Targeting Acute Myeloid Leukemia Using Sphingosine Kinase 1 Inhibitor-Loaded Liposomes.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) kills 75% of patients and represents a major clinical challenge with a need to improve on current treatment approaches. Targeting sphingosine kinase 1 with a novel ATP-competitive-inhibitor, MP-A08, induces cell death in AML. However, limitations in MP-A08's "drug-like properties" (solubility, biodistribution, and potency) hinder its pathway to the clinic. This study demonstrates a liposome-based delivery system of MP-A08 that exhibits enhanced MP-A08 potency against AML cells. MP-A08-liposomes increased MP-A08 efficacy against patient AML cells (>140-fold) and significantly prolonged overall survival of mice with human AML disease (P = 0.03). The significant antileukemic property of MP-A08-liposomes could be attributed to its enhanced specificity, bioaccessibility, and delivery to the bone marrow, as demonstrated in the pharmacokinetic and biodistribution studies. Our findings indicate that MP-A08-liposomes have potential as a novel treatment for AML.

Role of Silica Intrawall Microporosity on Abiraterone Acetate Solubilization and In Vivo Oral Absorption.

SBA-15 mesoporous silica (MPS) has been widely used in oral drug delivery; however, it has not been utilized for solidifying lipid-based formulations, and the impact of their characteristic intrawall microporosity remains largely unexplored. Here, we derive the impact of the MPS microporosity on the in vitro solubilization and in vivo oral pharmacokinetics of the prostate cancer drug abiraterone acetate (AbA) when coencapsulated along with medium chain lipids into the pores. AbA in lipid (at 80% equilibrium solubility) was imbibed within a range of MPS particles (with comparable morphology and mesoporous structure but contrasting microporosity ranging from 0-247 m2/g), and their solid-state properties were characterized. Drug solubilization studies during in vitro lipolysis revealed that microporosity was the key factor in facilitating AbA solubilization by increasing the surface area available for drug-lipid diffusion. Interestingly, microporosity hindered hydrolysis of AbA to its active metabolite, abiraterone (Ab), under simulated intestinal conditions. This unique relationship between microporosity and AbA/Ab aqueous solubilization behavior was hypothesized to have significant implications on the subsequent bioavailability of the active metabolite. In vivo oral pharmacokinetics studies in male Sprague-Dawley rats revealed that MPS with moderate microporosity attained the highest relative bioavailability, while poor in vitro-in vivo correlations (IVIVC) existed between in vitro drug solubilization during lipolysis and in vivo AUC. Despite this, a reasonable IVIVC was established between the in vitro solubilization and in vivoCmax, providing evidence for an association between silica microporosity and oral drug absorption.

PAMAM versus PEI complexation for siRNA delivery: interaction with model lipid membranes and cellular uptake.

PURPOSE: Cationic polymers have many advantages as vectors for mediated cellular entry and delivery of siRNA. However, toxicity related to their cationic charge has compromised clinical use. It is hypothesized that the siRNA-vector complex composition and properties can be controlled to optimize therapeutic performance. Here we investigate siRNA complexes with branched polyethylenimine (bPEI) versus generation 4 polyamidoamine dendrimers (PAMAM) on interactions with immobilized lipid membranes, and cellular uptake and toxicity. METHODS: A model siRNA was complexed with either PAMAM or bPEI, and their size and zeta-potential characterized. Interaction of the complexes and parent polymers with lipid bilayers was investigated using atomic force microscopy and correlated with the uptake and toxicity in HeLa cells. RESULTS: PAMAM and its siRNA complexes formed circular shaped micron-sized holes in lipid bilayers, while bPEI formed nanoscale holes. Flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy demonstrated PAMAM-siRNA complexes to have a higher cellular uptake than bPEI-siRNA complexes. bPEI-siRNA complexes did not impact on viability, however PAMAM-siRNA complexes demonstrated increasing cell toxicity as N/P ratio increased. PAMAM-siRNA complexes accumulated around the cell nucleus, while PEI-siRNA complexes were located closer to the cell wall. CONCLUSION: Complexation of PAMAM dendrimer or bPEI with siRNA modified physicochemical properties of the parent polymer, however it did not impact on the mechanism of interaction with model lipid bilayers or how the polymer/siRNA complex interacted and was internalized by HeLa cells. Interaction of siRNA polymer complexes with cells is related to the action of the parent polymer.

