Overview of the Manufacturing Methods of Solid Dispersion Technology for Improving the Solubility of Poorly Water-Soluble Drugs and Application to Anticancer Drugs

Albendazole solid dispersions prepared using PEG6000 and Poloxamer188: formulation, characterization and in vivo evaluation

This study aimed to optimize the preparation process of albendazole (ABZ) solid dispersion (SD) and enhance its dissolution rate and oral bioavailability in dogs. The ABZ-SD formulations were prepared by a fusion method with ABZ and polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000), poloxamer 188 (P 188) polymers at various weight ratios or the combination of PEG 6000&P 188. The characterizations of the optimal formulations were performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), in vitro dissolution test and molecular docking. The in vivo pharmacokinetic study was conducted in beagle dogs. As a result, ABZ solid dispersion based on PEG 6000&P 188 (1:2) was successfully prepared. The ABZ-SD formulation could significantly improve the apparent solubility and dissolution rate of ABZ compared with commercial tablets. Furthermore, the water solubility of ABZ-SD was improved mainly based on hydrogen bond association. Besides, at an oral dosage of 15 mg/kg ABZ, the SDs had higher Cmax values and areas under the curve (AUCs) compared to those of commercial ABZ tablets. Preparation of ABZ-loaded SDs by PEG 6000&P 188 is a promising strategy to improve the oral bioavailability of ABZ.

Characterization and Release Behavior of a Thiosemicarbazone from Electrospun Polyvinyl Alcohol Core-Shell Nanofibers

Mats of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) core-shell nanofibers were produced using coaxial electrospinning in the presence of a thiosemicarbazone (TSC) N4-(S)-1-phenylethyl)-2-(pyridin-2-yl-ethylidene)hydrazine-1-carbothioamide (HapyTSCmB). Monolithic fibers with 0% or 5% TSC and core-shell fibers with 10% TSC in the spinning solution were studied to compare stability and release rates. SEM showed the formation of uniform, bead-free, cylindrical, and smooth fibers. NMR spectroscopy and thermal analysis (TG/DTA) gave proof for the chemical integrity of the TSC in the fiber mats after the electrospinning process. Attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy showed no TSC on the surface of the PVA/TSC-PVA fibers confirming the core-shell character. The TSC release profiles of the fibers as studied using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy showed a slower release from the PVA/TSC-PVA core-shell structure compared with the monolithic PVA/TSC fibers as well as lower cumulative release percentage (17%). Out of several release models, the Korsmeyer-Peppas model gave the best fit to the experimental data. The main release phase can be described with a Fick-type diffusion mechanism. Antibacterial properties were tested against the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacterium and gave a minimal inhibitory concentration of 12.5 μg/mL. 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazoliumbromide (MTT)-based cytotoxicity experiments showed that the cell viability of fibroblast at different contents of TSC was slightly decreased from 1.5% up to 3.5% when compared to control cells.

Enhanced anti-hepatoma effect of a novel curcumin analog C086 via solid dispersion technology

The novel curcumin analog C086, previously identified as an oral novel heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor, was found to exhibit anti-hepatoma activity in vitro and in vivo. However, owing to its limited aqueous solubility, the usage of C086 in the clinical application was restricted. This research focused on the increase of the aqueous solubility and bioavailability of C086 via a solid dispersion preparation to improve its accumulation in the liver, which accordingly enhanced anti-hepatoma activity. C086-solid dispersion (C086-SD) was successfully prepared by using solvent evaporation technology. As compared with bulk compound, aqueous solubility obtained with the optimal formulation (C086/PVP k30:1/6 (w/w)) was increased by 1.741 million-fold, and in the following oral administration experiment, bioavailability was found to be improved by an approximately 28-fold relative to C086-Suspension and accumulate preferably in the liver. Accordingly, C086-SD exhibited stronger potent anti-proliferative effects against liver cancer cell line (i.e. HepG2) than pure C086. Moreover, C086-SD was found to have an enhanced anti-hepatoma effect using the orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft in BALB/C nude mice. The results above suggested the potential application of C086-SD in the treatment of liver cancer.

