Effect of nanovesicular surface-functionalization via chitosan and/or PEGylation on cytotoxicity of tamoxifen in induced-breast cancer model.

AIMS: The effect of surface-modification of Tamoxifen (Tam)-loaded-niosomes on drug cytotoxicity and bio-distribution, via functionalization with chitosan and/or PEGylation, was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tam-loaded hybrid-nanocarriers (Tam-loaded niosomes, chitosomes, PEGylated niosomes, and PEGylated chitosomes) were formulated and characterized. KEY FINDINGS: Chitosanization with/without PEGylation proved to selectively enhance Tam-release at the cancerous-acidic micromilieu. Cytotoxic activity study showed that Tam-loaded PEGylated niosomes had a lower IC50 value on MCF-7 cell line (0.39, 0.35, and 0.27 times) than Tam-loaded PEGylated chitosomes, Tam-loaded niosomes, and Tam-loaded chitosomes, respectively. Cell cycle analysis showed that PEGylation and/or Chitosanization significantly impact Tam efficiency in inducing apoptosis, with a preferential influence of PEGylation over chitosanization. The assay of Annexin-V/PI double staining revealed that chitosanized-nanocarriers had a significant role in increasing the incidence of apoptosis over necrosis. Besides, PEGylated-nanocarriers increased apoptosis, as well as total death and necrosis percentages more than what was shown from free Tam. Moreover, the average changes in both Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and Caspase 9 were best improved in cells treated by Tam-loaded PEGylated niosomes over all other formulations. The in-vivo study involving DMBA-induced-breast cancer rats revealed that PEGylation made the highest tumor-growth inhibition (84.9 %) and breast tumor selectivity, while chitosanization had a lower accumulation tendency in the blood (62.3 ng/ml) and liver tissues (103.67 ng/ml). The histopathological specimens from the group treated with Tam-loaded PEGylated niosomes showed the best improvement over other formulations. SIGNIFICANCE: All these results concluded the crucial effect of both PEGylation and chitosan-functionalization of Tam-loaded niosomes in enhancing effectiveness, targetability, and safety.

Formulation and optimization of drug-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticle-based tablets to improve the dissolution rate of the poorly water-soluble drug silymarin.

Porous carriers have been put forward as a promising alternative for stabilizing the amorphous state of loaded drugs, and thus significantly improving the dissolution rate of poorly soluble compounds. The purpose of this study was to enhance the saturation solubility, dissolution rate and drug loading of the poorly water-soluble drug silymarin via incorporation into mesoporous silica nanospheres within a lyophilized tablet to obtain a unique formulation. 32 full factorial design was applied to study the effect of both independent variables, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as stabilizer and binder and sucrose as cryoprotectant and disintegrant; and on the dependent variables that included the mean particle size (Y1), disintegration time (Y2), tablet strength (Y3) and % of drug release after 2 min, R2min,Y4. The drug-loaded mesoporous silica nanospheres and the optimized formula was evaluated by different characterization methods: scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffractometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; as well as drug content, saturation solubility and moisture content. The evaluation demonstrated that the loaded mesoporous silica nanospheres and the optimized formula are in amorphous state without any chemical interaction with the silica matrix or the stabilizer. Moreover, the drug was stably maintained in nanosize range with narrow particle size distribution. Furthermore, the optimized lyophilized tablets had highly porous structure, low friability (less than 1%), fast disintegration (less than 30 s), high tablet strength, low moisture content (less than 1%), remarkably increased dissolution rate and noticeable improvement in saturation solubility.

Real-Time Label-Free Targeting Assessment and in Vitro Characterization of Curcumin-Loaded Poly-lactic-co-glycolic Acid Nanoparticles for Oral Colon Targeting.

The exploitation of curcumin for oral disease treatment is limited by its low solubility, poor bioavailability, and low stability. Surface-functionalized poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) have shown promising results to ameliorate selective delivery of drugs to the gastro-intestinal tract. In this study, curcumin-loaded PLGA NPs (C-PLGA NPs) of about 200 nm were surface-coated with chitosan (CS) for gastro-intestinal mucosa adhesion, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) for colon targeting or GE11 peptide for tumor colon targeting. Spectrometric and zeta potential analyses confirmed the successful functionalization of the C-PLGA NPs. Real-time label-free assessment of the cell membrane-NP interactions and NP cell uptake were performed by quartz crystal microbalance coupled with supported lipid bilayers and by surface plasmon resonance coupled with living cells. The study showed that CS-coated C-PLGA NPs interact with cells by the electrostatic mechanism, while both WGA- and GE11-coated C-PLGA NPs interact and are taken up by cells by specific active mechanisms. In vitro cell uptake studies corroborated the real-time label-free assessment by yielding a curcumin cell uptake of 7.3 ± 0.3, 13.5 ± 1.0, 27.3 ± 4.9, and 26.0 ± 1.3 µg per 104 HT-29 cells for noncoated, CS-, WGA-, and GE11-coated C-PLGA NPs, respectively. Finally, preliminary in vivo studies showed that the WGA-coated C-PLGA NPs efficiently accumulate in the colon after oral administration to healthy Balb/c mice. In summary, the WGA- and GE11-coated C-PLGA NPs displayed high potential for application as active targeted carriers for anticancer drug delivery to the colon.

Formulation and optimization of lyophilized nanosuspension tablets to improve the physicochemical properties and provide immediate release of silymarin.

