmembrane delivering other antibiotics.

Deciphering resveratrol's role in modulating pathological pain: From molecular mechanisms to clinical relevance

Pathological pain, a multifaceted and debilitating ailment originating from injury or post-injury inflammation of the somatosensory system, poses a global health challenge. Despite its ubiquity, reliable therapeutic strategies remain elusive. To solve this problem, resveratrol, a naturally occurring nonflavonoid polyphenol, has emerged as a potential beacon of hope owing to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory capabilities. These properties potentially position resveratrol as an efficacious candidate for the management of pathological pain. This concise review summaries current experimental and clinical findings to underscore the therapeutic potential of resveratrol in pathological pain, casting light on the complex underlying pathophysiology. Our exploration suggests that resveratrol may exert its analgesic effect by the modulating pivotal signaling pathways, including PI3K/Akt/mTOR, TNFR1/NF-κB, MAPKs, and Nrf2. Moreover, resveratrol appears to attenuate spinal microglia activation, regulate primary receptors in dorsal root sensory neurons, inhibit pertinent voltage-gated ion channels, and curb the expression of inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress responses. The objective of this review is to encapsulate the pharmacological activity of resveratrol, including its probable signaling pathways, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology pertinent to the treatment of pathological pain. Hopefully, we aim to map out promising trajectories for the development of resveratrol as a potential analgesic.

Fabrication of phosphatidylcholine-EGCG nanoparticles with sustained release in simulated gastrointestinal digestion and their transcellular permeability in a Caco-2 monolayer model

In this study, we prepared phosphatidylcholine (PC)-EGCG complex nanoparticles (P-E NPs) by solvent reflux method. The physicochemical properties, in vitro digestion, uptake in Caco-2 cells, and bidirectional permeability of P-E NPs were systematically investigated. The constructed P-E1.5:1 NPs had an average particle size of 118 nm, a ζ-potential of -37.8 mV, and a polymerization dispersion index (PDI) of 0.16. The encapsulation efficiency (EE) of EGCG was 85.0% and the loading capacity (LC) was 24.4%. UV spectra, FTIR, XRD and intermolecular force results indicated that hydrophobic, electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions contributed to formate P-E1.5:1 NPs. P-E1.5:1 NPs exhibited first-order kinetics sustained release properties in simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Furthermore, P-E1.5:1 NPs were able to enhance absorptive transport and inhibit efflux transport mediated by MRP2 and P-gp compared to EGCG. These results indicated that P-E1.5:1 NPs may be a potential strategy to ameliorate EGCG bioavailability.

Optimization of a Self-microemulsifying Drug Delivery System for Oral Administration of the Lipophilic Drug, Resveratrol: Enhanced Intestinal Permeability in Rat

Purpose

This study aimed to formulate Resveratrol, a practically water-insoluble antioxidant in a self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) to improve the solubility, release rate, and intestinal permeability of the drug.

Methods

The suitable oil, surfactant, and co-surfactant were chosen according to the drug solubility study. Utilizing the design of experiment (DoE) method, the pseudo-ternary phase diagram was plotted based on the droplet size. In vitro dissolution study and the single-pass intestinal perfusion were performed for the investigation of in vitro and in-situ permeability for drugs formulated as SMEDDS in rat intestine using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography.

Results

Castor oil, Cremophor® RH60, and PEG 1500 were selected as oil, surfactant, and co-surfactant. According to the pseudo-ternary phase diagram, nine formulations developed microemulsions with sizes ranging between 145-967 nm. Formulations passed the centrifuge and freeze-thaw stability tests. The optimum formulation possessed an almost 2.5-fold higher cumulative percentage of in vitro released resveratrol, in comparison to resveratrol aqueous suspension within 120 minutes. The results of the in-situ permeability study suggested a 2.6-fold higher intestinal permeability for optimum formulation than that of the resveratrol suspension.

Conclusion

SMEDDS can be considered suitable for the oral delivery of resveratrol according to the observed increased intestinal permeability, which could consequently enhance the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of the drug.

Traditional Chinese medicine monomers: Targeting pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells proliferation to treat pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a complex multifactorial disease characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary vascular remodeling (PVR), with high morbidity, disability, and mortality. The abnormal proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) is the main pathological change causing PVR. At present, clinical treatment drugs for PH are limited, which can only improve symptoms and reduce hospitalization but cannot delay disease progression and reduce survival rate. In recent years, numerous studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine monomers (TCMs) inhibit excessive proliferation of PASMCs resulting in alleviating PVR through multiple channels and multiple targets, which has attracted more and more attention in the treatment of PH. In this paper, the experimental evidence of inhibiting PASMCs proliferation by TCMs was summarized to provide some directions for the future development of these mentioned TCMs as anti-PH drugs in clinical.