Selective Cytotoxic Activity of Prodigiosin@halloysite Nanoformulation

Prodigiosin, a bioactive secondary metabolite produced by Serratia marcescens, is an effective proapoptotic agent against various cancer cell lines, with little or no toxicity toward normal cells. The hydrophobicity of prodigiosin limits its use for medical and biotechnological applications, these limitations, however, can be overcome by using nanoscale drug carriers, resulting in promising formulations for target delivery systems with great potential for anticancer therapy. Here we report on prodigiosin-loaded halloysite-based nanoformulation and its effects on viability of malignant and non-malignant cells. We have found that prodigiosin-loaded halloysite nanotubes inhibit human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) and human colon carcinoma (HCT116) cells proliferative activity. After treatment of Caco-2 cells with prodigiosin-loaded halloysite nanotubes, we have observed a disorganization of the F-actin structure. Comparison of this effects on malignant (Caco-2, HCT116) and non-malignant (MSC, HSF) cells suggests the selective cytotoxic and genotoxic activity of prodigiosin-HNTs nanoformulation.

Amorphous solid dispersion of nisoldipine by solvent evaporation technique: preparation, characterization, in vitro, in vivo evaluation, and scale up feasibility study

The present study was designed to determine the applicability of a newly derived dimensionless number precipitation parameter, "supersaturation holding capacity (SHC)" in development of amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) of a rapidly crystallizing drug, nisoldipine. Also, ASD preparation from lab scale formulation technique to scalable spray drying technique followed by oral bioavailability study was demonstrated. Solution state screening of polymers was performed by determining nucleation induction time (tin) and SHC. With screened polymers, lab scale ASDs of nisoldipine were prepared using rotary evaporation (solvent evaporation) method, and the optimized stable ASDs were scaled up by spray drying. The ASDs were characterized by DSC, PXRD, and FTIR for amorphous nature and evaluated for apparent solubility, dissolution, and solid-state stability improvement. The spray dried ASDs were additionally evaluated for micrometric properties and oral bioavailability study.PVP grades demonstrated superior crystal growth inhibition properties (with 2-4-fold enhancements in SHC). ASDs prepared by both lab scale and scale-up technique using PVP stabilized the amorphous nisoldipine via antiplasticization effect that maintained the stability under accelerated stability conditions (40 °C/75% RH) for 6 months. Additionally, FTIR study confirmed the role of intermolecular interactions in amorphous state stabilization of PVP-based solid dispersions. PVP-based spray dried ASDs improved the apparent solubility 4-fold for PVP K17 and more than 3-fold for remaining spray dried ASDs. The enhanced solubility was translated to improved dissolution of the drug when compared with crystalline and amorphous form complementing the outcome of the solution state study. The spray dried ASD showed 2.3 and > 3-fold the improvement in Cmax and AUC (0-24 h) respectively when compared with crystalline nisoldipine during oral bioavailability study which highlights the significance of SHC parameter of polymers. The spray dried ASD has shown improved micromeritics properties then crystalline nisoldipine in terms of flow behavior.This unique study provides a rational strategy for selection of appropriate polymer in development of ASDs that can tackle both precipitation during dissolution and amorphous state stabilization in solid state and also considers the SHC in scale-up study. Graphical abstract.

Experimental Evaluation of Anticancer Efficiency and Acute Toxicity of Anthrafuran for Oral Administration

