An innovative derivatization-free IC-MS/MS method for the detection of bisphosphonates in horse plasma.

Bisphosphonates are prohibited drugs according to Article 6 of the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). These compounds are used for the treatment of lameness, navicular and bone diseases in horses and are divided into two groups: non-nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate drugs (e.g. clodronic acid) and nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate drugs (e.g. zoledronic acid). Their hydrophilic properties and the high affinity for the bone matrix make the control of their use quite difficult. Current analytical strategies to detect such compounds often rely on a solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by detection by means of UHPLC-MS/MS after methylation with chemical reagents. To improve the analysis throughput and to eliminate the need for chemical derivatization, an innovative 96-well SPE followed by ion chromatography-mass spectrometry was developed. Analyses are conducted on an ICS-6000 HPIC system coupled to a TSQ Altis™ (Thermo Scientific™). The use of a 96-well SPE allowed 5-fold sample increase and a 6-fold throughput improvement. While preliminary results conducted on horse plasma exhibited similar performances to the method for the detection of non-nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates, the analytical performances of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates were greatly improved.

El papel de la determinación de un marcador de resorción, el telopéptido carboxiterminal del colágeno I, en la valoración del cumplimiento terapéutico en pacientes tratadas con bifosfonatos orales / The determining role of a resorption marker,carboxyterminal telopeptide of collagen I,in assessing therapeutic compliance inpatients treated with oral bisphosphonates

Objetivo: Se estima que al año entre el 50-60% de los pacientes tratados con fármacos para la osteoporosis son incumplidores. Disponemos de diferentes métodos indirectos de valoración del cumplimiento. Nuestro objetivo es testar una única determinación del telopéptido carboxiterminal del colágeno tipo I (CTX) para valorar el cumplimiento en pacientes tratadas con bifosfonatos, de forma aislada o junto al cuestionario de Morinsky-Green. Material y método: Estudio de validación diagnóstica realizado en 10 centros de Cataluña. Mediante muestreo consecutivo se seleccionaron mujeres postmenopáusicas con osteoporosis y tratadas con un mismo fármaco antirresortivo en el último año; se excluyeron aquellas tratadas con un fármaco diferente a bifosfonato, con deterioro cognitivo, enfermedad terminal, o insuficiencia renal avanzada, o fractura en el año previo. Se recogieron datos sobre el diagnóstico de osteoporosis y tipo de tratamiento. Se solicitó analítica con determinación del CTX. Como gold-standard se utilizó la tasa de posesión de medicación (Medication Possession Ratio, MPR). Mediante metodología de la curva ROC se estableció el punto de corte teórico del CTX. Se calculó la sensibilidad, la especificidad y los valores predictivos positivos para estimar el cumplimiento terapéutico. Resultados: Se incluyeron 100 pacientes, de las cuales más de la mitad recibían alendronato. Según la MPR, un 70% eran cumplidoras. El valor medio del CTX fue de 0,193±0,146 ng/ml, siendo inferior en las pacientes cumplidoras. Se estableció como punto de corte para valorar el cumplimiento un valor de 0,196 ng/ml. La valoración conjunta del CTX junto al cuestionario de Morinsky-Green presentó mayor capacidad discriminativa. Conclusiones: La realización de una única determinación del CTX (<0,196 ng/ml) junto al cuestionario de Morinsky-Green permite valorar mejor el cumplimiento terapéutico en pacientes tratadas con bifosfonatos

