Enhanced oral bioavailability and diminished food effect of lurasidone hydrochloride nanosuspensions prepared by facile nanoprecipitation based on dilution

Development of Nanosuspension of Artemisia absinthium Extract as Novel Drug Delivery System to Enhance Its Bioavailability and Hepatoprotective Potential

A nanosuspension of Artemisia absinthium extract was formulated and characterized for the enhancement of bioavailability and better hepatoprotective efficacy. The nanosuspension of A. absinthium extract was formulated using an antisolvent precipitation technique, and various formulation parameters were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The optimized nanosuspension was characterized using AFM and FT-IR spectroscopy. The drug-release profile and oral bioavailability of the optimized nanosuspension were assessed with reference to coarse suspension. The DPPH radical scavenging method was used to measure the nanosuspension's antioxidant activity, and its in vivo hepatoprotective potential was assessed against CCl4-induced hepatic injury in rats. The developed optimized nanosuspension had suitable zeta potential of -11.9 mV, PDI of 0.285, and mean particle size of 253.8 nm. AFM study demonstrated a homogeneous population of nanoparticles with average size of 25 nm. The formulated nanosuspension of A. absinthium showed faster dissolution rate and 1.13-fold enhanced bioavailability as compared to the coarse suspension (plant extract). Furthermore, the nanoformulation had stronger antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential as compared to the unprocessed coarse extract. These results demonstrated that nanosuspension is a promising strategy for improving the oral bioavailability and bioactivities of A. absinthium extract.

Fast-Fed Variability: Insights into Drug Delivery, Molecular Manifestations, and Regulatory Aspects

Among various drug administration routes, oral drug delivery is preferred and is considered patient-friendly; hence, most of the marketed drugs are available as conventional tablets or capsules. In such cases, the administration of drugs with or without food has tremendous importance on the bioavailability of the drugs. The presence of food may increase (positive effect) or decrease (negative effect) the bioavailability of the drug. Such a positive or negative effect is undesirable since it makes dosage estimation difficult in several diseases. This may lead to an increased propensity for adverse effects of drugs when a positive food effect is perceived. However, a negative food effect may lead to therapeutic insufficiency for patients suffering from life-threatening disorders. This review emphasizes the causes of food effects, formulation strategies to overcome the fast-fed variability, and the regulatory aspects of drugs with food effects, which may open new avenues for researchers to design products that may help to eliminate fast-fed variability.

Effect of sodium lauryl sulfate-mediated gelation on the suppressed dissolution of crystalline lurasidone hydrochloride and a strategy to mitigate the gelation

In dissolution test, the surfactant sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is usually added to increase the dissolution of insoluble drugs and achieve the sink condition. However, the current study found that 0.1 % SLS would significantly decrease the dissolution of crystalline lurasidone hydrochloride (LH, a BCS Ⅱ drug). The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanism of this unexpected phenomenon and explore a strategy for mitigating the negative effect of SLS on the dissolution of LH. Sample characterizations (such as PLM, DSC, PXRD, IR and NMR) confirmed that the insoluble single-phase amorphous LH-SLS complex (with a single T_g at 35.2 °C) formed during dissolution in 0.1 % SLS aqueous solution via electrostatic interaction, tetrel bond interaction, and hydrophobic effect. Due to the plasticization effect of water, the transition of amorphous LH-SLS from its glassy state to viscous supercooled liquid state led to the gel formation, and suppressd the dissolution of LH. Meanwhile, the solubility curve of LH in SLS aqueous solution at various concentrations exhibited an unusual V-shaped feature, with the CMC value of SLS serving as the inflection point, since the gel degree was attenuated due to the micelle solubilization of SLS. Additionally, an innovative strategy was developed to alleviate the inhibiting effect of SLS on LH dissolution based on the potential competitive interactions. This study not only enriches the internal mechanism of surfactant-inhibited drug dissolution but also informs an effective strategy to mitigate the gelation.