The new antitumor agent anthrafuran has demonstrated a consistent effect in murine tumor models when administered parenterally due to the simultaneous inhibition of multiple cellular targets such as topoisomerases I/II and protein kinases. In this study, we assessed the anticancer efficiency and acute toxicity of anthrafuran administered orally. The action of anthrafuran was studied on transplanted tumor models which included P388 leukemia, Ca755 mammary adenocarcinoma, LLC lung carcinoma, and T47D human breast cancer xenografts on Balb/c nude mice. A significant antitumor efficacy of oral anthrafuran was revealed for all tested tumor models as follows: T/C_max = 219% for P388, TGI_max = 91% for Ca755, TGI_max = 84% with CR_max = 54% for LLC, and T/C = 38% for T47D. The optimal treatment schedule of orally administered anthrafuran was 70–100 mg/kg given daily for five days. The LD₅₀ value of orally administered anthrafuran (306.7 mg/kg) in mice was six times higher than that for i.p. administration (52.5 mg/kg). The rates of antitumor efficacy and acute toxicity indicate the high potential for further research on anthrafuran as a new original oral anticancer multitarget agent with an expected satisfactory tolerability and bioavailability.

Improved Dissolution and Pharmacokinetics of Abiraterone through KinetiSol® Enabled Amorphous Solid Dispersions

Abiraterone is a poorly water-soluble drug. It has a high melting point and limited solubility in organic solvents, making it difficult to formulate as an amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) with conventional technologies. KinetiSol^® is a high-energy, fusion-based, solvent-free technology that can produce ASDs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of KinetiSol to make abiraterone ASDs. We developed binary KinetiSol ASDs (KSDs) using both polymers and oligomers. For the first time, we reported that KinetiSol can process hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPBCD), a low molecular-weight oligomer. Upon X-ray diffractometry and modulated differential scanning calorimetry analysis, we found the KSDs to be amorphous. In vitro dissolution analysis revealed that maximum abiraterone dissolution enhancement was achieved using a HPBCD binary KSD. However, the KSD showed significant abiraterone precipitation in fasted state simulated intestinal fluid (FaSSIF) media. Hence, hypromellose acetate succinate (HPMCAS126G) was selected as an abiraterone precipitation inhibitor and an optimized ternary KSD was developed. A pharmacokinetic study revealed that HPBCD based binary and ternary KSDs enhanced abiraterone bioavailability by 12.4-fold and 13.8-fold, respectively, compared to a generic abiraterone acetate tablet. Thus, this study is the first to demonstrate the successful production of an abiraterone ASD that exhibited enhanced dissolution and bioavailability.

Development of TPGS/F127/F68 mixed polymeric micelles: Enhanced oral bioavailability and hepatoprotection of syringic acid against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity

Syringic acid (SA), a natural polyphenol found in fruits and vegetables, is claimed to show notable hepatoprotection. Nevertheless, low solubility and bioavailability hamper the application of SA. This study aimed to investigate the potential of TPGS/F127/F68 mixed polymeric micelles as a sustained and liver-targeting nanocarrier for SA. Herein, the prepared SA-loaded TPGS/F127/F68 mixed polymeric micelles (SA-TPGS-Ms) were spherically-shaped and homogeneously-distributed nanoparticles with high entrapment efficiency (94.67 ± 2.05%) and sustained release. Besides, in-vitro cell culture studies revealed that SA-TPGS-Ms substantially promoted cellular uptake with excellent biocompatibility. After oral administration, SA-TPGS-Ms demonstrated an increased bioavailability (2.3-fold) and delayed in-vivo elimination compared with the free SA. Furthermore, the alleviation of oxidative stress and amelioration of hepatic injury in CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity mice further demonstrated the excellent hepatoprotection of SA-TPGS-Ms. Collectively, SA-TPGS-Ms could be a promising nanocarrier for the utilization of SA in functional foods, with enhanced bioavailability and hepatoprotection.

Antitumor Features of Vegetal Protein-Based Nanotherapeutics

The introduction of nanotechnology into pharmaceutical application revolutionized the administration of antitumor drugs through the modulation of their accumulation in specific organs/body compartments, a decrease in their side-effects and their controlled release from innovative systems. The use of plant-derived proteins as innovative, safe and renewable raw materials to be used for the development of polymeric nanoparticles unlocked a new scenario in the drug delivery field. In particular, the reduced size of the colloidal systems combined with the peculiar properties of non-immunogenic polymers favored the characterization and evaluation of the pharmacological activity of the novel nanoformulations. The aim of this review is to describe the physico-chemical properties of nanoparticles composed of vegetal proteins used to retain and deliver anticancer drugs, together with the most important preparation methods and the pharmacological features of these potential nanomedicines.

