Formulation and antitumor activity evaluation of nanocrystalline suspensions of poorly soluble anticancer drugs

Significant progress in improving Atorvastatin dissolution rate: Physicochemical characterization and stability assessment of self-dispersible Atorvastatin/Tween 80® nanocrystals formulated through wet milling and freeze-drying

Atorvastatin (ATV) is a first-line drug for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. This drug presents biopharmaceutical problems, partly due to its low solubility and dissolution rate. In this work, nanocrystals of ATV stabilized with Tween 80® were designed by wet milling. A full factorial design was applied to optimize the process. Additionally, a cryoprotectant agent (maltodextrin, MTX) was identified, which allowed maintaining the properties of the nanocrystals after lyophilization. The storage stability of the nanocrystals was demonstrated for six months in different conditions. The obtained nanocrystal powder was characterized using SEM, EDXS, TEM, DSC, TGA, FT-IR, and XRD, showing the presence of irregular crystals with semi-amorphous characteristics, likely due to the particle collision process. Based on the reduction in particle size and the decrease in drug crystallinity, a significant increase in water and phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) solubility by 4 and 6 times, respectively, was observed. On the other hand, a noticeable increase in the dissolution rate was observed, with 90 % of the drug dissolved within 60 min of study, compared to 30 % of the drug dissolved within 12 h in the case of the untreated drug or the physical mixture of components. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the nano-milling of Atorvastatin stabilized with Tween 80® is a promising strategy for developing new formulations with improved biopharmaceutical properties of this widely used drug.

Polydopamine-coated thalidomide nanocrystals promote DSS-induced murine colitis recovery through Macrophage M2 polarization together with the synergistic anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects

High levels of proinflammatory cytokines, macrophage polarization status and immune-mediated angiogenesis play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Thalidomide, an anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antiangiogenic agent, is used off-label for treatment of IBD. The therapeutic potential of thalidomide is limited by its poor solubility and side effects associated with its systemic exposure. To address these issues and promote its therapeutic effects on IBD, thalidomide nanocrystals (Thali NCs) were prepared and coated with polydopamine (PDA), a potential macrophage polarization modulator, to form PDA coated Thali NCs (Thali@PDA). Thali@PDA possessed a high drug loading and displayed average particle size of 764.7 ± 50.30 nm. It showed a better anti-colitis effect than bare thalidomide nanocrystals at the same dose of thalidomide. Synergistic effects of polydopamine on anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic activities of thalidomide were observed. Furthermore, PDA coating could direct polarization of macrophages towards M2 phenotype, which boosted therapeutic effects of Thali@PDA on IBD. Upon repeated dosing of Thali@PDA for one week, symptoms of IBD in mice were significantly relieved, and histomorphology of the colitis colons were normalized. Key proinflammatory cytokine levels in the inflamed intestines were significantly decreased. Toxicity study also revealed that Thali@PDA is a safe formulation.

Use of Flory-Huggins Interaction Parameter and Contact Angle Values to Predict the Suitability of the Drug-Polymer System for the Production and Stability of Nanosuspensions

PURPOSE

Use of Flory-Huggins interaction parameter and contact angle values to predict the suitability of the drug-polymer system for the production and stability of nanosuspensions.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Melting point depression of the drug was measured using differential scanning calorimetry. Interaction parameter, χ, was calculated using the melting point depression data to elucidate the drug-polymer interaction strength to predict the suitability of the drug-polymer system for the production and stability of nanosuspensions. Contact angle of the drug films were measured with purified water and 0.1%w/w polymer solutions to predict polymer's suitability for the production and stability of nanosuspension. Nanosuspensions were manufactured to validate the application of the melting point depression approach along with surface property information.

RESULTS

All three polymers, HPMC, Soluplus®, and poloxamer exhibited a negative interaction parameter with naproxen and budesonide. Higher negative interaction parameter values for the naproxen-polymer system indicated stronger drug-polymer interactions, while smaller negative interaction parameter values for the budesonide-polymer system indicated weaker drug-polymer interactions. Interaction parameter was not obtained for fenofibrate with HPMC and Soluplus®, and similarly, no interaction parameter was obtained for carvedilol with HPMC, most likely due to weaker drug-polymer interactions. All three polymers provided lower equilibrium contact angle values when compared to purified water, indicating an affinity for polymers.

