7-Deaza-7-fluoro-2'-C-methyladenosine inhibits Zika virus infection and viral-induced neuroinflammation

Zika virus (ZIKV) has gained a lot of attention in the past few years due to its rapid spread worldwide and its close association to severe neurological outcomes, such as microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome. In this study, the in vitro and in vivo anti-ZIKV activity of 7-deaza-7-fluoro-2'-C-methyl-adenosine (DFMA) was evaluated. In vitro, using primary mouse neuronal cells and human neural stem cells infected by ZIKV, treatment with DFMA resulted in impaired viral replication and protection against virus-induced cell death. In vivo, when administrated prior to infection, DFMA prevented lethality and markedly reduced viral loads and neuroinflammation, including microgliosis and overall brain damage. Additionally, as an early therapeutic treatment, DFMA increased survival rates in mice. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that the nucleoside analog DFMA inhibits ZIKV infection and viral-induced neuroinflammation in vitro and in vivo without apparent untoward effects, suggesting it may be useful in individuals infected with ZIKV.

NVP-BEZ235 (Dactolisib) Has Protective Effects in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the main cause of dementia. Its major symptom is memory loss, which is a result of neuronal cell death, which is accompanied by neuroinflammation. Some studies indicate the overactivation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in this disease, being, thus, a potential target for pharmacological treatment. Here, we used a transgenic mouse model of AD that expresses a mutant amyloid-β precursor protein (T41 mice) to investigate the effects of dactolisib (alternative name: NVP-BEZ235, abbreviation BEZ), a dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor. Ten-months-old T41 animals were treated for 14 days with BEZ or vehicle via oral gavage and then submitted to social memory, open field and contextual conditioned fear tests. Hippocampal slices were prepared and Aβ_1-42 content, NeuN, Iba-1, CD68 and GFAP were evaluated. Tissues were further processed to evaluate cytokines levels through cytometric bead array. The treatment with BEZ (5 mg/kg) reduced social memory impairment in T41 mice. However, BEZ did not have any effect on altered Aβ levels, NeuN, or GFAP staining. The drug reduced the CD68/Iba-1 ratio in CA3 region of hippocampus. Finally, BEZ diminished IL-10 levels in T41 mice. Thus, although its mechanisms are not clear, BEZ protects against memory impairment, reduces microglial activation and reestablishes IL-10 levels, revealing beneficial effects, which should be further investigated for the treatment of AD.

Compressional characterization of two dextrose-based directly compressible excipients using an instrumented tablet press

The main objective of this work was to evaluate the compaction behavior and record the work and the force involved in the compaction of blends and granules of two dextrose-based directly compressed excipients using a single-punch instrumented tablet press. The second objective was to identify the predominant form of deformation for the two different directly compressible excipients. Anhydrous theophylline (10% w/w) was used as a drug model, Emdex and/or Maltrin M 510 (89.5% w/w) were used as diluent, and magnesium stearate (0.5% w/w) was used as lubricant. All formulations were compressed at four different compressional forces and at a target tablet weight of 450 mg +/- 5%. Results show that compacts prepared from Emdex using the direct compression method produced the lowest elastic work and die wall friction, and the best degree of lubrication. Wet granulation for Maltrin M 510 decreased elastic work, frictional work, and ejection force, and enhanced both net work and degree of lubrication. In general, wet granulation for both Emdex and Maltrin M 510 decreased the crushing strength of the tablets and enhanced the degree of lubrication, compared to direct compression formulations. All formulations showed similar shape pattern for plastic deformation, suggesting that the predominant mechanism of deformation is plastic deformation type a Heckel plots.

Evaluation of two dextrose-based directly compressible excipients

The objectives of this research were to evaluate the physical properties and compaction behavior of two dextrose-based directly compressed excipients. Anhydrous theophylline (10% w/w) was used as a drug model, Emdex and or Maltrin M510 (89.5% w/w) were used as diluent, and magnesium stearate (0.5% w/w) was used as lubricant. Direct compression and wet granulation methods were used for preparing the compacts. In general, the wet granulation method reduced the density of the mixture and consequently its flow rate compared to the mixture prepared only by solid-solid mixing. All formulations were compressed at four different compressional forces and at a target weight of 450 mg +/- 5%. Tablets obtained were different in physical properties and mechanical strength based on type of excipient used and methods of tablet preparation (direct compression versus wet granulation). Compacts prepared from Maltrin M510 had a longer disintegration time and slower drug release than compacts of the same composition but prepared with Emdex. Disintegration time and drug dissolution from tablets containing Maltrin M510 as diluent and prepared by wet granulation appeared to be controlled by a "gel" layer formation around the tablets and not by the tablets porosity. This study demonstrates that full characterization of excipients is needed because a different manufacturing process for the same excipients may produce differences in the pharmaceutical products.