Reduced food interaction and enhanced gastrointestinal tolerability of a new system based on risedronate complexed with Eudragit E100: Mechanistic approaches from in vitro and in vivo studies

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose E5 with molecular energy-enhancement ability contributes to improving wettability, drug delivery and taste masking effect for curcumin solid dispersions

Curcumin (Cur) solid dispersions are a promising strategy to enhance the anti-inflammatory properties of Cur. However, challenges remain in creating effective food and nutritional products containing Cur. This study focuses on the biological macromolecule hydroxypropyl methylcellulose E5 (HPMC E5) to elucidate its advantages in solid dispersions formulated with Eudragit E100 (E100). The aim is to improve wettability, drug delivery and taste masking effect, while also revealing the primary mechanisms underlying these advantages. Raman imaging was used to identify the tautomeric form of Cur in the dispersions, and molecular docking was applied to study the interactions between tautomeric Cur and the excipient. The superior wettability of Cur solid dispersions was studied mainly through contact angle measurements. Results demonstrated that appropriate amounts of HPMC E5 enhanced the surface tension of E100 and significantly improved the total molecular energy of Cur when mixed with E/H, resulting in increased wettability, in vitro drug release, in vivo bioavailability, in vivo anti-inflammatory effects, and effective taste masking. Cur-6E/H with carrier-controlled wetting mechanism presented optimal performances. In summary, the addition of HPMC E5 significantly enhanced the molecular energy and overall efficacy of Cur solid dispersions.

Novel Dry Hyaluronic Acid-Vancomycin Complex Powder for Inhalation, Useful in Pulmonary Infections Associated with Cystic Fibrosis

Polyelectrolyte-drug complexes are interesting alternatives to improve unfavorable drug properties. Vancomycin (VAN) is an antimicrobial used in the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pulmonary infections in patients with cystic fibrosis. It is generally administered intravenously with a high incidence of adverse side effects, which could be reduced by intrapulmonary administration. Currently, there are no commercially available inhalable formulations containing VAN. Thus, the present work focuses on the preparation and characterization of an ionic complex between hyaluronic acid (HA) and VAN with potential use in inhalable formulations. A particulate-solid HA-VAN25 complex was obtained by spray drying from an aqueous dispersion. FTIR spectroscopy and thermal analysis confirmed the ionic interaction between HA and VAN, while an amorphous diffraction pattern was observed by X-ray. The powder density, geometric size and morphology showed the suitable aerosolization and aerodynamic performance of the powder, indicating its capability of reaching the deep lung. An in vitro extended-release profile of VAN from the complex was obtained, exceeding 24 h. Microbiological assays against methicillin-resistant and -sensitive reference strains of Staphylococcus aureus showed that VAN preserves its antibacterial efficacy. In conclusion, HA-VAN25 exhibited interesting properties for the development of inhalable formulations with potential efficacy and safety advantages over conventional treatment.

Fluorescent Multifunctional Organic Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery and Bioimaging: A Tutorial Review

Fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONs) are a large family of nanostructures constituted by organic components that emit light in different spectral regions upon excitation, due to the presence of organic fluorophores. FONs are of great interest for numerous biological and medical applications, due to their high tunability in terms of composition, morphology, surface functionalization, and optical properties. Multifunctional FONs combine several functionalities in a single nanostructure (emission of light, carriers for drug-delivery, functionalization with targeting ligands, etc.), opening the possibility of using the same nanoparticle for diagnosis and therapy. The preparation, characterization, and application of these multifunctional FONs require a multidisciplinary approach. In this review, we present FONs following a tutorial approach, with the aim of providing a general overview of the different aspects of the design, preparation, and characterization of FONs. The review encompasses the most common FONs developed to date, the description of the most important features of fluorophores that determine the optical properties of FONs, an overview of the preparation methods and of the optical characterization techniques, and the description of the theoretical approaches that are currently adopted for modeling FONs. The last part of the review is devoted to a non-exhaustive selection of some recent biomedical applications of FONs.

Formulation development and in vitro-in vivo assessment of protransfersomal gel of anti-resorptive drug in osteoporosis treatment

Osteoporosis is a major cause of morbidity, mortality, and economic burden worldwide. Despite being an effective in combating the bone-deteriorating disorders, bisphosphonates have several shortcomings including poor and variable bioavailability, low permeability, high toxicity, etc. In this study, we developed and optimized protransfersome formulation for the drug risedronate sodium (RIS-Na) with the goal of enhancing its bioavailability and hence patient compliance. Phase separation coacervation technique was utilized for development of optimized formulation. Optimization was achieved by using three-factor, three-level Box-Behnken design combined with Response Surface Methodology (RSM). This enabled us to decipher the effect of 3 independent variables (Phospholipid, Tween-80 and Sodium Deoxycholate) on three dependent parameters (entrapment efficiency, vesicle size and transdermal flux). Optimized formulation was further evaluated for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters. Smooth, spherical protransfersomes with a size of 260 ± 18 nm, having entrapment efficiency and flux of 80.4 ± 4.90% and 8.41 ± 0.148 μg/cm²/h, respectively were prepared. Ex vivo studies revealed a shorter lag time of 1.21 ± 0.18 h and higher flux associated with transdermal formulation. CLSM analysis further revealed better drug penetration (220 μm) through the skin in case of protransfersomes as compared to drug solution (72 μm). Additionally, biomechanical, biochemical, and histo-pathological studies further validated the results. Thus, it was concluded that protransfersome formulation has a great potential in providing better therapeutic efficacy of risedronate than its conventional counterpart.

