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Bahlool AZ, Cavanagh B, Sullivan AO, MacLoughlin R, Keane J, Sullivan MPO, Cryan SA. Microfluidics produced ATRA-loaded PLGA NPs reduced tuberculosis burden in alveolar epithelial cells and enabled high delivered dose under simulated human breathing pattern in 3D printed head models. Eur J Pharm Sci 2024; 196:106734. [PMID: 38417586 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2024.106734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is second only to COVID-19 as the top infectious disease killer worldwide. Multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) may arise because of poor patient adherence to medications due to lengthy treatment duration and side effects. Delivering novel host directed therapies (HDT), like all trans retinoic acid (ATRA) may help to improve drug regimens and reduce the incidence of MDR-TB. Local delivery of ATRA to the site of infection leads to higher bioavailability and reduced systemic side effects. ATRA is poorly soluble in water and has a short half-life in plasma. Therefore, it requires a formulation step before it can be administered in vivo. ATRA loaded PLGA nanoparticles suitable for nebulization were manufactured and optimized using a scalable nanomanufacturing microfluidics (MF) mixing approach (MF-ATRA-PLGA NPs). MF-ATRA-PLGA NPs demonstrated a dose dependent inhibition of Mtb growth in TB-infected A549 alveolar epithelial cell model while preserving cell viability. The MF-ATRA-PLGA NPs were nebulized with the Aerogen Solo vibrating mesh nebulizer, with aerosol droplet size characterized using laser diffraction and the estimated delivered dose was determined. The volume median diameter (VMD) of the MF-ATRA-PLGA NPs was 3.00 ± 0.18 μm. The inhaled dose delivered in adult and paediatric 3D printed head models under a simulated normal adult and paediatric breathing pattern was found to be 47.05 ± 3 % and 20.15 ± 3.46 % respectively. These aerosol characteristics of MF-ATRA-PLGA NPs supports its suitability for delivery to the lungs via inhalation. The data generated on the efficacy of an inhalable, scalable and regulatory friendly ATRA-PLGA NPs formulation provides a foundation on which further pre-clinical testing can be built. Overall, the results of this project are promising for future research into ATRA loaded NPs formulations as inhaled host directed therapies for TB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z Bahlool
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, D02 YN77, Dublin, Ireland; Tissue Engineering Research Group, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Brenton Cavanagh
- Cellular and Molecular Imaging Core, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland RCSI, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Andrew O' Sullivan
- Research and Development, Science and Emerging Technologies, Aerogen Ltd, Galway Business Park, Dangan, Galway, Ireland
| | - Ronan MacLoughlin
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, D02 YN77, Dublin, Ireland; Research and Development, Science and Emerging Technologies, Aerogen Ltd, Galway Business Park, Dangan, Galway, Ireland; School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Joseph Keane
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Mary P O' Sullivan
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Sally-Ann Cryan
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, D02 YN77, Dublin, Ireland; Tissue Engineering Research Group, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin, Ireland; SFI Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research (AMBER) Centre, RCSI and Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; SFI Centre for Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM), NUIG & RCSI, Dublin, Ireland.
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Bahlool AZ, Fattah S, O’Sullivan A, Cavanagh B, MacLoughlin R, Keane J, O’Sullivan MP, Cryan SA. Development of Inhalable ATRA-Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles as Host-Directed Immunotherapy against Tuberculosis. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14081745. [PMID: 36015371 PMCID: PMC9415714 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14081745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Developing new effective treatment strategies to overcome the rise in multi-drug resistant tuberculosis cases (MDR-TB) represents a global challenge. A host-directed therapy (HDT), acting on the host immune response rather than Mtb directly, could address these resistance issues. We developed an HDT for targeted TB treatment, using All Trans Retinoic Acid (ATRA)-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) that are suitable for nebulization. Efficacy studies conducted on THP-1 differentiated cells infected with the H37Ra avirulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strain, have shown a dose-dependent reduction in H37Ra growth as determined by the BACT/ALERT® system. Confocal microscopy images showed efficient and extensive cellular delivery of ATRA-PLGA NPs into THP-1-derived macrophages. A commercially available vibrating mesh nebulizer was used to generate nanoparticle-loaded droplets with a mass median aerodynamic diameter of 2.13 μm as measured by cascade impaction, and a volumetric median diameter of 4.09 μm as measured by laser diffraction. In an adult breathing simulation experiment, 65.1% of the ATRA PLGA-NP dose was inhaled. This targeted inhaled HDT could offer a new adjunctive TB treatment option that could enhance current dosage regimens leading to better patient prognosis and a decreasing incidence of MDR-TB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z. Bahlool
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), 123 St. Stephens Green, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland
- Tissue Engineering Research Group, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), 123 St. Stephens Green, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, D08 9WRT Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sarinj Fattah
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), 123 St. Stephens Green, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland
- Tissue Engineering Research Group, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), 123 St. Stephens Green, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Andrew O’Sullivan
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), 123 St. Stephens Green, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland
- Research and Development, Science and Emerging Technologies, Aerogen Ltd., Galway Business Park, Dangan, H91 HE94 Galway, Ireland
| | - Brenton Cavanagh
- Cellular and Molecular Imaging Core, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland RCSI, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ronan MacLoughlin
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), 123 St. Stephens Green, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland
- Research and Development, Science and Emerging Technologies, Aerogen Ltd., Galway Business Park, Dangan, H91 HE94 Galway, Ireland