Objective:It is estimated that in one year between 50‐60% of patients treated with osteoporosis drugs are non‐com‐pliant. There are different indirect methods of assessing compliance. Our objective is to test a single determination ofthe carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) to assess compliance in patients treated with bisphosphonates,either on its own or together with the Morinsky‐Green questionnaire.Material and method:A diagnostic assessment study was carried out in 10 centers in Catalonia. Through consecutivesampling, postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were selected and treated with the same antiresorptive drug inthe last year. Those treated with a drug other than bisphosphonate, with cognitive impairment, terminal illness, advancedrenal failure or fracture in the previous year, were excluded. Data were collected on the diagnosis of osteoporosis andtype of treatment. Analysis was requested with CTX determination. As a gold standard, the medication possession rate(MPR) was used. Using the ROC curve methodology, the theoretical CTX cut‐off point was established. Sensitivity, spe‐cificity and positive predictive values were calculated to estimate therapeutic compliance.Results:100 patients were included, of which more than half were being treated with alendronate. According to theMPR, 70% were compliant. The mean CTX value was 0.193±0.146 ng/ml. It was lower in the compliant patients. A valueof 0.196 ng/ml was established as a cut‐off point to assess compliance. The joint assessment of the CTX together withthe Morinsky‐Green questionnaire showed greater discriminatory capacity.Conclusions:Carrying out a single determination of CTX (<0.196 ng/ml) along with the Morinsky‐Green questionnaireallows us to more accurately assess the therapeutic compliance in patients treated with bisphosphonates

Pharmacokinetics of tiludronate in horses: A field population study.

BACKGROUND: Tiludronate is a bisphosphonate drug marketed to treat different bone conditions in horses. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to measure the plasma concentrations of tiludronate in a population of race and sport horses under field conditions, and using pharmacokinetic population modelling, to estimate detection times for doping control. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort. METHODS: This study was conducted under field conditions on 39 race or sport horses diagnosed with bone conditions based on a lameness examination and treated with tiludronate. Each horse received 1 mg/kg of tiludronate (Tildren® ) intravenously (i.v.). Blood samples (from 1 to 4 per horse with a total of 93 samples) were collected around 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 days after tiludronate administration. Tiludronate was quantified by HPLC/ESI-MSn . Tiludronate concentrations were analysed using nonlinear mixed-effects modelling (population approach). Monte Carlo simulations were then used to compute a prediction interval to estimate the corresponding quantile of horses predicted to have concentrations below some potential screening limits. RESULTS: This study highlighted pharmacokinetic differences between healthy experimental horses and the population of horses being treated in the field as well as the effect of level of training on plasma tiludronate. Different detection times were computed corresponding to different possible screening limits. MAIN LIMITATIONS: The number of horses in each group was limited, and the specific disease being treated with tiludronate is unknown. CONCLUSIONS: This population pharmacokinetic study on tiludronate will enable racing and other sports authorities to provide a detection time reflecting field conditions for the medication control of tiludronate. More generally, our study design and the data modelling serve as an example of how to generate detection times directly from the target horse population rather than from experimental horses.

Safety, pharmacokinetics, and changes in bone metabolism associated with zoledronic acid treatment in Japanese patients with primary osteoporosis.

Although once-yearly intravenous administration of zoledronic acid has been reported to inhibit bone resorption and increase bone mineral density, no studies have evaluated its effectiveness in treating osteoporosis in Japanese patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics and assess the safety of and changes in bone metabolism associated with zoledronic acid treatment in Japanese patients with primary osteoporosis. This was a single-administration study with a single-blind parallel-group design. The study participants were 24 Japanese patients with primary osteoporosis. The patients were divided into two groups, with each group receiving a single injection of zoledronic acid (4 or 5 mg). Pharmacokinetics and urinary excretion were then compared, and drug-related adverse events and changes in the levels of bone turnover markers were assessed at 12 months. Mean plasma concentrations of zoledronic acid peaked in both groups immediately after administration, and decreased to 1% or less of peak levels after 24 h. Noncompartmental analysis revealed that C max and the area under the curve from time zero to infinity increased in proportion to the dose. The levels of bone resorption and formation markers decreased from day 15 and from 3 months after administration respectively, and suppression of these markers remained constant for the entire study period. No serious adverse events were reported. There was no large difference between the 4- and 5-mg groups in terms of pharmacokinetics, changes in the levels of bone turnover markers, and safety profiles. This study demonstrated acceptable pharmacokinetics and changes in bone metabolism associated with zoledronic acid treatment in female Japanese osteoporosis patients. Both the 4-mg dose and the 5-mg dose demonstrated acceptable safety and sustained antiresorptive effects for the duration of the study.

