Prolongation of epidural bupivacaine analgesia with glycerin

A study of vehicles for dosing rodent whole embryo culture with non aqueous soluble compounds

In rodent whole embryo culture (WEC), finding vehicles for non-aqueous-soluble compounds has been problematic due to developmental toxicity associated with many solvents. The purpose of this study was to identify alternative vehicles for insoluble compounds. In WEC, we evaluated carrier solutions containing bovine serum albumin (BSA) and glycerol as well as the solvents, formamide, dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and ethanol, for relative teratogenicity and delivery of the insoluble teratogen, all-trans retinoic acid (RA). At a concentration of <or=0.04%, formamide and DMF exhibited no significant toxicity to cultured rat embryos and were effective at delivering RA to the embryo. The BSA and glycerol carrier solutions were not teratogenic, although both inhibited robust formation of yolk sac vasculature. Both solutions delivered RA to the cultured rat embryos at higher doses. In summary, all four solvents/solutions may have utility as vehicles dependent upon the chemical properties of the compound to be solubilized.

In vivo release of bupivacaine from subcutaneously administered oily solution. Comparison with in vitro release

A non-randomized cross-over study was performed with bupivacaine HCl (5 mg x ml(-1)) aqueous solution and bupivacaine free base (4.44 mg x ml(-1)) in Viscoleo/castor oil 2:1 (v/v) administered s.c. to male Wistar rats. Plasma levels were analyzed by LC-MS. Plasma profiles obtained after administration of oily solution showed a prolonged bupivacaine release with lower peak plasma levels as compared to administration of an aqueous formulation applied in the same compartment. t(1/2), t(max), C(max) and AUC(0-infinity) for the aqueous solution were 63+/-8 min, 19+/-16 min, 194+/-46 ng x ml(-1) and 25,000+/-3000 ng min x ml(-1), respectively, while the corresponding data for the oil solution were 368+/-89 min, 334+/-186 min, 36+/-25 ng x ml(-1) and 25,000+/-6000 ng x min x ml(-1). The present data indicate the potential of designing an oil formulation of bupivacaine with a prolonged local analgetic effect exhibiting a minimum of systemic toxicity. In vivo release of bupivacaine from the oil solution was evaluated by a numerical deconvolution method. In vivo release kinetics was found to be first-order and corresponded well with in vitro release kinetics found using a rotating dialysis cell. This led to establishment of an in vitro/in vivo correlation for this particular formulation.

Prolongation of spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine-loaded (DL-lactide) microspheres

There is considerable interest in developing a sustained-release local anesthetic formulation to provide long-lasting anesthesia and to decrease systemic toxicity. Bupivacaine (B), 10 mg, loaded in two different types of polylactide microspheres (PLA1 and PLA2) was evaluated after spinal injection and compared with plain bupivacaine (pB), 2 mg. Experiments were performed in six New Zealand rabbits. Duration of motor block was significantly prolonged for PLA1 compared to pB (177.5 +/- 79.5 min vs 44.6 +/- 18.0 min; P < 0.05), as well as for the recovery time (545.0 +/- 299.6 min vs 44.2 +/- 21.5 min; P < 0.05). The duration and recovery were not prolonged for PLA2. Systemic release of B after intrathecal injection was measured from blood samples by using high-performance liquid chromatography. There was no significant difference in maximum B plasma concentration between pB and PLA1 (326 +/- 81 mg/mL vs 321 +/- 57 ng/mL). The time taken to reach the maximum plasma concentration (6.6 +/- 2.6 min vs 41.7 +/- 20.4 min; P < 0.05) was significantly different. This study demonstrated that the use of bupivacaine-loaded (DL-lactide) microspheres can prolong spinal motor block.