The combination of polyphenols and phospholipids as an efficient platform for delivery of natural products

Although nature is a rich source of potential drugs and drug leads, the widespread application of natural products (NPs) is limited due to their poor absorption when administered orally. A strategy of using phytosome has emerged as a promising technique to increase the bioavailability of NPs. Here, a comprehensive computational investigation is performed to explore the nature of interactions in the formation of phytosomes between phosphatidylcholine (PC) and a series of polyphenols (PP), including epigallocatechin-3-gallate (Eg), luteolin (Lu), quercetin (Qu), and resveratrol (Re). Our quantum mechanical calculation revealed that the intermolecular hydrogen bonds (HBs) of phosphate and glycerol parts of PC with the polyphenol compounds are the main driving force in the formation of phytosomes. The strongest HB (with energy HB = - 108.718 kJ/mol) is formed between the Eg molecule and PC. This hydrogen bond results from the flexible structure of the drug which along with several van der Waals (vdW) interactions, makes Eg-PC the most stable complex (adsorption energy = - 164.93 kJ/mol). Energy decomposition analysis confirms that the electrostatic interactions (hydrogen bond and dipole-diploe interactions) have a major contribution to the stabilization of the studied complexes. The obtained results from the molecular dynamics simulation revealed that the formation of phytosomes varies depending on the type of polyphenol. It is found that the intermolecular hydrogen bonds between PP and PC are a key factor in the behavior of the PP-PC complex in the self-aggregation of phytosome. In Eg-PC, Lu-PC, and Qu-PC systems, the formation of strong hydrogen bonds (H_BCP < 0 and ∇²ρ_BCP > 0) between PP and PC protects the PP-PC complexes from degradation. The steered molecular dynamics simulation results have a good agreement with experimental data and confirm that the phytosome platform facilitates the penetration of PP compounds into the membrane cells.

A QbD Approach to Design and to Optimize the Self-Emulsifying Resveratrol-Phospholipid Complex to Enhance Drug Bioavailability through Lymphatic Transport

Objectives: Despite having profound therapeutic value, the clinical application of resveratrol is restrained due to its <1% bioavailability, arising from the extensive fast-pass effect along with enterohepatic recirculation. This study aimed to develop a self-emulsifying formulation capable of increasing the bioavailability of resveratrol via lymphatic transport. Methods: The resveratrol−phospholipid complex (RPC) was formed by the solvent evaporation method and characterized by FTIR, DSC, and XRD analyses. The RPC-loaded self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) was designed, developed, and optimized using the QbD approach with an emphasis on resveratrol transport through the intestinal lymphatic pathway. The in vivo pharmacokinetic study was investigated in male Wister Albino rats. Results: The FTIR, DSC, and XRD analyses confirmed the RPC formation. The obtained design space provided robustness of prediction within the 95% prediction interval to meet the CQA specifications. An optimal formulation (desirability value of 7.24) provided Grade-A self-emulsion and exhibited a 48-fold bioavailability enhancement compared to the pure resveratrol. The cycloheximide-induced chylomicron flow blocking approach demonstrated that 91.14% of the systemically available resveratrol was transported through the intestinal lymphatic route. Conclusions: This study suggests that an optimal self-emulsifying formulation can significantly increase the bioavailability of resveratrol through lymphatic transport to achieve the desired pharmacological effects.

Enhancing Bioavailability of Nutraceutically Used Resveratrol and Other Stilbenoids

Stilbenoids are interesting natural compounds with pleiotropic in vitro and in vivo activity. Their well-documented biological properties include anti-inflammatory effects, anticancer effects, effects on longevity, and many others. Therefore, they are nowadays commonly found in foods and dietary supplements, and used as a part of treatment strategy in various types of diseases. Bioactivity of stilbenoids strongly depends on different types of factors such as dosage, food composition, and synergistic effects with other plant secondary metabolites such as polyphenols or vitamins. In this review, we summarize the existing in vitro, in vivo, and clinical data from published studies addressing the optimization of bioavailability of stilbenoids. Stilbenoids face low bioavailability due to their chemical structure. This can be improved by the use of novel drug delivery systems or enhancers, which are discussed in this review. Current in vitro and in vivo evidence suggests that both approaches are very promising and increase the absorption of the original substance by several times. However, data from more clinical trials are required.