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of five bisphosphonates in equine urine and plasma.

Bisphosphonates are used in the management of skeletal disorder in humans and horses, with tiludronic acid being the first licensed veterinary medicine in the treatment of lameness associated with degenerative joint disease. Bisphosphonates are prohibited in horseracing according to Article 6 of the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering (published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities). In order to control the use of bisphosphonates in equine sports, an effective method to detect the use of bisphosphonates is required. Bisphosphonates are difficult-to-detect drugs due to their hydrophilic properties. The complexity of equine matrices also added to their extraction difficulties. This study describes a method for the simultaneous detection of five bisphosphonates, namely alendronic acid, clodronic acid, ibandronic acid, risedronic acid and tiludronic acid, in equine urine and plasma. Bisphosphonates were first isolated from the sample matrices by solid-phase extractions, followed by methylation with trimethylsilyldiazomethane prior to liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry analysis using selective reaction monitoring in the positive electrospray ionization mode. The five bisphosphonates could be detected at low ppb levels in 0.5mL equine plasma or urine with acceptable precision, fast instrumental turnaround time, and negligible matrix interferences. The method has also been applied to the excretion study of tiludronic acid in plasma and urine collected from a horse having been administered a single dose of tiludronic acid. The applicability and effectiveness of the method was demonstrated by the successful detection and confirmation of the presence of tiludronic acid in an overseas equine urine sample. To our knowledge, this is the first reported method in the successful screening and confirmation of five amino- and non-amino bisphosphonates in equine biological samples.

On-cartridge derivatization coupled with solid-phase extraction for the ultra-sensitive determination of minodronic acid in human plasma by LC-MS/MS method.

Minodronic acid (MA) is a third-generation bisphosphonate (BP). Its high potency allows lower doses to be administered in clinical settings compared with other BPs, which results in extremely low systemic exposure. Therefore, it is essential to develop an ultra-sensitive bioassay for pharmacokinetics studies of MA. In this work, we used on-cartridge derivatization of MA with trimethylsilyldiazomethane to extract MA from plasma samples and improve its LC-MS/MS behavior. The reaction produced a known derivative, tetramethylated MA, and a novel derivative, pentamethylated MA (PMMA). PMMA exhibited a better signal-to-noise ratio, and was monitored for the quantification of MA. However, the derivatization yield of d4-PMMA was much lower and more variable than that of PMMA, which decreased the effectiveness of its correction function as an internal standard. Therefore, a two-cycle derivatization approach was introduced to increase its yield and improve the reproducibility. The calibration curves of MA showed good linearity over the range of 10.0-1000 pg/mL. A lower limit of quantification of 10.0 pg/mL was achieved with acceptable precision (<10.5%) and accuracy (5.0%). The intra- and inter-batch precision of quality control samples was <9.5%, and the accuracy ranged from -2.8% to 0.6%. The stability results showed that MA was stable in human plasma for 6h at room temperature (25°C), for 115 days at -20°C, during three freeze/thaw cycles (from -20°C to 25°C), and in post-preparative samples for 24h at 4°C. The method was successfully used to characterize the pharmacokinetic profile of MA following an oral dose of 1.0mg MA hydrate to healthy volunteers (n=12). The proposed derivatization procedure was also extended to measure other BPs (risedronic acid and zoledronic acid) in human plasma at low pg/mL.

Utilizing time-lapse micro-CT-correlated bisphosphonate binding kinetics and soft tissue-derived input functions to differentiate site-specific changes in bone metabolism in vivo.