Liquid crystal nanoparticle platform for increased efficacy of cationic antimicrobials against biofilm infections.

Bacterial biofilm infections tolerate high concentrations of antibiotics and are insidiously challenging to treat. Liquid crystal nanoparticles (LCNPs) advance the efficacy of tobramycin in biofilm-related infections by increasing the penetration of antibiotics across the biofilm matrix. Herewith, we develop the LCNPs as a platform technology, demonstrating that the LCNPs can increase the efficacy of two antibiotic classes (i.e. aminoglycosides and colistin) in P. aeruginosa biofilm infections. In C. elegans, the LCNPs potentiated the antimicrobial effect and significantly improved the survival of the nematodes. In mice with a full-thickness excisional wound, LCNPs were non-toxic and did not impair wound repair. Compared to the unformulated antibiotic treatment, tobramycin-LCNPs reduced the chronic bacterial load by 100-fold in the wound. This was also emulated in an ex vivo P. aeruginosa porcine wound infection model. The LCNPs represent a versatile platform technology that improves the efficacy of cationic antibiotics against biofilm infections utilizing multiple administration routes.

Tobramycin Liquid Crystal Nanoparticles Eradicate Cystic Fibrosis-Related Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms cause persistent and chronic infections, most known clinically in cystic fibrosis (CF). Tobramycin (TOB) is a standard anti-pseudomonal antibiotic; however, in biofilm infections, its efficacy severely decreases due to limited permeability across the biofilm matrix. Herewith, a biomimetic, nanostructured, lipid liquid crystal nanoparticle-(LCNP)-formulation is discovered to significantly enhance the efficacy of TOB and eradicate P. aeruginosa biofilm infections. Using an advanced, biologically-relevant co-culture model of human CF bronchial epithelial cells infected with P. aeruginosa biofilms at an air-liquid interface, nebulized TOB-LCNPs completely eradicated 1 × 109 CFU mL-1 of P. aeruginosa after two doses, a 100-fold improvement over the unformulated antibiotic. The enhanced activity of TOB is not observed with a liposomal formulation of TOB or with ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic that readily penetrates biofilms. It is demonstrated that the unique nanostructure of the LCNPs drives the enhanced penetration of TOB across the biofilm barrier, but not through the healthy lung epithelium barrier, significantly increasing the available antibiotic concentration at the site of infection. The LCNPs are an innovative strategy to improve the performance of TOB as a directed pulmonary therapy, enabling the administration of lower doses, reducing the toxicity, and amplifying the anti-biofilm activity of the anti-pseudomonal antibiotic.

Microporosity, Pore Size, and Diffusional Path Length Modulate Lipolysis Kinetics of Triglycerides Adsorbed onto SBA-15 Mesoporous Silica Particles.

Understanding lipase-mediated hydrolysis mechanisms within solid-state nanocarriers is fundamental for the rational design of lipid-based formulations. In this study, SBA-15 ordered mesoporous silica (MPS) particles were engineered with well-controlled nanostructural properties to systematically elucidate the role of intrawall microporosity, mesopore size, and particle structure on lipase activity. The microporosity and diffusional path length were shown to be key modulators for lipase-provoked hydrolysis of medium chain triglycerides confined within MPS, with small changes in the pore size, between 9 and 13 nm, showing now a clear correlation to lipase activity. Lipid speciation within MPS after lipolysis, obtained through 1H NMR, indicated that free fatty acids preferentially adsorbed to rod-shaped MPS (RodMPS) particles with high microporosity. MPS that formed aggregated spindle-like structures (AggMPS) had intrinsically reduced microporosity, which was hypothesized to limit lipase/lipid diffusion to and from the MPS pores and thus retard lipolysis kinetics. A linear correlation between the microporosity and the extent of lipase-provoked hydrolysis was observed within both AggMPS and RodMPS, ultimately indicating that the intricate interplay between the microporosity and lipid/lipase diffusion can be harnessed to optimize lipolysis kinetics for silica-lipid hybrid carriers. The new insights derived in this study are integral to the future development of solid-state lipid-based nanocarriers that control the lipase activity for improving the absorption of poorly soluble bio-active compounds.