CONCLUSIONS

Successful production and stability of several nanosuspensions were correlated with Flory-Huggins's interaction parameter and contact angle values. In the absence of melting point depression, contact angle values can also be used predict the agglomeration tendencies as we have shown for this study.

Pharmaceutical nanococrystal synthesis: a novel grinding approach

Nanococrystals – a new green in situ surfactant-assisted mechanochemical synthesis.

Enhancing Etoposide Aqueous Solubility and Anticancer Activity with L-Arginine

It is hypothesized that L-arginine (ARG) can improve etoposide (VP-16) water solubility while preserving its anticancer activity. Factorial design is used to identify conditions for optimum drug aqueous solubility after freeze-drying. The physicochemical properties of the optimized formulation is further analyzed by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Drug stability in formulation is analyzed using mass spectrometry based fragmentation analysis. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and cell viability assay on Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) cell line are performed to assess the drug cellular uptake and the anticancer activity, respectively. At the VP-16: ARG ratio of 4:10 (w/w), the drug apparent solubility increased significantly (∼65-folds) with a 3.5-fold improvement in the drug dissolution rate. The interaction between VP-16 and ARG transforms the drug from crystalline to amorphous solid state. VP-16-ARG complex in lower native drug concentration range (50-300 μM) has lower anticancer activity compared with native VP-16, due to reduced intracellular transport of the more hydrophilic complex as indicated by the cell viability assay and confirmed by cell uptake study. However, at higher drug concentrations (500 μM) the complex's higher anticancer activity is ascribed to the synergistic effect between ARG and VP-16. These data suggest that an optimal ARG concentration can have positive effects with potential benefits for chemotherapy.

Multiple-mRNA-controlled and heat-driven drug release from gold nanocages in targeted chemo-photothermal therapy for tumors

Multifunctional drug delivery systems enabling effective drug delivery and comprehensive treatment are critical to successful cancer treatment. Overcoming nonspecific release and off-target effects remains challenging in precise drug delivery. Here, we design triple-interlocked drug delivery systems to perform specific cancer cell recognition, controlled drug release and effective comprehensive therapy. Gold nanocages (AuNCs) comprise a novel class of nanostructures possessing hollow interiors and porous walls. AuNCs are employed as a drug carrier and photothermal transducer due to their unique structure and photothermal properties. A smart triple-interlocked I-type DNA nanostructure is modified on the surface of the AuNCs, and molecules of the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) are loaded as molecular cargo and blocked. The triple-interlocked nanostructure can be unlocked by binding with three types of tumor-related mRNAs, which act as "keys" to the triple locks, sequentially, which leads to precise drug release. Additionally, fluorescence-imaging-oriented chemical-photothermal synergistic treatment is achieved under illumination with infrared light. This drug delivery system, which combines the advantages of AuNCs and interlocked I-type DNA, successfully demonstrates effective and precise imaging, drug release and photothermal therapy. This multifunctional triple-interlocked drug delivery system could be used as a potential carrier for effective cancer-targeting comprehensive chemotherapy and photothermal therapy treatments.

Targeted Oral Delivery of Paclitaxel Using Colostrum-Derived Exosomes

Simple Summary

Paclitaxel (PAC) is a widely used antitumor agent in the treatment of various early-stage and advanced cancers, including lung cancer. While efficacious, solvent-based PAC generally is not well tolerated and is associated with severe side effects. To overcome such limitations, naturally occurring nanocarriers such as exosomes are attracting great interest. In this paper, we show that tumor-targeted oral formulation of PAC, using bovine colostrum-derived exosomes, not only enhance therapeutic efficacy against orthotopic lung cancer but also mitigate or eliminate systemic and immunotoxicity of the conventional i.v. dosing. These data will leverage the advantages of bovine colostrum exosomes to advance the exosome-mediated targeted oral delivery of PAC as a therapeutic alternative to current therapies.