The turnover of bone is a tightly regulated process between bone formation and resorption to ensure skeletal homeostasis. This process differs between bone types, with trabecular bone often associated with higher turnover than cortical bone. Analyses of bone by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) reveal changes in structure and mineral content, but are limited in the study of metabolic activity at a single time point, while analyses of serum markers can reveal changes in bone metabolism, but cannot delineate the origin of any aberrant findings. To obtain a site-specific assessment of bone metabolic status, bisphosphonate binding kinetics were utilized. Using a fluorescently-labeled bisphosphonate, we show that early binding kinetics monitored in vivo using fluorescent molecular tomography (FMT) can monitor changes in bone metabolism in response to bone loss, stimulated by ovariectomy (OVX), or bone gain, resulting from treatment with the anabolic bone agent parathyroid hormone (PTH), and is capable of distinguishing different, metabolically distinct skeletal sites. Using time-lapse micro-CT, longitudinal bone turnover was quantified. The spine showed a significantly greater percent resorbing volume and surface in response to OVX, while mice treated with PTH showed significantly greater resorbing volume per bone surface in the spine and significantly greater forming surfaces in the knee. Correlation studies between binding kinetics and micro-CT suggest that forming surfaces, as assessed by time-lapse micro-CT, are preferentially reflected in the rate constant values while forming and resorbing bone volumes primarily affect plateau values. Additionally, we developed a blood pool correction method which now allows for quantitative multi-compartment analyses to be conducted using FMT. These results further expand our understanding of bisphosphonate binding and the use of bisphosphonate binding kinetics as a tool to monitor site-specific changes in bone metabolism in vivo.

Quantitative analysis of bisphosphonates in biological samples.

Bisphosphonate drugs pose significant challenges for bioanalysis due to various complicating factors. In 2006, a novel approach, utilizing 'on-column' derivatization with diazomethane, was reported that revolutionized the application of liquid-chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to bisphosphonates bioanalysis. The methodology enables superior biological sample clean-up while transforming bisphosphonates into species amenable to liquid-chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry detection. Since then, the approach has been successfully applied to numerous bisphosphonates. The use of an alternative methylation reagent - trimethylsilyl diazomethane - for on-column derivatization has been reported recently. This review focuses on published methods utilizing on-column derivatization for bioanalysis of major bisphosphonate drugs in biological matrices. Critical points required for successful application of on-column derivatization to the bioanalysis of bisphosphonates will be discussed.

Vitamin K nutritional status and undercarboxylated osteocalcin in postmenopausal osteoporotic women treated with bisphosphonates.

Serum undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) is an index of vitamin K nutritional status in treatment-naive postmenopausal osteoporotic women. The purpose of the present study was to reveal the association between vitamin K nutritional status and serum ucOC concentrations in postmenopausal osteoporotic women taking bisphosphonates. Eighty-six postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (age range: 47-90 years) initiated bisphosphonate treatment. Vitamin K nutritional status was evaluated using a simple vitamin K-intake questionnaire and serum ucOC concentrations were measured after 6 months of treatment. The patients were divided into two groups according to the simple vitamin K-intake questionnaire score: a low vitamin K-intake (score <40) group (n=67) and a normal vitamin K-intake (score >=40) group (n=19). There were no significant differences between the groups in baseline parameters including age, height, body weight, body mass index, serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), urinary cross-linked N-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (NTX), and changes in serum ALP and urinary NTX concentrations during the 6-month treatment period. However, the mean serum ucOC concentration after 6 months of treatment was significantly higher in the low vitamin K-intake group (2.79 ng/mL) than in the normal vitamin K-intake group (2.20 ng/mL). These results suggest that 78% of postmenopausal osteoporotic women treated with bisphosphonates may have vitamin K deficiency as indicated by low vitamin K-intake and high serum ucOC concentrations, despite having a similar reduction in bone turnover to women who have normal vitamin K-intake.

Bioequivalence study of two formulations of ibandronic acid 150-mg film-coated tablets in healthy volunteers under fasting conditions: a randomized, open-label, three-way, reference-replicated crossover study.