Supersaturated-Silica Lipid Hybrids Improve in Vitro Solubilization of Abiraterone Acetate.

PURPOSE: Abiraterone acetate (AbA) is a poorly water-soluble drug with an oral bioavailability of <10% and a significant pharmaceutical food effect. We aimed to develop a more efficient oral solid-state lipid-based formulation for AbA using a supersaturated silica-lipid hybrid (super-SLH) approach to achieve high drug loading, improve in vitro solubilization and mitigate the food effect, while gaining a mechanistic insight into how super-SLH are digested and release drug. METHODS: The influence of super-SLH saturation level and lipid type on the physicochemical properties and in vitro solubilization during lipolysis of the formulations was investigated and compared to the commercial product, Zytiga. RESULTS: Super-SLH achieved significantly greater levels of AbA solubilization compared to Zytiga. Solubilization was influenced by the AbA saturation level, which determined the solid state of AbA and the relative amount of lipid, and the lipid utilized, which determined its degree of digestion and the affinity of the lipid and digestion products to the silica. A fine balance existed between achieving high drug loads using supersaturation and improving performance using the lipid-based formulation approach. The non-supersaturated SLH prepared with Capmul PG8 mitigated the 3-fold in vitro food effect. CONCLUSION: SLH and super-SLH improve in vitro solubilization of AbA, remove the food effect and demonstrate potential to improve oral bioavailability in vivo. Graphical Abstract Abiraterone acetate was formulated as silica-lipid hybrids and demonstrated enhanced in vitro solubilization in comparison to pure abiraterone acetate and commercial product, Zytiga.

A self-emulsifying Omega-3 ethyl ester formulation (AquaCelle) significantly improves eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid bioavailability in healthy adults.

PURPOSE: Application of intelligent formulation design has the ability to address the poor bioavailability and improve the fasted state bioavailability of fish oils. In this study we assessed the ability of a self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS), AquaCelle®, as an additive to enhance the oral absorption of Omega-3 ethyl esters (EE) in healthy subjects under low-fat diet conditions. METHODS: Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) EE were formulated with AquaCelle®. A single dose (680 mg dose of oil containing 272 mg of EPA EE and 204 mg of DHA EE), randomized, double-blind, study measured uptake of EPA and DHA over 24 h in healthy adults. Participants were randomized into two groups, receiving either the SEDDS AquaCelle® fish oil formulation or the unformulated fish oil EE as control. RESULTS: The AquaCelle® fish oil EE formulation demonstrated instant and complete emulsification on addition to water to produce an emulsion with an average diameter of 43 µm, compared to the oil alone which did not emulsify. The study revealed a significant difference in absorption (Cmax and AUC0-24h) between the AquaCelle® group and the control group. The AquaCelle® group was capable of increasing maximum plasma concentrations and absorption (AUC0-24h) of total Omega-3 (EPA + DHA) 3.7- and 7.1-fold, respectively, compared to the control. CONCLUSION: Formulating Omega-3 EE with a SEDSS concentrate (AquaCelle®) demonstrated a significant improvement in the oral absorption of Omega-3 fatty acids without requiring a high-fat meal.

Preparation, Physicochemical Characterisation and DoE Optimisation of a Spray-Dried Dry Emulsion Platform for Delivery of a Poorly Soluble Drug, Simvastatin.

In the presented study, insight into the development and optimisation of the dry emulsion formulation and spray drying process is provided. The aim was to facilitate the dissolution of the poorly soluble, highly lipophilic drug, simvastatin, by forming spray-dried dry emulsion particles having adequate powder flow properties, while assuring sufficient drug content. Simvastatin and a mixture of caprylic, capric triglyceride and 1-oleoyl-rac-glycerol were employed as a model drug and solubilising oils, respectively. A matrix of the dry emulsions was composed at a fixed ratio mixture of mannitol and HPMC. Tween 20 was used in low amounts as the primary emulsion stabiliser. To facilitate process optimisation, a DoE surface response design was used to study the influence of formulation and process parameters on the particle size distribution, powder bulk properties, emulsion reconstitution ability, drug stability and process yield of spray-dried products. Two-fluid nozzle geometry was identified, studied and confirmed to be important for most product critical quality attributes. Models obtained after the study showed acceptable coefficients of determination and provided good insight in the relationship governing the process and product characteristics. Five model optimised products showed adequate process yield, suitable particle size distribution, good reconstitution ability and improved dissolution profile, when compared to a non-lipid-based tablet and the pure drug. However, the obtained dry emulsion powders exhibited poor flow character according to the Carr index. The optimised product was further analysed with NMR during lipolysis to gain insight into the species formed during digestion and the kinetics of their formation.