Bio-enabling strategies to mitigate the pharmaceutical food effect: a mini review

The concomitant administration of oral drugs with food can result in significant changes in bioavailability, leading to variable pharmacokinetics and considerable clinical implications, such as over- or under-dosing. Consequently, there is increasing demand for bio-enabling formulation strategies to reduce variability in exposure between the fasted and fed state and/or mitigate the pharmaceutical food effect. The current review critically evaluates technologies that have been implemented to overcome the positive food effects of pharmaceutical drugs, including, lipid-based formulations, nanosized drug preparations, cyclodextrins, amorphisation and solid dispersions, prodrugs and salts. Additionally, improved insight into preclinical models for predicting the food effect is provided. Despite the wealth of research, this review demonstrates that application of optimal formulation strategies to mitigate the positive food effects and the evaluation in preclinical models is not a universal approach, and improved standardisation of models to predict the food effects would be desirable. Ultimately, the successful reformulation of specific drugs to eliminate the food effect provides a panoply of advantages for patients with regard to clinical efficacy and compliance.

Harnessing the potential of nanostructured formulations to mimic the food effect of lurasidone

Lurasidone is an important antipsychotic drug indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, with an oral bioavailability of 9-19% owing to its poor aqueous solubility. Additionally, lurasidone exhibits a 2-fold positive food effect, such that patients must administer their medication with a meal, leading to significant non-compliance. The aim of this research was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo performance of lurasidone when engineered as nanostructured systems. Specifically, a nanosuspension, nano-emulsion and silica-lipid hybrid (SLH) microparticles were formulated and the influence of composition and nanostructure on the mechanism of solubilisation was compared. Formulations were shown to enhance fasted state solubilisation levels in vitro by up to 5.9-fold, compared to pure drug. Fed- and fasted-state solubilisation profiles revealed that in contrast to the nanosuspension and nano-emulsion, lurasidone SLH mitigated the positive pharmaceutical effect of lurasidone. In vivo pharmacokinetic evaluations revealed that the nanosuspension, nano-emulsion and SLH enhanced the bioavailability of lurasidone by 3-fold, 2.4-fold and 8.8-fold, respectively, compared to pure drug after oral administration. For lurasidone, the combination of lipid-based nanostructure and porous silica nanostructure (SLH) led to optimal fasted state bioavailability which can ultimately result in enhanced treatment efficacy, easier dosing regimens and improved patient outcomes.

Applications of innovative technologies to the delivery of antipsychotics

Psychosis is a high-incidence pathology associated with a profound alteration in the perception of reality. The limitations of drugs available on the market have stimulated the search for alternative solutions to achieve effective antipsychotic therapies. In this review, we evaluate innovative formulations of antipsychotic drugs developed through the application of modern pharmaceutical technologies, including classes of micro and nanocarriers, such as lipid formulations, polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), solid dispersions, and cyclodextrins (CDs). We also consider alternative routes of administration to the oral and parenteral ones currently used. Improved solubility, stability of preparations, and pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) parameters confirm the potential of these new formulations in the treatment of psychotic disorders.

Exploring micellar-based polymeric systems for effective nose-to-brain drug delivery as potential neurotherapeutics

Non-invasive nose-to-brain delivery presents a competitive strategy for effective drug targeting. This strategy can potentially evade the blood-brain barrier (BBB) depending on the pathway the drug and/or drug/micelle composite travels, thereby allowing direct drug delivery to the brain. This delivery strategy was employed for lurasidone, a clinically USFDA-approved neurotherapeutic molecule in bipolar disorders and schizophrenia treatments. The aim of this study was to develop mixed polymeric micelles of lurasidone HCl (LH) for targeted brain delivery via intranasal route. Lurasidone HCl-loaded mixed micelles (LHMM) were prepared by solvent evaporation method and optimized by 3² factorial design to quantify the effects of excipients on micelle size and entrapment efficiency. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy helped in scrutinizing drug-excipient interactions whereas transmission electron microscopy images showed particle size and shape. Further, LHMM and LHMM hydrogel were evaluated for in vitro diffusion, histopathology, ex vivo permeation, in vivo pharmacokinetics and stability studies. Optimized LHMM exhibited 175 nm particle size and 97.8% entrapment efficiency with improved in vitro drug diffusion (81%). LHMM hydrogel showed 79% ex vivo drug permeation without any significant signs of nasociliary toxicity to sheep nasal mucosa. Single dose in vivo pharmacokinetic studies showed improved therapeutic concentration of drug in the brain post intranasal administration with 9.5 ± 0.21 μg/mL C_max and T_1/2 of 19.1 ± 0.08 h as compared to pure drug. LHMM, when administered by intranasal route, demonstrated significant increase in the drug targeting efficiency as well as potential (%DTE and %DTP) of drug as compared to pure lurasidone. Thus, nanosized mixed micelles were useful in effective brain delivery of lurasidone HCl via intranasal route. Graphical abstract.