AIMS: This bioequivalence study aimed to compare rate and extent of absorption of a generic medicinal product of ibandronic acid 150-mg film-coated tablet versus Bonviva(®). METHODS: This was a single-centre, open-label, randomized, three-way, three-sequence, reference-replicated, crossover bioequivalence study, under fasting conditions. A single oral dose of ibandronic acid as one 150-mg film-coated tablet was administered in each study period. Each washout period lasted 14 days. Blood samples were collected according to a predefined sampling schedule and up to 48.0 hours after administraton in each period. Plasma concentrations of ibandronic acid were measured using a liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry method. Bioequivalence between generic and reference medicinal products is acceptable if the 90 % confidence intervals (CI) of ratio of least-squares means between the test and the reference product of ln-transformed area under the serum concentration-time curve from time zero to time of last measurable concentration (AUC0-t ) is within the 80.00-125.00 % interval. Prospectively, a scaled average bioequivalence approach for maximum serum concentration (C max) was established. RESULTS: 153 healthy volunteers were enrolled and randomized. After the test formulation (T) and first and second Bonviva(®) (R) dosing, the C max was 96.71 ± 90.19 ng/mL, 92.67 ± 91.48 ng/mL and 87.94 ± 60.20 ng/mL and the AUC0-t was 390.83 ± 287.27 ng·h/mL, 388.54 ± 356.76 ng·h/mL and 383.53 ± 246.72, respectively. Ratios of T/R and 90 % CI were 100.92 % (94.35-107.94) for AUC0-t , 100.90 % (94.37-107.88) for AUC0-inf and 102.56 % (95.05-110.67) for C max. CONCLUSIONS: Test formulation of ibandronic acid is bioequivalent in rate and extent of absorption to Bonviva(®) following a 150-mg dose, under fasting conditions.

HPLC/ESI-MS(n) method for non-amino bisphosphonates: application to the detection of tiludronate in equine plasma.

Tiludronate is a non-nitrogen-containing biphosphonate drug approved in equine veterinary medicine for the treatment of navicular disease and bone sparvin in horse. Its hydrophilic properties and its strong affinity for the bone have made the control of its use quite difficult. After an initial step of method development in plasma and urine, due to a strong matrix effect and erratic detection in urine, the final method development was conducted in plasma. After addition of (3-trifluoromethylphenyl) thiomethylene biphosphonic acid as internal standard, automated sample preparation consisted of a filtration on a Nexus cartridge followed by a Solid Phase Extraction on an Oasis WAX cartridge with weak anion exchange properties. After methylation of the residue with trimethyl orthoacetate (TMOA), analysis was conducted by HPLC/ESI-MS(n) on a LTQ mass spectrometer. The method has been validated with a LOD and LOQ of respectively 1 and 2.5ng/mL. Using a weighting factor of 1/concentration(2), a linear model was suitable in the range of 2.5 up to 500ng/mL. Precision and accuracy data determined at two concentrations were satisfactory (i.e. less than 15%). Carryover would have been a problem but this has finally been fixed using the additional steps of washing during robotised SPE extraction and analysis on both the autosampler and the analytical column. The method was successfully employed for the first time to the quantification of tiludronate in plasma samples collected from horses treated with Tildren™ (Intravenous administration at the dose of 0.1mg/kg/day for 10 days).

How to approach hypercalcaemia.

The management of patients with hypercalcaemia should be informed by the patient's symptoms and signs, by the degree of elevation of calcium, by the underlying mechanism by which calcium has been elevated and by the disease process underlying the presentation. Regardless of diagnosis, all significantly hypercalcaemic patients should be rendered euvolaemic before any further and more specific treatment is considered. Highly symptomatic patients and those with a calcium level of > 3.5 mmol represent a medical emergency that requires inpatient treatment.

Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of zoledronic acid in horses.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of zoledronic acid in horses. ANIMALS: 8 healthy horses. PROCEDURES: A single dose of zoledronic acid (0.057 mg/kg, IV) was administered during a 30-minute period. Venous blood was collected at several time points. Zoledronic acid concentration in plasma was measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and pertinent pharmacokinetic parameters were determined. Plasma was analyzed for total calcium, BUN, and creatinine concentrations and a marker for bone resorption (C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen). RESULTS: Zoledronic acid was safely administered IV during a 30-minute period, and no adverse effects were observed. Plasma concentrations of zoledronic acid were consistent with a 2-compartment mammillary model. Plasma concentrations of zoledronic acid were detected for up to 8 hours after administration. Mean total calcium concentrations in plasma were less than the reference range 7 days after zoledronic acid administration. A marker for bone remodeling decreased in concentration after zoledronic acid administration and remained low for the 1-year duration of the study. No changes in BUN and creatinine concentrations were observed after zoledronic acid administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Zoledronic acid was safely administered in healthy horses. Zoledronic acid is reported as the strongest bisphosphonate presently available, and studies evaluating potential benefits of zoledronic acid in horses with orthopedic conditions are warranted.