Abstract

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type accounting for 84% of all lung cancers. Paclitaxel (PAC) is a widely used drug in the treatment of a broad spectrum of human cancers, including lung. While efficacious, PAC generally is not well tolerated and its limitations include low aqueous solubility, and significant toxicity. To overcome the dose-related toxicity of solvent-based PAC, we utilized bovine colostrum-derived exosomes as a delivery vehicle for PAC for the treatment of lung cancer. Colostrum provided higher yield of exosomes and could be loaded with higher amount of PAC compared to mature milk. Exosomal formulation of PAC (ExoPAC) showed higher antiproliferative activity and inhibition of colony formation against A549 cells compared with PAC alone, and also showed antiproliferative activity against a drug-resistant variant of A549. To further enhance its efficacy, exosomes were attached with a tumor-targeting ligand, folic acid (FA). FA-ExoPAC given orally showed significant inhibition (>50%) of subcutaneous tumor xenograft while similar doses of PAC showed insignificant inhibition. In the orthotopic lung cancer model, oral dosing of FA-ExoPAC achieved greater efficacy (55% growth inhibition) than traditional i.v. PAC (24–32% growth inhibition) and similar efficacy as i.v. Abraxane (59% growth inhibition). The FA-ExoPAC given i.v. exceeded the therapeutic efficacy of Abraxane (76% growth inhibition). Finally, wild-type animals treated with p.o. ExoPAC did not show gross, systemic or immunotoxicity. Solvent-based PAC caused immunotoxicity which was either reduced or completely mitigated by its exosomal formulations. These studies show that a tumor-targeted oral formulation of PAC (FA-ExoPAC) significantly improved the overall efficacy and safety profile while providing a user-friendly, cost-effective alternative to bolus i.v. PAC and i.v. Abraxane.

Testing a Benchtop Wet-Milling Method for Preparing Nanoparticles and Suspensions as Hospital Formulations

In clinical practice, for elderly or pediatric patients who have difficulty swallowing, solid dosage forms such as tablets or capsules are crushed or unsealed, prepared as powder forms, and often administered as suspensions. However, because their dispersibility is poor, aggregation or precipitation occurs readily. Once precipitation and deposition happen, redispersion is difficult, which can limit patient and caretaker drug adherence. In this study, we attempted to prepare nanoparticles as a hospital formulation by a benchtop wet-milling method to obtain a suspension with high dispersibility. This is the first study to apply the wet-milling method to prepare the hospital formulation. We chose cefditoren pivoxil (CDTR-PI) as an experimental active pharmaceutical ingredient. CDTR-PI crystals were physically mixed with various water-soluble polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyethylene oxide, hydroxypropyl cellulose, or hypromellose and wet-milled with a surface-active agent (sodium lauryl sulfate) under different conditions. The mean particle diameter of most of the samples was less than 200 nm. In FTIR spectra of ground samples, peak shifts suggesting inter- or intramolecular interactions between CDTR-PI and the other additive agents were not observed. Besides, the nanoparticle suspension had favorable dispersibility, as determined using a dispersion stability analyzer. Providing a suspension with high dispersibility makes dispense with the resuspension, the patient’s medication adherence would improve. These results show that suspended liquid formulations of active pharmaceutical ingredients could be obtained by the simple wet-milling method as hospital formulations.

Polyphenols against infectious diseases: Controlled release nano-formulations

The emergence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens has become a global threat and a cause of significant morbidity and mortality around the world. Natural products have been used as a promising approach to counter the infectious diseases associated with these pathogens. The application of natural products and their derivatives especially polyphenolic compounds as antibacterial agents is an active area of research, and prior studies have successfully treated a variety of bacterial infections using these polyphenolic compounds. However, delivery of polyphenolic compounds has been challenging due to their physicochemical properties and often poor aqueous solubility. In this regard, nanotechnology-based novel drug delivery systems offer many advantages, including improving bioavailability and the controlled release of polyphenolic compounds. This review summarizes the pharmacological mechanism and use of nano-formulations in developing controlled release delivery systems of naturally occurring polyphenols in infectious diseases.