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Joseph Keane
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, D08 9WRT Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mary P. O’Sullivan
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James’s Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, D08 9WRT Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sally-Ann Cryan
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), 123 St. Stephens Green, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland
- Tissue Engineering Research Group, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), 123 St. Stephens Green, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland
- SFI Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research (AMBER) Centre, RCSI and Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
- SFI Centre for Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM), NUIG & RCSI, H91 W2TY Galway, Ireland
- Correspondence:
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Bahlool AZ, Grant C, Cryan SA, Keane J, O'Sullivan MP. All trans retinoic acid as a host-directed immunotherapy for tuberculosis. Current Research in Immunology 2022; 3:54-72. [PMID: 35496824 PMCID: PMC9040133 DOI: 10.1016/j.crimmu.2022.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is the top bacterial infectious disease killer and one of the top ten causes of death worldwide. The emergence of strains of multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has pushed our available stock of anti-TB agents to the limit of effectiveness. This has increased the urgent need to develop novel treatment strategies using currently available resources. An adjunctive, host-directed therapy (HDT) designed to act on the host, instead of the bacteria, by boosting the host immune response through activation of intracellular pathways could be the answer. The integration of multidisciplinary approaches of repurposing currently FDA-approved drugs, with a targeted drug-delivery platform is a very promising option to reduce the long timeline associated with the approval of new drugs - time that cannot be afforded given the current levels of morbidity and mortality associated with TB infection. The deficiency of vitamin A has been reported to be highly associated with the increased susceptibility of TB. All trans retinoic acid (ATRA), the active metabolite of vitamin A, has proven to be very efficacious against TB both in vitro and in vivo. In this review, we discuss and summarise the importance of vitamin A metabolites in the fight against TB and what is known regarding the molecular mechanisms of ATRA as a host-directed therapy for TB including its effect on macrophages cytokine profile and cellular pathways. Furthermore, we focus on the issues behind why previous clinical trials with vitamin A supplementation have failed, and how these issues might be overcome. Tuberculosis deaths and resistance are increasing – novel therapies are needed. Vitamin A deficiency is a strong risk factor for active tuberculosis in contacts. All Trans Retinoic Acid is a promising host-directed therapy for tuberculosis. It has pleiotropic effects on macrophages & other immune cells in vitro and in vivo. Inhaled rather than systemic All Trans Retinoic Acid therapy may be most effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Z. Bahlool
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences (PBS), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
- Tissue Engineering Research Group (TERG), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Conor Grant
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Sally-Ann Cryan
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences (PBS), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
- Tissue Engineering Research Group (TERG), Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), 123 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
- SFI Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research (AMBER) Centre, RCSI & TCD, Dublin, Ireland
- SFI Centre for Research in Medical Devices (CURAM), RCSI, Dublin and National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Joseph Keane
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Mary P. O'Sullivan
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
- Corresponding author.
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O'Leary S, Bahlool AZ, O'Connor G, Cryan SA, Keane JM, O'Sullivan MP. An Automated Culture System for Use in Preclinical Testing of Host-Directed Therapies for Tuberculosis. J Vis Exp 2021. [PMID: 34459817 DOI: 10.3791/62838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), was the most significant infectious disease killer globally until the advent of COVID-19. Mtb has evolved to persist in its intracellular environment, evade host defenses, and has developed resistance to many anti-tubercular drugs. One approach to solving resistance is identifying existing approved drugs that will boost the host immune response to Mtb. These drugs could then be repurposed as adjunctive host-directed therapies (HDT) to shorten treatment time and help overcome antibiotic resistance. Quantification of intracellular Mtb growth in macrophages is a crucial aspect of assessing potential HDT. The gold standard for measuring Mtb growth is counting colony-forming units (CFU) on agar plates. This is a slow, labor-intensive assay that does not lend itself to rapid screening of drugs. In this protocol, an automated, broth-based culture system, which is more commonly used to detect Mtb in clinical specimens, has been adapted for preclinical screening of host-directed therapies. The capacity of the liquid culture assay system to investigate intracellular Mtb growth in macrophages treated with HDT was evaluated. The HDTs tested for their ability to inhibit Mtb growth were all-trans Retinoic acid (AtRA), both in solution and encapsulated in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles and the combination of interferon-gamma and linezolid. The advantages of this automated liquid culture-based technique over the CFU method include simplicity of setup, less labor-intensive preparation, and faster time to results (5-12 days compared to 21 days or more for agar plates).
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Affiliation(s)
- Seónadh O'Leary
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin
| | - Ahmad Z Bahlool
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin; School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)
| | - Gemma O'Connor
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)
| | - Sally-Ann Cryan
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI); SFI Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research (AMBER) Centre, RCSI & TCD; SFI Centre for Research in Medical Devices (CURAM), RCSI, Dublin and National University of Ireland
| | - Joseph M Keane
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin
| | - Mary P O'Sullivan
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin;
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