[Simultaneous determination of alendronate, pamidronate, ibandronate and risedronate using ion chromatography with integrated pulsed amperometric detection].

A method for the simultaneous determination of alendronate, pamidronate, ibandronate and risedronate using ion chromatography with integrated pulsed amperometric detection (IPAD) has been developed. The electrochemical behavior showed the catalytic currents of these bisphosphonates are based on the oxidation of amines in their structures. Because the bisphosphonates are polar compounds and present as anions under alkaline condition, therefore, they can be separated by anion exchange chromatography. A Dionex AS18 column (250 mm x 2 mm) and an AG18 column (50 mm x 2 mm) and 24 mmol/L NaOH solution were used for the separation. Multi-step potential waveform parameters were optimized to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), which exhibited adsorption/desorption catalytic features at the gold electrode surface in alkaline solution. Utilizing the optimized waveform, the method showed good linearity (r2 = 0.9972 - 0.9995), satisfactory repeatability (relative standard deviations (RSDs) of the peak areas in the range of 0.84% - 1.37%) and sufficient sensitivity (limits of detection of 0.061 - 0.18 microg/mL) for the identification of the four bisphosphonates. The recoveries were 80.81% - 97.32% with the RSDs of 1.46% - 3.02%. It is demonstrated that this method is a rapid and simple one for the determination of the four bisphosphonates in human plasma.

Progression of coronary artery calcification in renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality among renal transplant recipients. In the general population, coronary artery calcification (CAC) and progression of CAC are predictors of future cardiac risk. We conducted a study to determine the progression of CAC in renal transplant recipients; we also examined the factors associated with progression and the impact of the analytic methods used to determine CAC progression. METHODS: We used multi-detector computed tomography to examine CAC in 150 prevalent renal transplant recipients, who did not have a documented cardiovascular disease. A baseline and a follow-up scan were performed and changes in CAC scores were evaluated in each patient individually, to calculate the incidence of CAC progression. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the determinants of CAC progression. RESULTS: Baseline CAC prevalence was 35.3% and the mean CAC score was 60.0 ± 174.8. At follow-up scan that was performed after an average of 2.8 ± 0.4 years, CAC prevalence increased to 64.6% and the mean CAC score to 94.9 ± 245.7. Progression of individual CAC score was found between 28.0 and 38.0%, depending on the method used to define progression. In patients with baseline CAC, median annualized rate of CAC progression was 11.1. Baseline CAC, high triglyceride and bisphosphonate use were the independent determinants of CAC progression. CONCLUSIONS: Renal transplantation does not stop or reverse CAC. Progression of CAC is the usual evolution pattern of CAC in renal transplant recipients. Beside baseline CAC, high triglyceride level and bisphosphonate use were associated with progression of CAC.

Determination of zoledronic acid in human urine and blood plasma using liquid chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry.

A new method for the analysis of 1-hydroxy-2-imidazol-1-yl-phosphonoethyl phosphoric acid (zoledronic acid) in urine and blood samples has been developed. It consists of a derivatisation of the bisphosphonate with trimethylsilyl diazomethane under multiple methylester formation. The formed derivative can, in contrast to the non-derivatised analyte, easily be separated by reversed phase liquid chromatography due to its reduced polarity. Detection is performed by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. For calibration purposes, a deuterated internal standard has been synthesised in a three-step synthesis starting with d(4)-imidazole. For human urine, the limit of detection (LOD) is 1.2x10(-7) mol/L, limit of quantification (LOQ) is 3.75×10(-7) mol/L in the MRM mode. For human blood plasma, a LOD of 1×10(-7) mol/L and a LOQ of 2.5×10(-7) mol/L were determined. The linear dynamic range comprised 3.5 decades starting at the limit of quantification. The method was successfully applied for the analysis of spiked urine and blood plasma samples as well as samples from two osteoporosis patients.