Supersaturated Silica-Lipid Hybrid Oral Drug Delivery Systems: Balancing Drug Loading and In Vivo Performance.

Supersaturated silica-lipid hybrid (super-SLH) drug carriers are a recent strategy to improve the drug loading of oral solid lipid based formulations, however they are yet to be studied in vivo. This study investigated the in vivo pharmacokinetics (PK) of super-SLH containing ibuprofen (IBU), as a model Biopharmaceutics Classification Scheme (BCS) class II drug, analyzing the influence of supersaturated drug loading on oral bioavailability and assessing in vitro-in vivo correlation (IVIVC). In addition, super-SLH was directly compared with spray-dried SLH and Nurofen to explore its potential advantages over the well-established and commercial formulations. Fasted male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered formulation suspensions (10 mg/kg IBU) via oral gavage, and blood samples were acquired and plasma was analyzed for IBU concentrations over 24 hours. In vivo, super-SLH with drug loads of 9.5 (99.5% saturated) and 19.3% w/w (227% saturated) achieved bioavailabilities equal to spray-dried SLH and 2.2-fold greater than Nurofen. This effect diminished for super-SLH with a drug load of 29.1% w/w (389% saturated), which exhibited a bioavailability of less than Nurofen due to its greater extent of supersaturation and larger content of crystalline IBU. The super-SLH containing 19.3% w/w IBU provided the greatest PK performance, achieving the same degree of bioavailability enhancement as spray-dried SLH and requiring 63% less formulation. A significant positive IVIVC was observed between the performances of the formulations. These findings indicate the potential of super-SLH as an improved oral solid lipid based formulation strategy for enhancing oral bioavailability of other BCS class II drugs.

Enhancing oral bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs with mesoporous silica based systems: opportunities and challenges.

Porous silica-based drug delivery systems have shown considerable promise for improving the oral delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs. More specifically, micro- and meso-porous silica carriers have high surface areas with associated ability to physically adsorb high-drug loads in a molecular or amorphous form; this allows molecular state drug release in aqueous gastrointestinal environments, potential for supersaturation, and hence facilitates enhanced absorption and increased bioavailability. This review focuses primarily on the ability of porous silica materials to modulate in vitro drug release and enhance in vivo biopharmaceutical performance. The key considerations identified and addressed are the physicochemical properties of the porous silica materials (e.g. the particle and pore size, shape, and surface chemistry), drug specific properties (e.g. pKa, solubility, and nature of interactions with the silica carrier), potential for both immediate and controlled release, drug release mechanisms, potential for surface functionalization and inclusion of precipitation inhibitors, and importance of utilizing relevant and effective in vitro dissolution methods with discriminating dissolution media that provides guidance for in vivo outcomes (i.e. IVIVC).

Montmorillonite and Laponite Clay Materials for the Solidification of Lipid-Based Formulations for the Basic Drug Blonanserin: In Vitro and in Vivo Investigations.

Solid-state lipid-based formulations offer great potential for the improved oral delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs. This study investigates the use of the high-surface-area clay materials, montmorillonite and laponite, as solid carriers for lipid-based formulations. The unique cation-exchange properties of clay platelets were exploited to preload the ionizable hydrophobic compound, blonanserin, prior to encapsulating a drug-loaded lipid solution. Thus, solid-state lipid-based formulations with dual-loading capabilities were developed and studied. These formulations were compared with simple clay-based lipid formulations, where blonanserin was loaded in the lipid phase only. The drug release behavior of all clay-based formulations was assessed during in vitro dissolution studies under simulated gastric conditions and in vitro fasting intestinal lipolysis studies. Montmorillonite- and laponite-based lipid formulations significantly reduced blonanserin solubilization relative to a control lipid solution and silica-lipid hybrid particles, owing to incomplete drug release from the clay cation-exchange sites. This phenomenon was replicated during in vivo pharmacokinetic studies, whereby the bioavailability of simple clay-based lipid formulations was decreased relative to controls. Importantly, the solid-state dual-loaded montmorillonite-based lipid formulation provided an optimal pharmacokinetic performance, achieving the same degree of bioavailability enhancement as the control lipid solution. These findings indicate the potential of solid-state dual-loaded clay-based lipid formulations for increasing drug loading levels and enhancing the oral absorption of poorly soluble weak base compounds.

