Poly lactic-co-glycolic acid controlled delivery of disulfiram to target liver cancer stem-like cells.

Disulfiram (DS), an anti-alcoholism drug, shows very strong cytotoxicity in many cancer types. However its clinical application in cancer treatment is limited by the very short half-life in the bloodstream. In this study, we developed a poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-encapsulated DS protecting DS from the degradation in the bloodstream. The newly developed DS-PLGA was characterized. The DS-PLGA has very satisfactory encapsulation efficiency, drug-loading content and controlled release rate in vitro. PLGA encapsulation extended the half-life of DS from shorter than 2minutes to 7hours in serum. In combination with copper, DS-PLGA significantly inhibited the liver cancer stem cell population. CI-isobologram showed a remarkable synergistic cytotoxicity between DS-PLGA and 5-FU or sorafenib. It also demonstrated very promising anticancer efficacy and antimetastatic effect in liver cancer mouse model. Both DS and PLGA are FDA approved products for clinical application. Our study may lead to repositioning of DS into liver cancer treatment.

Broad-spectrum treatment of bacterial biofilms using magneto-responsive liquid metal particles.

The formation and proliferation of bacterial biofilms on surfaces, particularly those on biomedical devices, is a significant issue that results in substantial economic losses, presenting severe health risks to patients. Furthermore, heterogeneous biofilms consisting of different bacterial species can induce the increase in pathogenicity, and the resistance to antimicrobial agents due to the synergistic interactions between the different species. Heterogeneous bacterial biofilms are notoriously difficult to treat due to the presence of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and, in conjunction with the rapid rise of multi-drug resistant pathogens, this means that new solutions for anti-biofilm treatment are required. In this study, we investigate the application of magneto-responsive gallium-based liquid metal (GLM-Fe) nanomaterials against a broad range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial mono-species and multi-species biofilms. The GLM-Fe particles exhibit a magneto-responsive characteristic, causing spherical particles to undergo a shape transformation to high-aspect-ratio nanoparticles with sharp asperities in the presence of a rotating magnetic field. These shape-transformed particles are capable of physically removing bacterial biofilms and rupturing individual cells. Following treatment, both mono-species and multi-species biofilms demonstrated significant reductions in their biomass and overall cell viability, demonstrating the broad-spectrum application of this antibacterial technology. Furthermore, the loss of integrity of the bacterial cell wall and membranes was visualized using a range of microscopy techniques, and the leakage of intracellular components (such as nucleic acids and protein) was observed. Insights gained from this study will impact the design of future liquid metal-based biofilm treatments, particularly those that rely on magneto-responsive properties.

Comparison of fused-filament fabrication to direct compression and injection molding in the manufacture of oral tablets.

Oral tablets are a convenient form to deliver active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and have a high level of acceptance from clinicians and patients. There is a wide range of excipients available for the fabrication of tablets thereby offering a versatile platform for the delivery of therapeutic agents to the gastrointestinal tract. However, the geometry of tablets is limited by conventional manufacturing processes. This study aimed to compare three manufacturing processes in the production of flat-faced oral tablets using the same formulation composed of a polymer blend and caffeine as a model drug: fused-filament fabrication (FFF), direct compression (DC) and injection molding (IM). Hot-melt extrusion was used to convert a powder blend into feedstock material for FFF and IM processes, while DC was performed on the powder mixture. Tablets were produced with the same dimensions and were characterized for their physical and dissolution properties. There were statistical differences in the physical properties and drug release profiles of the tablets produced by the different manufacturing processes. DC tablets displayed immediate release, IM provided sustained release over 48 h, and FFF tablets displayed both release types depending on the printing parameters. FFF continues to demonstrate high potential as a manufacturing process for the efficient production of personalized oral tablets.

Development and characterisation of disulfiram-loaded PLGA nanoparticles for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer in both men and women. A recent phase IIb study demonstrated that disulfiram (DSF) in combination with cisplatin and vinorelbine was well tolerated and prolonged the survival of patients with newly diagnosed NSCLC. However, DSF is rapidly (4min) metabolised in the bloodstream and it is this issue which is limiting its anticancer application in the clinic. We have recently demonstrated that a low dose of DSF-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles supplemented with oral Cu inhibited tumour growth and reduced metastasis in a xenograft mouse lung cancer model. Here we demonstrate the influence of PLGA polymer, stabilizer loading and molecular weight as well as sonication time on the characteristics, including DSF release and the cytotoxicity of 10% w/w DSF-loaded PLGA nanoparticles. The paper demonstrates that the choice of PLGA as no significance on the characteristics of the nanoparticles apart from their DSF release, which is due to the differing degradation rates of the polymers. However, increasing the loading and molecular weight of the stabilizer as well as the sonication time reduced the size of the nanoparticles, reduced their ability to protect the DSF from reacting with Cu and degrading in serum, while increasing their DSF release rate and cytotoxicity. Additionally, increasing the sonication time resulted in the premature degradation of the PLGA, which increased the permeability of the nanoparticles further decreasing their ability to protect DSF from reacting with Cu and degrading in serum, while increasing their DSF release rate and cytotoxicity.

