Author Correction: Repeated dose multi-drug testing using a microfluidic chip-based coculture of human liver and kidney proximal tubules equivalents.

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Repeated dose multi-drug testing using a microfluidic chip-based coculture of human liver and kidney proximal tubules equivalents.

A microfluidic multi-organ chip emulates the tissue culture microenvironment, enables interconnection of organ equivalents and overcomes interspecies differences, making this technology a promising and powerful tool for preclinical drug screening. In this study, we established a microfluidic chip-based model that enabled non-contact cocultivation of liver spheroids and renal proximal tubule barriers in a connecting media circuit over 16 days. Meanwhile, a 14-day repeated-dose systemic administration of cyclosporine A (CsA) alone or in combination with rifampicin was performed. Toxicity profiles of the two different doses of CsA on different target organs could be discriminated and that concomitant treatment with rifampicin from day6 onwards decreased the CsA concentration and attenuated the toxicity compared with that after treatment with CsA for 14 consecutive days. The latter is manifested with the changes in cytotoxicity, cell viability and apoptosis, gene expression of metabolic enzymes and transporters, and noninvasive toxicity biomarkers. The on chip coculture of the liver and the proximal tubulus equivalents showed its potential as an effective and translational tool for repeated dose multi-drug toxicity screening in the preclinical stage of drug development.

Pharmacokinetics of PEGylated recombinant human endostatin in rhesus monkeys.

To investigate the pharmacokinetics of PEGylated recombinant human endostatin (M2ES) in rhesus monkey. M2ES was administered to rhesus monkeys by intravenous bolus injection, and serum M2ES concentration was determined by a self-developed ELISA assay. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using a non-compartmental model of WinNonlin V2.1A software. The standard curve of self-developed ELISA assay was fitted by four-parameter method. The limit of detection (LOD) and LOQ were 0.3050 ng/mL and 0.9140 ng/mL, respectively. Following IV infusions of M2ES at 0.3, 1, and 3 mg/kg in rhesus monkeys, the serum M2ES concentration-time curve was fitted with a non-compartment model. The pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated as follows: Terminal elimination half-life (T1/2) of M2ES were 3.30 ±â€¯0.70, 29.50 ±â€¯18.80 and 24.60 ±â€¯8.90 h. Systemic clearance (CLsys) of M2ES were 339.60 ±â€¯66.30, 161.40 ±â€¯18.20 and 260.10 ±â€¯43.70 mL/h/kg. AUC(0-∞) values of M2ES were 909.30 ±â€¯199.60, 6251.00 ±â€¯739.60 and 11758.00 ±â€¯2010.10 ng∙h/mL. The dosage was positively correlated with AUC, and the correlation coefficient r2 = 0.9327. Self-developed ELISA assay could meet the requirements of serum M2ES concentration detection. PEGylation modification substantially expands the circulation time of recombinant human endostatin and effectively improves its pharmacokinetic behavior.

Pharmacokinetics of PEGylated recombinant human endostatin (M2ES) in rats.

AIM: M2ES is PEGylated recombinant human endostatin. In this study we investigated the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution, and excretion of M2ES in rats. METHODS: (125)I-radiolabeled M2ES was administered to rats by intravenous bolus injection at 3 mg/kg. The pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion of M2ES were investigated using the trichloroacetic acid (TCA) precipitation method. RESULTS: The serum M2ES concentration-time curve after a single intravenous dose of 3 mg/kg in rats was fitted with a non-compartment model. The pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated as follows: Cmax=28.3 µg·equ/mL, t1/2=71.5 h, AUC(0-∞)=174.6 µg·equ·h/mL, Cl=17.2 mL·h(-1)·kg(-1), MRT=57.6 h, and Vss=989.8 mL/kg for the total radioactivity; Cmax=30.3 µg·equ/mL, t1/2=60.1 h, AUC(0-∞)=146.2 µg·equ·h/mL, Cl=20.6 mL·h(-1)·kg(-1), MRT=47.4 h, and Vss=974.6 mL/kg for the TCA precipitate radioactivity. M2ES was rapidly and widely distributed in various tissues and showed substantial deposition in kidney, adrenal gland, lung, spleen, bladder and liver. The radioactivity recovered in the urine and feces by 432 h post-dose was 71.3% and 8.3%, respectively. Only 0.98% of radioactivity was excreted in the bile by 24 h post-dose. CONCLUSION: PEG modification substantially prolongs the circulation time of recombinant human endostatin and effectively improves its pharmacokinetic behavior. M2ES is extensively distributed in most tissues of rats, including kidney, adrenal gland, lung, spleen, bladder and liver. Urinary excretion was the major elimination route for M2ES.