Spray Dried Smectite Clay Particles as a Novel Treatment against Obesity.

PURPOSE: To explore the feasibility of spray dried smectite clay particles fabricated from montmorillonite or laponite materials for adsorbing dietary lipids and reducing rodent weight gain in vivo. METHODS: Spray dried montmorillonite (SD-MMT) and spray dried laponite (SD-LAP) particles were prepared via spray drying. Particle morphology, surface area and redispersion/aggregation properties in aqueous media were characterized. The ability of SD-MMT and SD-LAP particles to inhibit lipid digestion kinetics and adsorb lipid species from solution was assessed during in vitro lipolysis using proton nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. SD-MMT and SD-LAP particles were dosed to rodents fed a high-fat diet and their effect on body weight gain was evaluated. RESULTS: Both SD-MMT and SD-LAP particles adsorbed significant quantities of medium chain triglycerides and lipolytic products from solution during in vitro lipolysis. At a concentration of 50% w/w relative to lipid content, SD-MMT and SD-LAP particles adsorbed 42% and 94% of all lipid species, respectively. SD-MMT and SD-LAP particles also reduced the extent of rodent weight gain relative to the negative control treatment group and performed similarly to orlistat via an alternate mechanism of action. CONCLUSIONS: Spray dried smectite clay particles (SD-MMT and SD-LAP) with significant adsorptive capacities for dietary lipids and digestion products were successfully fabricated. These particles may be developed as novel anti-obesity treatments with fewer adverse effects than currently marketed treatment options.

Ramizol® encapsulation into extended release PLGA micro- and nanoparticle systems for subcutaneous and intramuscular administration: in vitro and in vivo evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: Novel antibiotic Ramizol® is advancing to clinical trials for the treatment of gastrointestinal Clostridium difficile associated disease. Despite this, previous studies have shown a rapid plasma clearance upon intravenous administration and low oral bioavailability indicating pure drug is unsuitable for systemic infection treatment following oral dosing. The current study aims to investigate the development of poly-lactic-(co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) particles to overcome this limitation and increase the systemic half-life following subcutaneous and intramuscular dosing. SIGNIFICANCE: The development of new antibiotic treatments will help in combatting the rising incidence of antimicrobial resistance. METHODS: Ramizol® was encapsulated into PLGA nano and microparticles using nanoprecipitation and emulsification solvent evaporation techniques. Formulations were analyzed for particle size, loading level and encapsulation efficiency as well as in vitro drug release profiles. Final formulation was advanced to in vivo pharmacokinetic studies in Sprague-Dawley rats. RESULTS: Formulation technique showed major influence on particle size and loading levels with optimal loading of 9.4% and encapsulation efficiency of 92.06%, observed using emulsification solvent evaporation. Differences in formulation technique were also linked with subsequent differences in release profiles. Pharmacokinetic studies in Sprague-Dawley rats confirmed extended absorption and enhanced bioavailability following subcutaneous and intramuscular dosing with up to an 8-fold increase in Tmax and T1/2 when compared to the oral and IV routes. CONCLUSIONS: Subcutaneous and intramuscular dosing of PLGA particles successfully increased systemic half-life and bioavailability of Ramizol®. This formulation will allow further development of Ramizol® for systemic infection eradication.

A Topical Hydrogel with Deferiprone and Gallium-Protoporphyrin Targets Bacterial Iron Metabolism and Has Antibiofilm Activity.

