Design and evaluation of D-α tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate emulsified poly-ϵ-caprolactone nanoparticles for protein/peptide drug delivery

Lipid poly (ɛ-caprolactone) hybrid nanoparticles of 5-fluorouracil for sustained release and enhanced anticancer efficacy

AIMS

The present study aimed to develop and characterize poly (ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) based lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles for sustained delivery and in-vitro anti-cancer activity in MCF-7 and HeLa cells cancer cell line.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The nanoprecipitation method was used for the development of 5-fluorouracil loaded lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs). The developed LPHNPs were characterized for physicochemical characteristics and the anti-cancer effect was evaluated in MCF-7 and HeLa cells.

SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS

Six formulations having fixed amount of drug and varied lipid, polymer and emulsifier concentrations were prepared. The particle size was in the range of 174 ± 4 to 267 ± 2.65 nm, entrapment efficiency (92.87 ± 0.594 to 94.13 ± 0.772%), negative zeta potential, optimum polydispersity index and spherical shape. FTIR analysis shows no chemical interaction among the formulation components, DSC analysis reveals the disappearance of 5-FU melting endotherm in the developed LPHNPs suggesting amorphization of 5-FU in the developed system, XRD analysis indicates successful encapsulation of the drug in the lipid polymer matrix. The in-vitro release shows a biphasic release pattern with an initial burst release followed by a sustained release profile for 72 h. The drug loaded LPHNPs exhibited a greater cytotoxic effect than 5-FU solution due to sustained release and increased cellular internalization. The acute toxicity study revealed the safety of the developed carrier system for potential delivery of chemotherapeutic agents.

SIGNIFICANCE

The developed LPHNPs of 5-fluorouracil will provide the sustained release behavior of 5-fluorouracil to maximize the therapeutic efficacy and minimize the dose related toxicity.

Rediscovering Tocophersolan: A Renaissance for Nano-Based Drug Delivery and Nanotheranostic Applications

A unique and pleiotropic polymer, d-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (Tocophersolan), is a polymeric, synthetic version of vitamin E. Tocophersolan has attracted enormous attention as a versatile excipient in different biomedical applications including drug delivery systems and nutraceuticals. The multiple inherent properties of Tocophersolan allow it to play flexible roles in drug delivery system design, including excipients with outstanding biocompatibility, solubilizer with the ability to promote drug dissolution, drug permeation enhancer, P-glycoprotein inhibitor, and anticancer compound. For these reasons, Tocophersolan has been widely used for improving the bioavailability of numerous pharmaceutical active ingredients. Tocophersolan has been approved by stringent regulatory authorities (such as the US FDA, EMA, and PMDA) as a safe pharmaceutical excipient. In this review, the current advances in nano-based delivery systems consisting of Tocophersolan, with possibilities for futuristic applications in drug delivery, gene therapy, and nanotheranostics, were systematically curated.

Novel polyurethane-based nanoparticles of infliximab to reduce inflammation in an in-vitro intestinal epithelial barrier model

In this study we examined the potential of novel biodegradable polymers of polyesterurethane (PU), and its PEGylated (PU-PEG) form as nanocarriers of Infliximab (INF), to treat inflammation in an in-vitro epithelial model. Nanoparticles (NPs) formulated were of average size of 200-287 nm. INF loading of NPs (INF-NPs) resulted in an increase in size and zeta potential. No cytotoxicity was observed for any of the NPs. Cellular interaction and uptake of PU NPs were similar compared with polycaprolactone (PCL) NPs and significantly higher to Poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) NPs. Cellular interaction was higher for corresponding PEG-NPs. INF-PU and INF-PU-PEG NPs showed a rapid rate and extent of recovery of the epithelial barrier function in inflamed Caco-2 cell monolayers and decreased cytokine levels in inflamed monocytes. Results obtained in this study are promising and the potential of PU and PU-PEG NPs for drug delivery and targeting to treat gastrointestinal inflammation warrants further investigation.

Excipients in parenteral formulations: selection considerations and effective utilization with small molecules and biologics

Excipients form a major component of pharmaceutical formulations and are classified as any ingredient other than the active ingredient which is included within the product formulation to improve drug product performance. Functional uses of excipients include improving solubility and stability, safety and efficacy, as bulking agents in lyophilized formulations, tonicity agents, and aiding in controlled or prolonged drug delivery. Parenteral formulations are sterile, pyrogen-free; free of particulate matter and by-pass the body's natural defense mechanisms. Excipients may demonstrate a synergistic effect when combined with an active ingredient but may also lead to unwanted reactions with the drugs and packaging components. Ideal excipients are required to be considered safe, inert and multifunctional. Contrary to the past, safety of excipients needs to be well established in order for their use in the pharmaceutical formulations. Therefore, careful consideration should be given while selecting an excipient. This review article provides an overview of the excipients used exclusively in small molecule and biological parenteral products including solutions, suspensions, and lyophilized formulations, information on the possible drug-excipient and drug-packaging interactions and the regulatory requirements for the use of pharmaceutical excipients. The readers will be able to have a comprehensive understanding of the excipients used in parenteral formulations.