The Production of Solid Dosage Forms from Non-Degradable Polymers.

Non-degradable polymers have an important function in medicine. Solid dosage forms for longer term implantation require to be constructed from materials that will not degrade or erode over time and also offer the utmost biocompatibility and biostability. This review details the three most important non-degradable polymers for the production of solid dosage forms - silicone elastomer, ethylene vinyl acetate and thermoplastic polyurethane. The hydrophobic, thermoset silicone elastomer is utilised in the production of a broad range of devices, from urinary catheter tubing for the prevention of biofilm to intravaginal rings used to prevent HIV transmission. Ethylene vinyl acetate, a hydrophobic thermoplastic, is the material of choice of two of the world's leading forms of contraception - Nuvaring® and Implanon®. Thermoplastic polyurethane has such a diverse range of building blocks that this one polymer can be hydrophilic or hydrophobic. Yet, in spite of this versatility, it is only now finding utility in commercialised drug delivery systems. Separately then one polymer has a unique ability that differentiates it from the others and can be applied in a specific drug delivery application; but collectively these polymers provide a rich palette of material and drug delivery options to empower formulation scientists in meeting even the most demanding of unmet clinical needs. Therefore, these polymers have had a long history in controlled release, from the very beginning even, and it is pertinent that this review examines briefly this history while also detailing the state-of-the-art academic studies and inventions exploiting these materials. The paper also outlines the different production methods required to manufacture these solid dosage forms as many of the processes are uncommon to the wider pharmaceutical industry.

Development and characterisation of sustained release solid dispersion oral tablets containing the poorly water soluble drug disulfiram.

Administration of drugs via the oral route is the most common and preferred route due to its ease of administration, cost-effectiveness and flexibility in design. However, if the drug being administered has limited aqueous solubility it can result in poor bioavailability. Furthermore, the low pH of the stomach as well as enzymatic activity can result in drugs delivered via the oral route being rapidly metabolised and degraded. Here we demonstrate the development and characterisation of sustained release solid dispersion oral tablets, containing the poorly water-soluble drug disulfiram (DSF). The tablets, which are manufactured from two different polymers (Kolliphor(®) P 188 and P 237) specifically designed for the manufacture of solid dispersions and two different polymers (Kollidon(®) SR and HPMC) specifically designed to provide sustained release, can enhance the solubility of DSF, sustain its release, while protecting it from degradation in simulated gastric fluid (SGF). The paper demonstrates that when using the hot melt method at 80°C the DSF loading capacity of the Kolliphor(®) P 188 and P 237 polymers is approximately 43 and 46% respectively, with the DSF completely in an amorphous state. The addition of 80% Kollidon(®) SR to the formulation completely protected the DSF in SGF for up to 70 min with 16% degradation after 120 min, while 75% degradation occurred after 120 min with the addition of 80% HPMC. The release rate of DSF can be manipulated by both the loading and type of sustained release polymer used, with HPMC providing for a much faster release rate compared to Kollidon(®) SR.

Hot melt extruded and injection moulded disulfiram-loaded PLGA millirods for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme via stereotactic injection.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) has a poor prognosis and is one of the most common primary malignant brain tumours in adults. Stereotactic injections have been used to deliver chemotherapeutic drugs directly into brain tumours. This paper describes the development of disulfiram (DSF)-loaded biodegradable millirods manufactured using hot melt extrusion (HME) and injection moulding (IM). The paper demonstrates that the stability of the DSF within the millirods is dependent on the manufacturing technique used as well as the drug loading. The physical state of the DSF within the millirods was dependent on the fabrication process, with the DSF in the HME millirods being either completely amorphous within the PLGA, while the DSF within the IM millirods retained between 54 and 66% of its crystallinity. Release of DSF from the millirods was dependent on the degradation rate of the PLGA, the manufacturing technique used as well as the DSF loading. DSF in the 10% (w/w) DSF loaded HME millirods and the 20% (w/w) DSF-loaded HME and IM millirods had a similar cytotoxicity against a GBM cell line compared to the unprocessed DSF control. However, the 10% (w/w) DSF-loaded IM millirods had a significantly lower cytotoxicity when compared to the unprocessed control.