Many infectious diseases are associated with multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria residing in biofilms that require high antibiotic concentrations. While oral drug delivery is frequently ineffective, topical treatments have the potential to deliver higher drug concentrations to the infection site while reducing systemic side effects. This study determined the antibiofilm activity of a surgical wound gel loaded with the iron chelator deferiprone (Def) and the heme analogue gallium-protoporphyrin (GaPP), alone and in combination with ciprofloxacin. Activity against MDR Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter johnsonii biofilms was assessed in the colony biofilm and artificial wound model by enumeration of CFU and correlative light/electron microscopy. While Staphylococcus biofilms were equally susceptible to GaPP and Def-GaPP gels (log10 reduction of 3.8 and 3.7, respectively), the Def-GaPP combination was crucial for significant activity against P. aeruginosa biofilms (log10 reduction of 1.3 for GaPP and 3.3 for Def-GaPP). When Def-GaPP gel was combined with ciprofloxacin, the efficacy exceeded the activity of the individual compounds. Def-GaPP delivered in a surgical wound gel showed significant antibiofilm activity against different MDR strains and could enhance the gel's wound-healing properties. Moreover, Def-GaPP indicated a potentiation of ciprofloxacin. This antibiofilm strategy has potential for clinical utilization as a therapy for topical biofilm-related infections.

Dual-Action Cancer Therapy with Targeted Porous Silicon Nanovectors.

There is a pressing need to develop more effective therapeutics to fight cancer. An idyllic chemotherapeutic is expected to overcome drug resistance of tumors and minimize harmful side effects to healthy tissues. Antibody-functionalized porous silicon nanoparticles loaded with a combination of chemotherapy drug and gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) are developed. These nanocarriers are observed to selectively deliver both payloads, the chemotherapy drug and AuNCs, to human B cells. The accumulation of AuNCs to target cells and subsequent exposure to an external electromagnetic field in the microwave region render them more susceptible to the codelivered drug. This approach represents a targeted two-stage delivery nanocarrier that benefits from a dual therapeutic action that results in enhanced cytotoxicity.

Comparison across Three Hybrid Lipid-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Improving the Oral Absorption of the Poorly Water-Soluble Weak Base Cinnarizine.

Three state-of-the-art drug delivery vehicles engineered by nanostructuring lipid colloids within solid particle matrices were fabricated for the oral delivery of the poorly water-soluble, weak base, cinnarizine (CIN). The lipid and solid phase of each formulation was varied to systematically analyze the impact of key material characteristics, such as nanostructure and surface chemistry, on the in vitro and in vivo fate of CIN. The three systems formulated were: silica-stabilized lipid cubosomes (SSLC), silica-solid lipid hybrid (SSLH), and polymer-lipid hybrid (PLH) particles. Significant biopharmaceutical advantages were presented for CIN when solubilized in the polymer (poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid; PLGA) and lipid phase of PLH particles compared to the lipid phases of SSLC and SSLH particles. In vitro dissolution in simulated intestinal conditions highlighted reduced precipitation of CIN when administered within PLH particles, given by a 4-5-fold improvement in the extent of CIN dissolution compared to the other delivery vehicles. Furthermore, CIN solubilization was enhanced 1.5-fold and 6-fold under simulated fasted state lipid digestion conditions when formulated with PLH particles compared to SSLH and SSLC particles, respectively. In vivo pharmacokinetics correlated well with in vitro solubilization data, whereby oral CIN bioavailability in rats, when encapsulated in the corresponding formulations, increased from SSLC < SSLH < PLH. The pharmacokinetic data obtained throughout this study indicated a synergistic effect between PLGA nanoparticles and lipid droplets in preventing CIN precipitation and thus, enhancing oral absorption. This synergy can be harnessed to efficiently deliver challenging poorly water-soluble, weak bases through oral administration.

Enabling Oral SN38-Based Chemotherapy with a Combined Lipophilic Prodrug and Self-Microemulsifying Drug Delivery System.