Determination of Formulation Conditions Allowing Double Emulsions Stabilized by PGPR and Sodium Caseinate to Be Used as Capsules

Water-in-oil-in-water (W₁/O/W₂) double emulsions stabilized by polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR), a lipophilic food grade small polymer, and sodium caseinate, a hydrophilic milk protein, were developed to encapsulate vitamin B12, a model hydrophilic substance easy to titrate. Using rheology, sensitive to drop size evolution and water fluxes, static light scattering, and microscopy both giving the evolution of drops' size and vitamin B12 titration assessing the encapsulation, we were able to detect independently the double emulsion drop size, the encapsulation loss, and the flux of water as a function of time. By differentiating the PGPR required to cover the W₁-droplets' surface from PGPR in excess in the oil phase, we built a PGPR-inner droplet volume fraction diagram highlighting the domains where the double emulsion is stable toward encapsulation and/or water fluxes. We demonstrated the key role played by nonadsorbed PGPR concentration in the intermediate sunflower oil phase on the emulsion stability while, surprisingly, the inner droplet volume fraction had no effect on the emulsion stability. At low PGPR concentration, a release of vitamin B12 was observed and the leakage mechanism of coalescence between droplets and oil-water interface of the oily drops (also called globules hereafter), was identified using confocal microscopy. For high enough PGPR content, the emulsions were stable and may therefore serve as efficient capsules without need of an additional gelling, thickening, complexion or interface rigidifying agent. We generalized these results with the encapsulation of an insecticide: Cydia pomonella granulovirus used in organic arboriculture.

Anti prostate cancer using PEGylated bombesin containing, cabazitaxel loading nano-sized drug delivery system

CONTEXT

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most-frequently diagnosed cancer in men. Cabazitaxel was approved for the treatment of patients with hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer previously treated with a docetaxel-containing regimen.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, bombesin (BN), a ligand reported to specifically target GRP overexpressing prostate tumor, was applied for the construction of lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPNs), and used for the targeted delivery of cabazitaxel (CAB) to prostate cancer.

METHODS

BN-polyethylene glycol-1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (BN-PEG-DSPE) was synthesized. CAB loaded, BN-PEG-DSPE contained LPNs (BN-CAB-LPNs) were prepared. Their particle size, zeta potential and drug encapsulation efficiency (EE) were evaluated. In vitro cytotoxicity study of BN-CAB-LPNs was tested in LNCaP human prostatic cancer cell line (LNCaP cells). In vivo anti-tumor efficacy of the carriers was evaluated on mice bearing prostate cancer model.

RESULTS

The optimum BN-CAB-LPNs formulations had a particle size of 184.9 nm and a 26.5 mV positive surface charge. The growth of LNCaP cells in vitro was obviously inhibited. BN-CAB-LPNs also displayed better anti-tumor activity than the other formulations in vivo.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrated that BN-CAB-LPNs can sufficiently deliver CAB to the cancer cells and enhance the anti-tumor capacity. Thus, BN-CAB-LPNs can be proved to be a superior nanomedicine which can achieve better therapeutic efficacy of prostate tumor.

Lysozyme-loaded lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles: preparation, characterization and colloidal stability evaluation

CONTEXT

Lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPNPs) are polymeric nanoparticles enveloped by lipid layers, which have emerged as a potent therapeutic nanocarrier alternative to liposomes and polymeric nanoparticles.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this work was to develop, characterize and evaluate LPNPs to deliver a model protein, lysozyme.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Lysozyme-loaded LPNPs were prepared by using the modified w/o/w double-emulsion-solvent-evaporation method. Poly-ɛ-caprolactone (PCL) was used as polymeric core material and tripalmitin:lechitin mixture was used to form a lipid shell around the LPNPs. LPNPs were evaluated for particle size distribution, zeta potential, morphology, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro drug release, stability and cytotoxicity.

RESULTS

The DLS measurement results showed that the particle size of LPNPs ranged from 58.04 ± 1.95 nm to 2009.00 ± 0.52 nm. The AFM and TEM images of LPNPs demonstrate that LPNPs are spherical in shape. The protein-loading capacity of LPNPs ranged from 5.81% to 60.32%, depending on the formulation parameters. LPNPs displayed a biphasic drug release pattern with a burst release within 1 h, followed by sustained release afterward. Colloidal stability results of LPNPs in different media showed that particle size and zeta potential values of particles did not change significantly in all media except of FBS 100% for 120 h. Finally, the results of a cellular uptake study showed that LPNPs were significantly taken up by 83.3% in L929 cells.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that the LPNPs prepared with PCL as polymeric core material and tripalmitin:lechitin mixture as lipid shell should be a promising choice for protein delivery.