Development of ophthalmic nanoemulsions of ß-caryophyllene for the treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis.

Although rare, amoebic keratitis (AK) is a disease caused by Acanthamoeba spp. that can lead to blindness. The drugs currently available for its treatment are very toxic, which has motivated the investigation for more effective and safe therapeutic options. In this study, the in vitro activity of ß-caryophyllene (BCP) was exploited taking into account its action against other protozoans as well as its well-known healing and anti-inflammatory properties (aspects relevant for the AK pathogenesis). On the other hand, high volatilization and oxidation phenomena are found for this compound, which led to its incorporation into nanoemulsions (NEs). Two emulsifying agents were tested, resulting in monodisperse systems with reduced droplet size (<265 nm) and high surface charge (positive and negative for NEs prepared with cetrimonium bromide -CTAB and Phosal® 50+, respectively). NEs prepared with CTAB were shown to be more stable after long-term storage at 4 and 25 °C than those prepared with Phosal®. Pure BCP, at the highest concentration (500 µM), resulted in a level of inhibition of Acanthamoeba trophozoites equivalent to that of reference drug (chlorhexidine). This activity was even greater after oil nanoencapsulation. The reduced droplet size could improve the interaction of the oil with the microorganism, justifying this finding. Changes in surface charge did not impact the activity. Positively charged NEs improved the interaction and retention of BCP in the cornea and thus should be prioritized for further studies.

A Review of Characteristics, Properties, Application of Nanocarriers and Analytical Methods of Luliconazole.

Luliconazole is an imidazole agent, used for the treatment of fungi infection, especially dermatophytes. The mechanism of action of the drug consisting in inhibits sterol 14α-demethylase which interferes with ergosterol biosynthesis. Due to low aqueous solubility and highly lipophilic, there is a need to develop drug delivery systems (nanocarriers) capable to increase the solubility, permeability, and skin retention of luliconazole, and promote a better therapeutic effect. In this context, this review presents characteristics, properties, nanocarriers, and analytical methods used for luliconazole. From the analyzed studies, the majority reports the use of RP-HPLC techniques for luliconazole determination, but also are cited spectrophotometric UV methods. The luliconazole has been qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed in different matrices, such as raw material and pharmaceutical formulations, however, in this review, only one study was found with the luliconazole quantification biological matrix, demonstrating the lack of studies related to the quantification of the drug in biological matrices. The drug quantification in different matrices by analytical methods is of great importance since they assist in the control of the quality, efficacy, and safety of the medicine.

Luliconazole: Stability-indicating LC method, structural elucidation of major degradation product by HRMS and in silico studies / Luliconazol: método por LC indicativo de estabilidad, elucidación estructural del producto de degradación mayoritario por HRMS y estudios in silico / Luliconazol: método LC indicativo de estabilidade, elucidação estrutural do principal produto de degradação por HRMS e estudos in sílico