Oral chemotherapy with SN38 is restricted by its poor solubility in gastrointestinal (GI) fluids and low permeability. Here we report the oral delivery of SN38 by a combined lipophilic prodrug and lipid-based formulation strategy. A lead lipophilic prodrug of SN38, SN38-undecanoate (SN38-unde20), was incorporated into a self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) for improved in vitro and in vivo performance. The formulation was purposefully designed and optimized with long chain lipids and lipid-based nonionic surfactants to maximize drug solubilization in GI conditions, facilitate trans-membrane permeation, and hence improve oral absorption. SN38-unde20-SMEDDS significantly increased (>7 fold) drug solubilization in the aqueous phase compared to unformulated drug during in vitro lipolysis and drug solubilization studies. In an orally dosed in vivo pharmacokinetics study in a Dark Agouti rat model, the SN38-unde20-SMEDDS formulation confirmed oral absorption of SN38-unde20 and subsequent reconversion to SN38. Importantly, the overall plasma exposure of SN38 (AUC0→∞) was equivalent for orally dosed SN38-unde20-SMEDDS in comparison with a parenteral dose of SN38-unde20-SMEDDS and SN38 at an identical dose (10 mg/kg). The combination of lipophilic prodrug along with an optimal delivery carrier is demonstrated to enable effective oral delivery of challenging chemotherapeutic compounds that are conventionally dosed by injection.

Lipophilic Prodrugs of SN38: Synthesis and in Vitro Characterization toward Oral Chemotherapy.

SN38 (7-ethyl-10-hydroxy camptothecin) is a potent anticancer agent belonging to the camptothecin family; however, its oral delivery is extensively restricted by poor solubility in pharmaceutically acceptable excipients and low transmucosal permeability. Lipid-based carriers are well-known for their ability to improve oral absorption and bioavailability of lipid soluble and highly permeable compounds. Thus, this study has focused on improving solubility in lipid excipients, controlling stability, and enhancing transmucosal permeability of SN38 by specific chemical modification. To achieve these aims, a series of lipophilic prodrugs were designed and synthesized by esterification at the C10 and/or C20 positon(s) of SN38 with dietary fatty acids of diverse hydrocarbon chain lengths. The solubility of these novel prodrugs in long-chain triglycerides was increased up to 444-fold, and cytotoxicity was significantly reduced in comparison to SN38. The prodrugs were stable in simulated gastric fluids but exhibited different rates of hydrolysis (t1/2 < 5 min to t1/2 > 2 h) in simulated intestinal fluids (in the presence of enzymes) depending on the alkyl chain length and the position modified. A predictable reconversion of prodrugs to SN38 in plasma was also confirmed. On the basis of these studies, SN38-undecanoate (C20) was identified as the optimal prodrug. Finally, in vitro permeability and uptake studies in rat intestinal mucosal membrane using an Ussing chamber showed significant improvement in transepithelial drug transport and cellular uptake. Together, these results indicate that well designed lipophilic prodrugs have potential for the efficacious and safe oral delivery of SN38.

Pluronic-Functionalized Silica-Lipid Hybrid Microparticles: Improving the Oral Delivery of Poorly Water-Soluble Weak Bases.

A Pluronic-functionalized silica-lipid hybrid (Plu-SLH) microparticle system for the oral delivery of poorly water-soluble, weak base drugs is reported for the first time. A highly effective Plu-SLH microparticle system was composed of Labrasol as the lipid phase, Pluronic F127 as the polymeric precipitation inhibitor (PPI), and silica nanoparticles as the solid carrier. For the model drug cinnarizine (CIN), the Plu-SLH delivery system was shown to offer significant biopharmaceutical advantages in comparison with unformulated drug and drug in the silica-lipid hybrid (SLH) system. In vitro two-phase dissolution studies illustrated significantly reduced pH provoked CIN precipitation and an 8- to 14-fold improvement in the extent of dissolution in intestinal conditions. In addition, under simulated intestinal digesting conditions, the Plu-SLH provided approximately three times more drug solubilization than the SLH. Oral administration in rats resulted in superior bioavailability for Plu-SLH microparticles, i.e., 1.6- and 2.1-fold greater than the SLH and the unformulated CIN, respectively. A physical mixture of Pluronic and SLH (Plu&SLH), having the same composition as Plu-SLH, was also evaluated, but showed no significant increase in CIN absorption when compared to unmodified CIN or SLH. This work represents the first study where different methods of incorporating PPI to formulate solid-state lipid-based formulations were compared for the impact on the biopharmaceutical performance. The data suggest that the novel physicochemical properties and structure of the fabricated Plu-SLH microparticle delivery system play an important role in facilitating the synergistic advantage of Labrasol and Pluronic F127 in preventing drug precipitation, and the Plu-SLH provides efficient oral delivery of poorly water-soluble weak bases.