Pre-clinical toxicokinetics and safety study of M2ES, a PEGylated recombinant human endostatin, in rhesus monkeys.

PEGylated recombinant human endostatin (M2ES) exhibited prolonged serum half-life and enhanced antitumor activity when compared with endostatin. A non-clinical study was performed to evaluate the toxicokinetics and safety of M2ES in rhesus monkeys. After intravenous (IV) infusions of M2ES at a dose level of 3, 10, and 30mg/kg in rhesus monkeys, the concentration-time curves of M2ES were best fitted to a non-compartment model, and area under the curve (AUC) was positively correlated with the dosage. M2ES had a tendency to accumulate in vivo following successive IV infusions. Serum anti-M2ES IgG antibodies were generated quickly during IV administration, and the antibody level in serum did not significantly decrease after four-week recovery period. Animals administered IV infusions twice weekly (M2ES at 10 or 30mg/kg body weight per day) for 3months developed mild or moderate vacuolation of proximal tubule epithelial cell in proximal convoluted tubule of kidney, but this adverse-effect was reversible. In summary, M2ES was well tolerated and did not cause any serious toxicity. These pre-clinical safety data contribute to the initiation of the ongoing clinical study.

[Determination of mitomycin C in rabbit plasma by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].

An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for the determination of mitomycin C (MMC) in rabbit plasma was established. The blank rabbit plasma sample solutions added with mitomycin C and triamcinolone acetonide (internal standard, IS) were prepared. The solutions containing MMC and IS were extracted from the plasma with ethyl acetate using liquid-liquid extraction method. A Hypersil Gold C18 column (50 mm x 2.1 mm, 1.9 microm) was employed and the column temperature was set at 35 degrees C. The isocratic elution of methanol and 0.1% (v/v) formic acid aqueous solution as mobile phase was performed at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min, and a rapid separation was completed within 3 min. The electrospray was operated in the positive ionization mode and the MMC and IS were identified in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. The monitoring ions of MMC and IS were m/z 335. 2 --> 242.2 and m/z 435.2 --> 397. 3/415.2, respectively, which were used to qualify and quantify the targets by the method of matrix-matched standard solution. The calibration curve showed good linearity within the mass concentrations of 1 to 1 000 microg/L (r = 0.997 8, weighting: 1/x2). The limit of detection (S/N = 3) was 0.2 microg/L. The recoveries were from 85% to 115% at the spiked levels of 1, 5, 100 and 800 microg/L, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) of intra- and inter-day were both less than 15%. The method can meet the determination requirements of biological samples, and can be used for the determination of mitomycin C in rabbit plasma after the administration of mitomycin C. The method is selective, sensitive, convenient, rapid and reproducible in the determination of mitomycin C, and also can be used for the pharmacokinetics research of mitomycin C in plasma.

Quantification of andrographolide sodium bisulphite in urine after intravenous injection to rats by LC-MS/MS.