SUMMARY Aim: A new stability-indicating liquid chromatography method was developed and validated for the quantitative determination of luliconazole. Materials and methods: Preliminary forced degradation study demonstrated an additional peak of the degradation product at the same retention time to the drug, due to this, the method was developed optimizing the chromatographic conditions to provide sufficient peak resolution (R ≥ 2). The experimental design was evaluated to assess the robustness and the best chromatographic conditions to be used for the validation. Methodology: Luliconazole solutions were exposed to various stress conditions to evaluate the method indication stability, in which the degradation product (DP-1) formed was isolated, identified, and evaluated in silico to predict degradation pathway and toxicity. The procedure was validated by robustness, selectivity, linearity, precision, and accuracy. Liquid chromatography was performed in a Phenomenex® RP-18 column with a mixture of acetonitrile and 0.3% (v/v) triethylamine solution as a mobile phase in isocratic elution. Results and conclusions: The method demonstrated robustness, good recovery, precision, linear response over a range from 5.0 to 40.0 μg.mL-1- and to be stability indicating. The alkaline stress condition resulted in the formation of DP-1. HRMS studies identified this product as an hydroxyacetamide derivative, and in silico studies did not show toxic potential.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Un nuevo método indicativo de estabilidad por cromatografía líquida fue desarrollado y validado para la determinación cuantitativa de luliconazol. Materiales y métodos: Estudios preliminares de degradación forzada demostraron un pico adicional en el mismo tiempo de retención del fármaco. El método desarrollado para optimizar las condiciones cromatográicas proporcionó una adecuada resolución (R ≥ 2). El diseño experimental fue evaluado para verificar su robustez y la mejor condición cromatográica para validación. Metodología: Las soluciones de luliconazol fueron expuestas a diferentes condiciones de estrés para evaluar la indicación de estabilidad del método, el aislamiento del producto de degradación formado (DP-1), su identificación y análisis in silico para predecir su ruta de degradación y toxicidad. El procedimiento se validó por robustez, selectividad, linealidad, precisión y exactitud. Las condiciones cromatográficas incluyeron una columna Phenomenex® RP-18, como fase móvil una mezcla de acetonitrilo y solución 0,3% (v/v) de trietilamina en elución isocrática. Resultados y conclusiones: El método mostró ser robusto, con buena recuperación, precisión, respuesta lineal en el rango de 5,0 a 40,0 μg.mL-1 e indicativo de la estabilidad. La condición de estrés alcalina resultó en la formación de DP-1. Estudios por HRMS identificaron este producto como un derivado hidroxiacetamida y los estudios in silico no mostraron potencial de toxicidad.

RESUMO Objetivo: Um novo método indicativo de estabilidade por cromatograia líquida foi desenvolvido e validado para a determinação quantitativa de luliconazol. Materiais e métodos: Estudos preliminares de degradação forçada demonstraram um pico adicional no mesmo tempo de retenção do medicamento. O método desenvolvido para otimizar as condições cromatográficas proporcionou resolução adequada (R ≥ 2). O delineamento experimental foi avaliado para verificar sua robustez e a melhor condição cromatográica para validação. Metodologia: Soluções de luliconazol foram expostas a diferentes condições de estresse para avaliar a indicação da estabilidade do método, o isolamento do produto de degradação formado (DP-1), sua identificação e análise in silico para predizer sua rota de degradação e toxicidade. O procedimento foi validado quanto à robustez, seletividade, linearidade, precisão e exatidão. As condições cromatográficas incluíram uma coluna Phenomenex® RP-18, como fase móvel uma mistura de acetonitrila e solução de trietilamina 0,3% (v/v) em eluição isocrática. Resultados e conclusões: O método mostrou-se robusto, com boa recuperação, precisão, resposta linear na faixa de 5,0 a 40,0 μg.mL-1 e indicativo de estabilidade. A condição de estresse alcalino resultou na formação de DP-1. Os estudos da HRMS identificaram este produto como um derivado da hidroxiacetamida e os estudos in silico não mostraram nenhum potencial de toxicidade.

Bilastine: Quantitative Determination by LC with Fluorescence Detection and Structural Elucidation of the Degradation Products Using HRMS.

BACKGROUND: A liquid chromatography (LC) stability-indicating method was developed and validated for the quantitative determination of bilastine in coated tablets. OBJECTIVE: The procedure was validated for specificity, linearity, robustness, precision, and accuracy. Plackett-Burmann experimental design was used to determine the robustness of the method. METHOD: Chromatographic separation was performed on a Shim-pack® RP-18 column with fluorescence detection. The degradation products formed under oxidative conditions were isolated and identified using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). In silico prediction of degradation products and in silico toxicity studies were also performed. RESULTS: The LC method presented good recovery and precision (intraday and interday), the response was linear in a range of 0.20 to 0.70 µg mL-1, and the results demonstrated the robustness of the analytical method under the evaluated conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The degradation products were identified as benzimidazole (DP1) and amine N-oxide of bilastine (DP2). The results for the toxicity studies demonstrated the high mutagenic potential of DP1 and hepatotoxicity and hERG I inhibitor effects of DP2. HIGHLIGHTS: Bilastine degradation products were identified as benzimidazole and amine N-oxide using HRMS.