The use of water-soluble mucoadhesive gels for the intravesical delivery of epirubicin to the bladder for the treatment of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To develop an epirubicin-loaded, water-soluble mucoadhesive gels that have the correct rheological properties to facilitate their delivery into the bladder via a catheter, while allowing for their spread across the bladder wall with limited expansion of the bladder and increasing the retention of epirubicin in the bladder and flushing with urine. METHODS: Epirubicin-loaded hydroxyl ethyl cellulose (HEC) and hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) gels were manufactured and tested for their rheological properties. Their ability to be pushed through a catheter was also assessed as was their in-vitro drug release, spreading in a bladder and retention of epirubicin after flushing with simulated urine. KEY FINDINGS: Epirubicin drug release was viscosity-dependent. The 1 and 1.5% HEC gels and the 1, 1.5 and 2% HPMC gels had the correct viscosity to be administered through a model catheter and spread evenly across the bladder wall under the pressure of the detrusor muscle. The epirubicin-loaded gels had an increased retention time in the bladder when compared with a standard intravesical solution of epirubicin, even after successive flushes with simulated urine. CONCLUSION: The increased retention of epirubicin in the bladder by the HEC and HPMC gels warrant further investigation, using an in-vivo model, to assess their potential for use as treatment for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Development of disulfiram-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) wafers for the localised treatment of glioblastoma multiforme: a comparison of manufacturing techniques.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumour in adults with a very poor prognosis. This paper describes the development of disulfiram (DSF)-loaded biodegradable wafers manufactured using three standard techniques: compression, solvent casting and heat compression moulding. The paper demonstrates that neither technique has an adverse effect on the stability of the DSF within the wafers. However, the solvent casting technique results in an interaction between the poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and the DSF. The physical state of the DSF within the wafers was dependent on the manufacturing technique, with the DSF in the wafers manufactured by compression or solvent casting retaining between 40% and 98% crystallinity, whereas the DSF in the wafers manufactured using heat compression moulding was completely amorphous. Release of DSF from the wafers is dependent on the degradation of the PLGA, the manufacturing technique used, and the DSF loading. DSF in the compressed and heat compression moulded wafers had a similar cytotoxicity against a GBM cell line compared with the unprocessed DSF control. However, the cytotoxicity of the DSF in the solvent-casted wafers was significantly lower than the unprocessed DSF.

Preparation and characterisation of Kolliphor® P 188 and P 237 solid dispersion oral tablets containing the poorly water soluble drug disulfiram.

The oral route of administration is the most common and preferred route of drug delivery due to its ease of administration, cost-effectiveness and flexibility in design. However, limited aqueous solubility of the active pharmaceutical ingredient can result in poor bioavailability, which is a major issue for the pharmaceutical industry. Increasing numbers of new drugs are falling into class II of the Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS), where they have a low solubility and high tissue permeability, meaning that bioavailability is solubility dependent. Here we demonstrate the development and characterisation of solid dispersion oral tablets, containing the poorly water-soluble drug disulfiram, prepared using both the hot melt and solvent evaporation methods and manufactured from two different polymers, Kolliphor(®) P 188 and P 237, specifically designed for the manufacture of solid dispersions. This paper demonstrates that the disulfiram solid dispersions tablets have an enhanced release rate of disulfiram compared to the control tablets. The Kolliphor(®) P 188 polymer control tablets released approximately 48.8% of their disulfiram content over 8h, with the solvent evaporated tablets releasing approximately 65.8%, while the 60 and 80 °C hot melt tablets released approximately 73.2 and 100% of their disulfiram content respectively. A similar trend was seen with Kolliphor(®) P 237 as the control tablets released approximately 50.5% of their disulfiram content over 8h, while the solvent evaporated tablets released approximately 79.5% and the 60 and 80 °C hot melt tablets released 100.2 and 100.3% respectively. Depending on what method and polymer is used to manufacture the solid dispersions the disulfiram is either maintained completely or partially in its amorphous state and it is this which enhances its solubility and release rate from the tablets. The disulfiram in the Kolliphor(®) P 188 solvent evaporated and 60 °C hot melt tablets retained 50.5 and 44.1% of its crystallinity, while the disulfiram in the 80 °C hot melt tablets was completely amorphous. Whereas the disulfiram in the Kolliphor(®) P 237 solvent evaporated tablets retained 45.2% crystallinity, while the disulfiram in both of the hot melt tablets was completely in its amorphous form.

Preformulation and development of a once-daily sustained-release tenofovir vaginal tablet tablet containing a single excipient.

Tenofovir is a nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor that is currently being investigated as a potential HIV microbicide candidate, with a recent phase IIb study of a 1% (w/w) tenofovir gel reducing HIV acquisition by 39% in sexually active women. However, not only does a HIV microbicidal product need to be safe and effective, it also needs to be cheap and easy to manufacture. In this study, we report the development of a tenofovir-loaded tablet, manufactured using a single sustained-release polymer, which has an acceptable hardness, friability and tenofovir release rate. Furthermore, by varying both the type and molecular weight of the sustained-release polymer, as well as the particle size of both tenofovir and the sustained-release polymer, we can vary the release rate of tenofovir from the tablets.