In vitro and in vivo evaluation of self-microemulsifying drug delivery system of buparvaquone.

AIM: The aim of this study was to prepare a lipid-based self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) to increase the solubility and oral bioavailability of a poorly water-soluble compound, buparvaquone (BPQ). METHODS: The solubility of BPQ was determined in various vehicles, and pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed to determine the microemulsion region. A series of formulations with different compositions were selected in the microemulsion region for assessment of self-emulsification time and droplet size. The optimized SMEDDS formulation was used for in vitro dissolution and pharmacokinetic studies in rabbits. RESULTS: The optimum formulation of SMEDDS consisted of Capryol 90 (9.82%), Cremophor EL (70.72%), Labrasol (17.68%), and BPQ (1.78%). Emulsification time and the mean droplet size were found to be 1 minute and 18.0 +/- 0.25 nm, respectively, for the optimum formulation. The cumulative percentage of drug released in 90 minutes was 100% in both SGF and SIF. The calculated absolute oral bioavailability for BPQ was found to be 40.10%. CONCLUSIONS: The optimum SMEDDS formulation was increased the rate and extent of absorption of BPQ. The formulation is suitable for oral administration of BPQ. It would be useful to conduct efficacy studies of BPQ in diseased animal models and subsequently for toxicokinetics studies.

Proteomics of Grade 3 infiltrating ductal carcinoma in Malaysian Chinese breast cancer patients.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality and morbidity among women worldwide and IDC (infiltrating ductal carcinoma) is the most common type of invasive breast cancer. The changes in the biological behaviour of cancer tissue can be predicted by measuring the differential protein expression of normal and cancerous tissues. Using a combination of SDS/PAGE and LC (liquid chromatography)-MS/MS (tandem MS), we identified 82 common and differentially expressed proteins from normal and cancerous breast tissues in 20 Malaysian Chinese patients with IDC. These proteins are extracted from the normal and cancerous tissue of patients and therefore represent the actual proteins involved in cancer development. Proteins identified possibly have significant roles in the development of breast cancer in Malaysian Chinese patients in view of their consistent expression in most of the patients, although some of the proteins had not been detected in earlier studies that were mostly carried out in Western countries. This observation suggests that molecular mechanisms leading to breast cancer development in this region may not be identical with those leading to IDC in Western regions.

Enhanced production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) copolymer with manipulated variables and its properties.

Cupriavidus sp. USMAA1020, a local isolate was able to biosynthesis poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB-co-4HB)] copolymer with various 4HB precursors as the sole carbon source. Manipulation of the culture conditions such as cell concentration, phosphate ratio and culture aeration significantly affected the synthesis of P(3HB-co-4HB) copolymer and 4HB composition. P(3HB-co-4HB) copolymer with 4HB compositions ranging from 23 to 75 mol% 4HB with various mechanical and thermal properties were successfully produced by varying the medium aeration. The physical and mechanical properties of P(3HB-co-4HB) copolymers were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, gel-permeation chromatography, tensile test, and differential scanning calorimetry. The number-average molecular weights (M (n)) of copolymers ranged from 260 x 10(3) to 590 x 10(3)Da, and the polydispersities (M (w)/M (n)) were between 1.8 and 3.0. Increases in the 4HB composition lowered the molecular weight of these copolymers. In addition, the increase in 4HB composition affected the randomness of copolymer, melting temperature (T (m)), glass transition temperature (T (g)), tensile strength, and elongation to break. Enzymatic degradation of P(3HB-co-4HB) films with an extracellular depolymerase from Ochrobactrum sp. DP5 showed that the degradation rate increased proportionally with time as the 4HB fraction increased from 17 to 50 mol% but were much lower with higher 4HB fraction. Degradation of P(3HB-co-4HB) films with lipase from Chromobacterium viscosum exhibited highest degradation rate at 75 mol% 4HB. The biocompatibility of P(3HB-co-4HB) copolymers were evaluated and these copolymers have been shown to support the growth and proliferation of fibroblast cells.

Isolation, identification and quantification of differentially expressed proteins from cancerous and normal breast tissues.

BACKGROUND: Infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDCA) is the most common type of breast cancer accounting for 85% of all invasive breast cancers. METHODS: Forty tissue specimens comprising 20 pairs of normal and cancerous tissues were analysed. The tissues were homogenized and proteins were extracted using phosphate buffer. The protein extracts from each pair of cancerous and normal tissue were separated using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the same gel. The protein profiles of both the tissues were compared, and the differentially expressed proteins that were detected at >70% in one or both of the tissue types were selected for protein identification analysis. Target proteins were excised and digested in situ with trypsin prior to liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analysis. A protein that was present in both tissue types was further quantified using extracted ions chromatogram. RESULTS: The proteins were grouped as down-regulated, up-regulated and unique proteins. Twenty-two proteins were identified and eight of the proteins were found unique to cancer. These proteins belong to various molecular classes, i.e. structural protein, hypothetical protein, cytoskeletal protein, enzyme, calcium binding protein and extracellular matrix protein. One extracellular matrix protein, namely collagen alpha-1(I) chain precursor was found unique to cancer. By virtue of its location on the cell surface and its function in cancer growth, this protein may be a biomarker candidate for breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The proteins identified in this study were present in at least 70% of the tissues tested; therefore they should have significant roles in the development of IDCA.