Benzoic acid complexes with Eudragit E100®: New alternative antimicrobial preservatives

Given that the use of some preservatives in cosmetics has been restricted, novel alternative preservatives are needed. The aim of this study was to characterize the physicochemical and antimicrobial properties of two polyelectrolyte complexes (EuB₁₀₀ and EuB₇₅Cl₂₅), which were developed through hot melt extrusion (HME) using benzoic acid (BA) and Eudragit E100. Based on phase diagrams and an experimental statistical design, the solubility of the acid in the polymer and the HME conditions were established. Intermolecular interactions were evaluated through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). Release behavior was determined for the systems. Antibacterial activity and ζ-potential were determined on Escherichia coli. FTIR revealed acid-base interaction, and XPS showed that the percentages of protonated nitrogen N1s were 13.5% for EuB₁₀₀ and 20.3% for EuB₇₅Cl₂₅. The BA released showed a non-Fickian behavior, and a satisfactory antibacterial activity against E. coli was demonstrated at pH 6.9. The complexes modified ζ-potential, destabilizing the membrane functionality of E. coli. These complexes are potential antimicrobial preservatives with a greater spectrum of action, with bactericidal activity against E. coli in a wider pH range than uncomplexed BA, even at pH 6.9.

Efficacy of topical risedronate and risedronate - Eudragit E complex in a model of cutaneous leishmaniasis induced by Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis

An efficacious topical treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is highly desirable but still an ongoing challenge. Systemic risedronate (Ris) has been reported to have anti-leishmanial properties and Eudragit EPO (EuE) has shown in vitro activity against L. (L.) amazonensis. The aim of this work was to investigate the in vivo efficacy of topical Ris and EuE-Ris complexes on CL. Surface charge and Ris release kinetics from the different dispersions were analyzed. BALB/c mice were infected intradermally with promastigotes of L. (L.) amazonensis. Ulcers were treated with Ris or EuE-Ris hydrogels. All the lesions that received topical Ris or EuE-Ris showed an improvement with respect to control: reduction of ulcer average size, cicatrization, flattened edges and no signs of necrosis. In addition, a marked parasitic inhibition of 69.5 and 73.7% was observed in the groups treated with Ris and EuE-Ris, respectively, with the IgG2a levels indicating a tendency towards cure. The results are promising and the system should now be enhanced to achieve total parasite elimination.

Solid-in-oil nanodispersions as a novel delivery system to improve the oral bioavailability of bisphosphate, risedronate sodium

The aim of the current study was to modify the oral absorption of risedronate sodium (RS) using solid-in-oil nanodispersions (SONDs) technology. The oral therapeutic effect of RS is limited in vivo because of its low membrane permeability and the formation of insoluble precipitates with bivalent cations (such as Ca²⁺) in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.We used SONDs to prepare medium-chain triglyceride (MCT)-based nanodispersions of the hydrophilic drug, which used the oral absorption mechanism of MCT digestion to improve bioavailability of RS in vivo. SONDs exhibited high encapsulation efficiency of RS and excellent enzymatic degradation-dependent release behavior. The result of an everted gut sac test showed that the P_app value of the SONDs was 6.29-fold (p<0.05) higher than that of RS aqueous solutions in simulated intestinal fluid containing 5 mM Ca²⁺, this was because MCT can be digested to form the fatty acids C₈ and C₁₀, which have an adsorption-promoting effect on RS. Further, solid-in-oil-in-water (S/O/W) emulsion droplets formedafter emulsification by bile salts and MCT digestionwere effective in disrupting epithelial tight junctions (TJs), facilitating the paracellular permeation of RS throughout the intestine. Moreover, in vivo absorption study in rats revealed that the AUC_0-12h of RS in SONDs was approximately 4.56-fold (p<0.05) higher than with RS aqueous solutions at the same dose (15 mg/kg). This approach demonstrates a potential drug delivery system to improve the bioavailability of risedronate sodium.

QbD Approach for Novel Crosslinker-Free Ionotropic Gelation of Risedronate Sodium-Chitosan Nebulizable Microspheres: Optimization and Characterization

Risedronate sodium (RS) is a potent inhibitor of bone resorption, having an extreme poor permeability and limited oral bioavailability (0.62%). RS should be orally administered under fasting conditions while keeping in an upright posture for at least 30 min to diminish common gastroesophageal injuries. To surmount such limitations, novel risedronate-chitosan (RS-CS) crosslinker-free nebulizable microspheres were developed adopting the quality by design (QbD) approach and risk assessment (RA) thinking. RS:CS ratio, surfactant (Pluronic® F127) concentration, homogenization duration, speed, and temperature were identified using Ishikawa diagrams as the highest formulation and process risk factors affecting the critical quality attributes (CQAs), average particle size (PS), and entrapment efficiency (EE%). The risk factors were screened using the Plackett-Burman design, and the levels of the most significant factors were optimized using a multilevel factorial design to explore the optimized system with the least PS, maximum EE%, and a prolonged drug release profile. The optimized system (B6) was developed at a RS:CS ratio of 1:7, a surfactant concentration of 2% (w/v), and a homogenization speed of 14,000 rpm. It revealed good correlation with QbD theoretical prediction, where positively charged (47.9 ± 3.39 mV) discrete, spherical microspheres (3.47 ± 0.16 μm) having a high EE% (94.58 ± 0.19%) and prolonged RS release over 12 h (Q_{12 h}, 89.70 ± 0.64%) were achieved. In vivo lung deposition after intratracheal instillation of B6 confirmed the delivery of high RS percentage to rat lung tissues (87 ± 3.54%) and its persistence for 24 h. This investigation demonstrated the effectiveness of QbD philosophy in developing RS-CS crosslinker-free nebulizable microspheres.