Rutin nanosuspension for potential management of osteoporosis: effect of particle size reduction on oral bioavailability, in vitro and in vivo activity

Clinical significance of Rutin (RUT) is limited by poor dissolution rate and low oral bioavailability. The study was designed to improve the physicochemical and therapeutic potential of the drug by formulating nanosuspension (NS) for osteoporosis. Rutin nanosuspension (RUT-NS) was prepared after screening a range of stabilizers and their combinations at a different concentration by antisolvent precipitation technique. Effect of precipitation on crystallinity (differential scanning calorimetry DSC, X-ray diffraction studies XRD), morphology (scanning electron microscopy, SEM) and chemical interaction (attenuated total reflectance fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy ATR-FTIR) were studied through biophysical techniques. An optimized nanosuspension exhibited a minimum particle size of 122.85 ± 5.02 nm with higher dissolution of RUT-NS (87. 63 ± 2.29%) as compared to pure drug (39.77 ± 2.8 6%). The enhanced intestine absorption and apparent permeability were achieved due to the improved particle size, surface area and dissolution. RUT-NS displayed greater (3 folds) AUC_0-24 h than pure drug. In vitro assays with RUT-NS depicted an increased cell proliferation, antioxidant (ROS) activity and osteocalcin production in MG-63 osteoblast cells. The augmented biochemical in vivo biomarkers and bone quality proved the protective effect of RUT-NS. The results supported RUT-NS as a potential therapy for maintaining bone health.

Evaluation of improved oral bioavailability of ritonavir nanosuspension

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of ritonavir (RTV) nanosuspension in rats in both fed and fasted state in comparison with coarse powder, physical mixture and commercial product (Norvir®). The point to point relation model was generated between the results of in vitro dissolution and in vivo pharmacokinetic studies. The oral RTV nanosuspension was prepared with microfluidization method. Nanosuspension was obtained with 540-550 nm of particle size, 0.1-0.4 of particle size distribution and about -20 mV of zeta potential values. According to in vivo pharmacokinetic studies in rats, C_max and AUC_0-t values in nanosuspension displayed an 8.9- and 12.5-fold increase compared to the coarse powder, and a 1.9- and 2.1-fold increase compared to the commercial product, respectively in the fed group. The point to point relation model showed that the correlation model was significant. It is concluded that nanosuspension is a promising drug delivery system to enhance oral bioavailability of ritonavir.

Food for thought: formulating away the food effect - a PEARRL review

OBJECTIVES

Co-ingestion of oral dosage forms with meals can cause substantial changes in bioavailability relative to the fasted state. Food-mediated effects on bioavailability can have significant consequences in drug development, regulatory and clinical settings. To date, the primary focus of research has focused on the ability to mechanistically understand the causes and predict the occurrence of these effects.

KEY FINDINGS

The current review describes the mechanisms underpinning the occurrence of food effects, sheds new insights on the relative frequency for newly licensed medicines and describes the various methods by which they can be overcome. Analysis of oral medicines licensed by either the EMA or FDA since 2010 revealed that over 40% display significant food effects. Due to altered bioavailability, these medicines are often required to be dosed, rather restrictively, in either the fed or the fasted state, which can hinder clinical usefulness.

SUMMARY

There are clinical and commercial advantages to predicting the presence of food effects early in the drug development process, in order to mitigate this risk of variable food effect bioavailability. Formulation approaches aimed at reducing variable food-dependent bioavailability, through the use of bio-enabling formulations, are an essential tool in addressing this challenge and the latest state of the art in this field are summarised here.

Schizophrenia: synthetic strategies and recent advances in drug design

Schizophrenia is a complex and unpredictable mental disorder which affects several domains of cognition and behaviour. It is a heterogeneous illness characterised by positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms, often accompanied by signs of depression. In this tutorial review, we discuss recent progress in understanding the target sites and mechanisms of action of second-generation antipsychotic drugs. Progress in identifying and defining target sites has been accelerated recently by advances in neuroscience, and newly developed agents that regulate signalling by the main excitatory neurotransmitters in the brain are surveyed. Examples of novel molecules for the treatment of schizophrenia in preclinical and clinical development and their industrial sponsors are highlighted.