Factors influencing the release of Mitragyna speciosa crude extracts from biodegradable P(3HB-co-4HB).

Copolyesters of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and 4-hydroxybutyrate (4HB) were produced by Cupriavidus sp. (USMAA2-4) (DSM 19379) from carbon sources of 1,4-butanediol and gamma-butyrolactone. The composition of copolyesters produced varied from 0 to 45 mol% 4HB, depending on the combination of carbon sources supplied. The P(3HB-co-4HB) films containing Mitragyna speciosa crude extract were prepared with the ratio varying from 10 to 40% (w/w). The in vitro crude extract release of the films was studied in 0.1M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) at 37 degrees C. Although the release rate was slow, it was maintained at a constant rate. This suggests that the crude extract release was due to the polymer degradation because the amount of crude extract released was consistent. The amount of degradation was based on the films' dry weight loss, decrease in molecular weight and surface morphology changes. The degradation rate increased with the 4HB content. This showed that the polymer degradation is dependant on the molecular weight, crystallinity, thermal properties and water permeability. The different drug loading ratio which led to surface morphology changes also gave an effect on polymer degradation.

Biosynthesis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) copolymer by Cupriavidus sp. USMAA1020 isolated from Lake Kulim, Malaysia.

Cupriavidus sp. USMAA1020 was isolated from Malaysian environment and able to synthesize poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate), [P(3HB-co-4HB)] when grown on gamma-butyrolactone as the sole carbon source. The polyester was purified from freeze-dried cells and analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. 1H and 13C NMR results confirmed the presence of 3HB and 4HB monomers. In a one-step cultivation process, P(3HB-co-4HB) accumulation by Cupriavidus sp. USMAA1020 was affected by carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N). A two-step cultivation process accumulated P(3HB-co-4HB) copolyester with a higher 4HB fraction (53 mol%) in nitrogen-free mineral medium containing gamma-butyrolactone. The biosynthesis of P(3HB-co-4HB) was also achieved by using 4-hydroxybutyric acid and alkanediol as 1,4-butanediol. The composition of copolyesters varied from 32 to 51 mol% 4HB, depending on the carbon sources supplied. The copolyester produced by Cupriavidus sp. USMAA1020 has a random sequence distribution of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and 4-hydroxybutyrate (4HB) units when analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. When gamma-butyrolactone was used as the sole carbon source, the 4HB fraction in copolyester increased from 25 to 60 mol% as the concentration of gamma-butyrolactone in the culture medium increased from 2.5 g/L to 20.0 g/L.

Typhonium flagelliforme inhibits cancer cell growth in vitro and induces apoptosis: an evaluation by the bioactivity guided approach.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Typhonium flagelliforme (Lodd.) Blume (Araceae) is a Malaysian plant used locally to combat cancer. In order to evaluate its antiproliferative activity in vitro and to possibly identify the active chemical constituents, a bioactivity guided study was conducted on the extracts of this plant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The active extracts of Typhonium flagelliforme were fractionated by flash column chromatography and each fraction was evaluated for antiproliferative activity using MTT assay. The apoptotic effect of the active fraction was determined microscopically and by using TUNEL colorimetric assay. GC-MS and NMR were used to determine the chemical constituents of this active fraction. RESULTS: Several fractions of the hexane and dichloromethane extracts were found to inhibit the growth of NCI-H23 non-small cell lung carcinoma cell line significantly, with IC(50)<15 microg/ml. However, most of these active fractions were also found to inhibit the growth of non-tumorigenic BALB/c 3T3 mouse fibroblast cell line except for fraction 21 of the dichloromethane extract (D/F21). This particular fraction was not only less cytotoxic to the non-tumorigenic cells, where the IC(50) was 48.6 microg/ml compared to IC(50) 7.5 microg/ml for NCI-H23, but it was also found to induce apoptosis in the cancer cell line. GC-MS analysis revealed that D/F21 contains hexadecanoic acid, 1-hexadecene, phytol and a derivative of phytol. The presence of non-saturated fatty acids in this fraction was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. CONCLUSIONS: D/F21 was found to be the active and cancer cell line specific fraction of Typhonium flagelliforme. Its major chemical constituents had been determined spectroscopically.

Optimization and validation of RP-HPLC-UV method with solid-phase extraction for determination of buparvaquone in human and rabbit plasma: application to pharmacokinetic study.

A simple, sensitive and specific reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method with UV detection at 251 nm was developed for quantitation of buparvaquone (BPQ) in human and rabbit plasma. The method utilizes 250 microL of plasma and sample preparation involves protein precipitation followed by solid-phase extraction. The method was validated on a C18 column with mobile phase consisting of ammonium acetate buffer (0.02 m, pH 3.0) and acetonitrile in the ratio of 18:82 (v/v) at a flow rate of 1.1 mL/min. The calibration curves were linear (correlation coefficient>or=0.998) in the selected range. The method is specific and sensitive with limit of quantitation of 50 ng/mL for BPQ. The validated method was found to be accurate and precise in the working calibration range. Stability studies were carried out at different storage conditions and BPQ was found to be stable. Partial validation studies were carried out using rabbit plasma and intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy were within 7%. This method is simple, reliable and can be routinely used for preclinical pharmacokinetic studies for BPQ.