Combined Poly(Lactide-Co-Glycolide) Microspheres Containing Diphtheria Toxoid for a Single-shot Immunization.

To develop a single-shot vaccine containing diphtheria toxoid (DT) with a sufficient immune response, poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres were prepared by water-in-oil-in-water double emulsification and solvent extraction techniques using low or high-molecular-weight PLGA (LMW-MS or HMW-MS). Stearic acid (SA) was introduced to HMW-MS (HMW/SA-MS) as a release modulator. Mean particle sizes (dvs, µm) varied between the prepared microspheres, with LMW-MS, HMW-MS, and HMW/SA-MS having the sizes of 29.83, 110.59, and 69.5 µm, respectively; however, the protein entrapment and loading efficiency did not vary, with values of 15.2-16.8 µg/mg and 61-75%, respectively. LMW-MS showed slower initial release (~ 2 weeks) but faster and higher release of antigen during weeks 3~7 than did HMW-MS. HMW/SA-MS showed rapid initial release followed by a continuous release over an extended period of time (~ 12 weeks). Mixed PLGA microspheres (MIX-MS), a combination of HMW/SA-MS and LMW-MS (1:1), demonstrated a sufficient initial antigen release and a subsequent boost release in a pulsatile manner. Serum antibody levels were measured by ELISA after DT immunization of Balb/c mice, and showed a greater response to MIX-MS than to alum-adsorbed DT (control). A lethal toxin challenge test with MIX-MS (a DT dose of 18 Lf) using Balb/c mice revealed complete protection, indicating a good candidate delivery system for a single-shot immunization.

Focal adhesion linker proteins expression of fibroblast related to adhesion in response to different transmucosal abutment surfaces.

PURPOSE: To evaluate adherence of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) to transmucosal abutment of dental implant with different surface conditions with time and to investigate the roles of focal adhesion linker proteins (FALPs) involved in HGFs adhesion to abutment surfaces. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Morphologies of cultured HGFs on titanium and ceramic discs with different surface were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Biocompatibility and focal adhesion were evaluated by ultrasonic wave application and cell viability assay. FALPs expression levels were assessed by RT-PCR and western blot. RESULTS: There seemed to be little difference in biocompatibility and adhesion strength of HGFs depending on the surface conditions and materials. In all experimental groups, the number of cells remaining on the disc surface after ultrasonic wave application increased more than 2 times at 3 days after seeding compared to 1-day cultured cells and this continued until 7 days of culture. FALPs expression levels, especially of vinculin and paxillin, also increased in 5-day cultured cells compared to 1-day cultured fibroblasts on the disc surface. CONCLUSION: These results might suggest that the strength of adhesion of fibroblasts to transmucosal abutment surfaces increases with time and it seemed to be related to expressions of FALPs.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of doxazosin in human plasma for bioequivalence study of controlled release doxazosin tablets.

A highly sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic quantification method with fluorescence detection was developed and validated for the determination of doxazosin in human plasma. The developed method employed one-step extraction of doxazosin from plasma matrix with ethyl acetate using propranolol as an internal standard. Chromatographic separation was obtained within 8.0 min using a reverse-phase Capcell-Pak C(18) column (150 x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 microm) and the mobile phase consisted of methanol-water containing 10 mM perchloric acid and 1.8 mM sodium heptane sulfonic acid (50:50, v/v) and was set at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min. The calibration curve constructed was linear in the range of 0.3-50.0 ng/mL. The proposed method achieved a lower limit of quantification of 0.3 ng/mL, better than the reported HPLC methods. Average recoveries of doxazosin and the internal standard from human plasma matrix were 87.0 and 85.9%, respectively. The present method was validated by evaluating the precision and accuracy for inter- and intraday variation in the concentration range 0.3-50 ng/mL. The precision values expressed as relative standard deviations in the inter- and intraday validation were 1.17-6.29 and 0.84-5.94%, respectively. This method was successfully applied to the bioequivalence study of two doxazosin controlled release tablets in healthy, male human subjects.

Formulation of microemulsion systems for transdermal delivery of aceclofenac.

An ONW microemulsion system was developed to enhance the skin permeability of aceclofenac. Of the oils studied, Labrafil M 1944 CS was chosen as the oil phase of the microemulson, as it showed a good solubilizing capacity. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed to obtain the concentration range of oil, surfactant, Cremophor ELP, and co-surfactant, ethanol, for micoemulsion formation. Eight different formulations with various values of oil of 6-30%, water of 0-80%, and the mixture of surfactant and co-surfactant (at the ratio of 2) of 14-70%. The in vitro transdermal permeability of aceclofenac from the microemulsions was evaluated using Franz diffusion cells mounted with rat skin. The level of aceclofenac permeated was analyzed by HPLC and the droplet size of the microemulsions was characterized using a Zetasizer Nano-ZS. Terpenes were added to the microemulsions at a level of 5%, and their effects on the skin permeation of aceclofenac were investigated. The mean diameters of the microemulsions ranged between approximately 10-100 nm, and the skin permeability of the aceclofenac incorporated into the microemulsion systems was 5-fold higher than that of the ethanol vehicle. Of the various terpenes added, limonene had the best enhancing ability. These results indicate that the microemulsion system studied is a promising tool for the percutaneous delivery of aceclofenac.

Kinetic characterization of swelling of liquid crystalline phases of glyceryl monooleate.

Research in this paper focuses on the kinetic evaluation of swelling of the liquid crystalline phases of glyceryl monooleate (GMO). Swelling of the lamellar and cubic liquid crystalline phases of GMO was studied using two in vitro methods, a total immersion method and a Franz cell method. The swelling of the lamellar phase and GMO having 0 %w/w initial water content was temperature dependent. The swelling ratio was greater at 20 degrees C than 37 degrees C. The water uptake increased dramatically with decreasing initial water content of the liquid crystalline phases. The swelling rates obtained using the Franz cell method with a moist nylon membrane to mimic buccal drug delivery situation were slower than the total immersion method. The swelling was studied by employing first-order and second-order swelling kinetics. The swelling of the liquid crystalline phases of GMO could be described by second-order swelling kinetics. The initial stage of the swelling (t < 4 h) followed the square root of time relationship, indicating that this model is also suitable for describing the water uptake by the liquid crystalline matrices. These results obtained from the current study demonstrate that the swelling strongly depends on temperature, the initial water content of the liquid crystalline phases and the methodology employed for measuring the swelling of GMO.