Delivery of zoledronic acid encapsulated in folate-targeted liposome results in potent in vitro cytotoxic activity on tumor cells.

INTRODUCTION: Zoledronic acid (ZOL), a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate, is a potent inhibitor of farnesyl-pyrophosphate synthase with poor in vitro cytotoxic activity as a result of its limited diffusion into tumor cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether liposomes targeted to the folate receptor (FR) can effectively deliver ZOL to tumor cells and enhance its in vitro cytotoxicity. METHODS: ZOL was entrapped in the water phase of liposomes of various compositions with or without a lipophilic folate ligand. Stability and blood levels after i.v. injection were checked. The in vitro cytotoxic activity and cell uptake of liposomal ZOL (L-ZOL) were examined on various human and mouse cell lines. RESULTS: All formulations were highly stable and resulted in high blood levels in contrast to free ZOL which was rapidly cleared from plasma. Non-targeted L-ZOL was devoid of any in vitro activity at concentrations up to 200 microM. In contrast, potent cytotoxic activity of folate-targeted L-ZOL (FTL-ZOL) was observed, with optimal activity, reaching the sub-micromolar range, for dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylglycerol (DPPG)-containing liposomes and relatively lower activity for pegylated (PEG) formulations. IC50 values of FTL-ZOL on FR-expressing tumor cells were >100-fold lower than those of free ZOL. Compared to doxorubicin, the cytotoxicity of DPPG-FTL-ZOL was equivalent in drug-sensitive cell lines, and greatly superior in drug-resistant cell lines. When tested on the non-FR upregulated cell lines, the cytotoxicity of FTL-ZOL was lower but still superior to that of L-ZOL. The uptake of ZOL by FR-expressing tumor cells was enhanced approximately 25-fold with DPPG-FTL-ZOL, and only approximately 4-fold with PEG-FTL-ZOL. CONCLUSIONS: FR targeting of ZOL using liposomes is an effective means to exploit the tumor cell growth inhibitory properties of ZOL. DPPG-FTL-ZOL is significantly more efficient at intracellular delivery of ZOL than PEG-FTL-ZOL in FR-expressing tumor cells.

Increased prevalence of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw with vitamin D deficiency in rats.

Necrotic bone exposure in the oral cavity has recently been reported in patients treated with nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates as part of their therapeutic regimen for multiple myeloma or metastatic cancers to bone. It has been postulated that systemic conditions associated with cancer patients combined with tooth extraction may increase the risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). The objective of this study was to establish an animal model of bisphosphonate-related ONJ by testing the combination of these risk factors. The generation of ONJ lesions in rats resembling human disease was achieved under the confluence of intravenous injection of zoledronate (ZOL; 35 microg/kg every 2 weeks), maxillary molar extraction, and vitamin D deficiency [VitD(-)]. The prevalence of ONJ in the VitD(-)/ZOL group was 66.7%, which was significantly higher (p < .05, Fisher exact test) than the control (0%), VitD(-) (0%), and ZOL alone (14.3%) groups. Similar to human patients, rat ONJ lesions prolonged the oral exposure of necrotic bone sequestra and were uniquely associated with pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia. The number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick-end label-positive (TUNEL(+)) osteoclasts significantly increased on the surface of post-tooth extraction alveolar bone of the VitD(-)/ZOL group, where sustained inflammation was depicted by [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose micro-positron emission tomography (microPET). ONJ lesions were found to be associated with dense accumulation of mixed inflammatory/immune cells. These cells, composed of neutrophils and lymphocytes, appeared to juxtapose apoptotic osteoclasts. It is suggested that the pathophysiologic mechanism(s) underpinning ONJ may involve the interaction between bisphosphonates and compromised vitamin D functions in the realm of skeletal homeostasis and innate immunity.