Silymarin (SLM) is a hepatoprotective herbal drug characterized by low aqueous solubility and, consequently, low oral bioavailability. The objective of this study was to enhance the physiochemical properties of SLM, through preparation and optimization of lyophilized nanosuspension tablets (LNTs). LNTs were prepared by sonoprecipitation technique followed by a freeze-drying process using both polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as stabilizer and binder, and mannitol as cryoprotectant and disintegrating agent. 32 full factorial design (FFD) was applied to study the effect of independent variables at different concentrations of both PVA (X1) and mannitol (X2) on the dependent variables that included mean particle size (Y1), disintegration time (Y2), friability % (Y3) and time required to release 90% of the drug (Y4). Several physicochemical evaluations were implemented on the optimized formula; for instance differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. These analyses demonstrated that the drug was in an amorphous state, stable in nanosize range and displayed no chemical interaction with the polymer. Moreover, the optimized formula had highly porous structure, rapid disintegration, friability with less than 1% and noticeable improvement in saturation solubility and dissolution rate.

Tolmetin sodium-loaded thermosensitive mucoadhesive liquid suppositories for rectal delivery; strategy to overcome oral delivery drawbacks.

Tolmetin sodium (TS) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) indicated for treatment of musculoskeletal issues. As other NSAID, TS displays a marked side effects on the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract after oral administration. Traditional solid suppositories can cause pain and discomfort for patients, may reach the end of the colon; consequently, the drug can undergo the first-pass effect. TS liquid suppository (TS-LS) was developed to enhance patient compliance and rectal mucosal safety in high-risk patients receiving highly NSAID therapy. This work was conducted to optimize and evaluate Poloxamer P407/P188-based thermoresponsive TS-LS by using mucoadhesive polymers such as methylcellulose (MC). TS-LS was prepared by cold method and characterized their in vitro physicochemical properties as gelation temperature (GT), gel strength, bioadhesive properties, and in vitro release. The safety of the prepared suppository on rectum, stomach, and liver was evaluated histologically. Pharmacokinetic analyses were performed to compare rectal TS-LS to orally Rhumtol® capsules. The results showed that the optimized TS-LS; composed of P407/P188/MC (21/9/0.5% w/w) displayed gelation at rectum temperature ∼32.90 °C, gel strength of 21.35 s and rectal retention force at the administration site of 24.25 × 102 dyne/cm2. Moreover, TS-LS did not cause any morphological damage to the rectal tissues. Pharmacokinetic parameters of optimized TS-LS formulation revealed 4.6 fold increase in bioavailability as compared to Rhumtol® capsules. Taken together, the results demonstrated that liquid suppository is a potential and physically safe rectal delivery carrier for improvement rectal bioavailability and in vivo safety of TS.

Mucoadhesive self-emulsifying delivery systems for ocular administration of econazole.

AIM: Development of mucoadhesive self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) providing a prolonged ocular residence time for poorly soluble active pharmaceutical ingredient. METHODS: l-Cysteine was covalently linked to 6-mercaptonicotinamide. The obtained ligand, Cysteine-6-mercaptonicotinamide (Cys-6-MNA) was attached to Eudragit® L100-55 via a carbodiimide mediated amide bond formation. The resulting entirely S-protected thiolated Eudragit® L100-55 was characterized regarding the degree of modification as well as stability toward oxidation in the presence of strong oxidizing agent (H2O2). The S-protected thiolated Eudragit® L100-55 was incorporated into SEDDS via hydrophobic ion pairing with benzalkonium chloride (BAK) in a concentration of 2% (m/m). S-protected thiolated Eudragit® L100-55-BAK ion pair SEDDS (S-protected thiolated EU-BAK SEDDS) were characterized regarding their physicochemical and mucoadhesive properties. Econazole nitrate (EN) was incorporated into SEDDS in concentration of 1% (m/m) and in vitro drug release was assessed. Furthermore, toxicity study was performed on procine corneas via resazurin assay. RESULTS: The entirely S-protected thiolated Eudragit® L100-55 exhibited 282 ±â€¯78.25 µmol of MNA per gram of polymer. Ellman's test confirmed no free thiol groups and stability study showed no significant increase in dynamic viscosity overtime. The droplet size of developed SEDDS in simulated lacrimal fluid was below 100 nm with polydispersity index below 0.3. S-protected thiolated EU-BAK SEDDS exhibited 2.5-fold higher mucoadhesive properties than blank SEDDS on ocular mucosa. S-protected thiolated EU-BAK SEDDS showed sustained EN release over period of 8 h and no pronounced corneal toxicity in 0.5% (m/v) concentration. CONCLUSION: Accordingly, these mucoadhesive SEDDS can be considered as promising ocular delivery system for EN.

Optimization and evaluation of lyophilized fenofibrate nanoparticles with enhanced oral bioavailability and efficacy.

The objective of this study was to enhance physiochemical properties as well as oral bioavailability of the poorly water soluble drug fenofibrate (FB), through preparation of amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs). ASDs were prepared via freeze drying using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) K30 and poloxamer 188 as hydrophilic carriers. Formulations were optimized by 32 full factorial design (FFD) with PVP-K30 level (X1) and poloxamer 188 level (X2) as independent variables and particle size (Y1), zeta potential (Y2), drug content (Y3) and dissolution rate (T90, [Y4]) as dependent variables. Optimized FB nanoparticles were physicochemically evaluated and formulated into lyophilized sublingual tablets. Pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamics and histological finding of optimized formulation were performed on rabbits. Y1 and Y4 were significantly affected by independent variables while Y2 and Y3 were not affected. Physicochemical characterization showed the drug was in amorphous state, nanometer range and pharmacophore of FB was preserved. Administration of optimized FB tablets to rabbits with fatty liver led to significant reduction (p < 0.001) in serum lipids. Moreover, histological analysis of liver specimens confirmed the improved efficacy in animals with fatty liver. In this study, we confirmed that ASDs of FB had beneficial effects on managing fatty liver and serum lipids level in hyperlipidemic rabbits.