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of andrographolide sodium bisulphite (ASB) in rat urine was established and validated. To our knowledge, the analytical method is the first developed assay for the determination of ASB in urine samples. Dehydroandrographolide (DAG) was used as an internal standard. ASB and DAG were separated on a C(18) column and detected at negative ion mode using the mass transitions of m/z 413.2→287.2 and m/z 331.2→303.3, respectively. Good linearity was obtained over the range of 50-5000 ng/mL and the correlation coefficient was better than 0.99. The intra- and inter-day accuracy at all levels fell in the ranges of 85.8-101.4% and 87.9-97.5%, and the intra- and inter-day precision (RSD) were in the ranges of 4.3-11.2% and 8.4-13.3%, respectively. The recovery ranged from 96.1% to 98.3% and the matrix effects from 96.2% to 98.1%. Good stability was found under tested conditions. The method was successfully applied to a urinary excretion study of ASB in rats following intravenous administration of 80 mg/kg ASB.

Quantification of a novel natural antioxidant (UP302) in rat plasma using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

UP302 is a novel natural antioxidant isolated from Dianella ensifolia (Liliaceae). In the investigation, a specific and sensitive ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for quantitative determination of UP302 in rat plasma was developed and validated. UP302 and the internal standard daidzein were extracted from 100 µL aliquots of rat plasma using methanol. Detection of UP302 and IS was done by tandem mass spectrometry, operating in negative ion and selected reaction monitoring acquisition mode. The precursor-product ion transitions monitored for UP302 and daidzein were m/z 301.1→135.2 and 252.9→132.0, respectively. The linearity of the method was observed within the concentration range of 5-2000 ng/mL. Intra- and inter-day assay variations were less than 15%, and the accuracy values were between 99.2% and 107.3%. The method was successfully applied to stability investigation of UP302 incubated in rat plasma at 37°C and measurement of UP302 in plasma after intravenous administration of UP302 to rats at a single dose of 5 mg/kg. Incubation stability revealed that within first one hour, UP302 was rapidly declined approximately 35% and remained stable after 4 h. Pharmacokinetic values of half-life, volume of distribution, systemic clearance and mean residence time were 0.87 ± 0.58 h, 6.90 ± 3.35 L/kg, 5.89 ± 1.21 L/h kg and 0.34 ± 0.13 h, respectively.

[Determination of sitagliptin phosphate in rat plasma by ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].

An ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the determination of sitagliptin phosphate in rat plasma was established. The blank rat plasma sample added with sitagliptin phosphate and the internal standard (fluoxetine) standard solution were prepared. Methanol was added in the sample for the deproteinization. Then the sample was vortex-mixed and centrifuged. The clear supernatant was used for the analysis of UPLC-MS/MS. A Thermo Hypersil Gold C18 column (50 mm x 2.1 mm, 1.9 microm) was employed with a guard column of Phenomenex Security Guard C18 column (4 mm x 3.0 mm), and the column temperature was set at 35 degrees C. The gradient elution of acetonitrile and water (containing 0.05% (v/v) formic acid) as mobile phases was performed at a flow rate of 200 microL/min, and a rapid separation was completed in 5 min. The electrospray was operated in the positive ionization mode and the sitagliptin phosphate and fluoxetine were identified by selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode, and the monitoring ions of them were m/z 408.0 --> 235.0 and m/z 310.0 --> 148.0, respectively, which were used to qualify and quantity the targets by the method of matrix-matched standard solution. The calibration curve showed good linearity within the concentrations of 1 to 1 000 microg/L (r = 0.999 1); the limit of detection was 0.2 microg/L. The mean recoveries were from 85% to 115% at the spiked levels of 5, 50 and 500 microg/L; the relative standard deviations (RSDs) of intra- and inter-day of variation were both less than 15%, which can meet the determination requirements of biological samples. Then the method was initially used for the determination of sitagliptin phosphate in SD rat plasma after the administration of a single intravenous injection dose of sitagliptin phosphate. The method is rapid, sensitive, convenient and reproducible in the determination of sitagliptin phosphate, and can be used for the pharmacokinetics research of sitagliptin phosphate in plasma.