Solid-state properties, solubility, stability and dissolution behaviour of co-amorphous solid dispersions of baicalin

Formation of different baicalin co-former based solid dispersion formulations, which demonstrate improved solubility and dissolution performance.

Investigation of Potential Amorphisation and Co-Amorphisation Behaviour of the Benzene Di-Carboxylic Acids upon Cryo-Milling

Multi-component formulations offer a way to modulate the physico-chemical properties of drug molecules and thereby enhance their efficacy as medicines compared to using only the raw drug, with mechano-chemical synthesis being an increasingly popular way to create these novel materials in a research setting. However, to date studies have focussed on employing pharmaceutically acceptable components, which has led to the literature featuring chemically diverse pairings of drug and excipient. Here we investigate the outcome of cryo-milling and co-cryo-milling of a series of three simple geometrical isomers of benzene di-carboxylic acid with a view to developing a chemically simple model system to investigate areas including cryo-milling, co-cryo-milling, co-amorphous formulation, etc. All three single-component materials exhibit differing behaviour upon cryo-milling and subsequent storage, as do the two-component mixtures. The surprisingly differing behaviours of these chemically similar species upon cryo-milling and co-cryo-milling suggest that molecular chemistry may not be the dominant influence on the outcome of mechano-chemical syntheses, and that other properties should be explored to develop a predictive model for the outcomes of these types of reactions.

Harnessing the therapeutic potential of anticancer drugs through amorphous solid dispersions

The treatment of cancer is still a major challenge. But tremendous progress in anticancer drug discovery and development has occurred in the last few decades. However, this progress has resulted in few effective oncology products due to challenges associated with anticancer drug delivery. Oral administration is the most preferred route for anticancer drug delivery, but the majority of anticancer drugs currently in product pipelines and the majority of those that have been commercially approved have inherently poor water solubility, and this cannot be mitigated without compromising their potency and stability. The poor water solubility of anticancer drugs, in conjunction with other factors, leads to suboptimal pharmacokinetic performance. Thus, these drugs have limited efficacy and safety when administered orally. The amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) is a promising formulation technology that primarily enhances the aqueous solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs. In this review, we discuss the challenges associated with the oral administration of anticancer drugs and the use of ASD technology in alleviating these challenges. We emphasize the ability of ASDs to improve not only the pharmacokinetics of poorly water-soluble anticancer drugs, but also their efficacy and safety. The goal of this paper is to rationalize the application of ASD technology in the formulation of anticancer drugs, thereby creating superior oncology products that lead to improved therapeutic outcomes.

Characteristics, Biological Properties and Analytical Methods of Trans-Resveratrol: A Review

Trans-resveratrol (TR) is the biological active isomer of resveratrol and the one responsible for therapeutic effects; both molecules are non-flavonoid phenolics of the stilbenes class found mainly in berries and red grapes. TR biological properties lie in modulation of various enzymatic classes. It is a promising candidate to novel drugs due its applications in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, such as anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, antiacne, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and photoprotector agent. It has effects on bone metabolism, gastrointestinal tract, eyes, kidneys, and in obesity treatment as well. Nevertheless, its low solubility in water and other polar solvents may be a hindrance to its therapeutic effects. Various strategies been developed to overcome these issues, such as the drug delivery systems. The present study performed a research about methods to identify TR and RESV in several samples (raw materials, wines, food supplements, drug delivery systems, and blood plasma). Most of the studies tend to analyze TR and RESV by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with different detectors, even so, there are reports of the use of capillary electrophoresis, electron spin resonance, gas chromatography, near-infrared luminescence, UV-Vis spectrophotometer, and vibrational spectrophotometry, for this purpose. Thus, the review evaluates the biological activity of TR and demonstrates the currently used analytical methods for its quantification in different matrices.