Stable solid dispersion of lurasidone hydrochloride with augmented physicochemical properties for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Crystalline solid dispersion of lurasidone hydrochloride (LH) was made with various polar and non-polar small molecules to overcome the poor aqueous solubility issue. LH-Glutathione (GSH) solid dispersion in 1:1 ratio was prepared by co-grinding method and characterized by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. GSH acts as antioxidant and reported for anti-schizophrenic activity may provide synergistic action with LH or reduce the side effects. LH in LH-GSH solid dispersion (SD) has shown improvement in solubility by 7.9 folds than plain drug which translated in terms of improved dissolution rate by two-folds. The in vitro dissolution results showed maximum dissolution rate with LH-GSH SD (97.85 ± 2.40%) compared to plain drug (50.5 ± 3.02%) at 15 min (t₁₅ min, %) and thus, satisfying criteria of immediate release dosage form. DSC and FTIR data confirmed the stability of LH-GSH SD for 3 months at accelerated stability condition (40 ± 2°C and 75 ± 5% RH). The prepared LH-GSH SD can be used as a tool to target dual problems that is, enhanced physicochemical properties along with possible management of disorder which could be due to synergism with co-administered GSH. This approach is thought to be efficiently providing the relief to the psychological patients.

Preparation of parenteral nanocrystal suspensions of etoposide from the excipient free dry state of the drug to enhance in vivo antitumoral properties

Nanoparticle technology in cancer chemotherapy is a promising approach to enhance active ingredient pharmacology and pharmacodynamics. Indeed, drug nanoparticles display various assets such as extended blood lifespan, high drug loading and reduced cytotoxicity leading to better drug compliance. In this context, organic nanocrystal suspensions for pharmaceutical use have been developed in the past ten years. Nanocrystals offer new possibilities by combining the nanoformulation features with the properties of solid dispersed therapeutic ingredients including (i) high loading of the active ingredient, (ii) its bioavailability improvement, and (iii) reduced drug systemic cytotoxicity. However, surprisingly, no antitumoral drug has been marketed as a nanocrystal suspension until now. Etoposide, which is largely used as an anti-cancerous agent against testicular, ovarian, small cell lung, colon and breast cancer in its liquid dosage form, has been selected to develop injectable nanocrystal suspensions designed to be transferred to the clinic. The aim of the present work is to provide optimized formulations for nanostructured etoposide solutions and validate by means of in vitro and in vivo evaluations the efficiency of this multiphase system. Indeed, the etoposide formulated as a nanosuspension by a bottom-up approach showed higher blood life span, reduced tumor growth and higher tolerance in a murine carcinoma cancer model. The results obtained are promising for future clinical evaluation of these etoposide nanosuspensions.

Formulation aspects of intravenous nanosuspensions

Intravenous (IV) route is preferred for rapid onset of action, avoiding first pass metabolism and achieving site specific delivery. Development of IV formulations for poorly water soluble drugs poses significant challenges. Formulation approaches like salt formation, co-solvents, surfactants and inclusion complexation using cyclodextrins are used for solubilisation. However, these approaches are not applicable universally and have limitations in extent of solubilisation, hypersensitivity, toxicity and application to only specific type of molecules. IV nanosuspension have been attracting attention as a viable strategy for development of IV formulations of poorly water-soluble drugs. Nanosuspension consists of nanocrystals of poorly water soluble drug suspended in aqueous media and stabilized using minimal concentration of stabilizers. Recent years have witnessed their potential in formulations for toxicological studies and clinical trials. However various challenges are associated with the translational development of IV nanosuspensions. Therefore, the objective of the current review is to provide a holistic view of formulation development and desired properties of IV nanosuspensions. It will also focus on advancements in characterization tools, manufacturing techniques and post-production processing. Challenges associated with translational development and regulatory aspects of IV nanosuspension will be addressed. Additionally, their role in preclinical evaluation and special applications like targeting will also be discussed with the help of case studies. The applications of IV nanosuspensions shall expand as their applications move from preclinical phase to commercialization.

Improvement of Paclitaxel-Associated Adverse Reactions (ADRs) via the Use of Nano-Based Drug Delivery Systems: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Background

Paclitaxel is wildly used in chemotherapy, however, the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occurred frequently. Various novel nano-based paclitaxel delivery systems were developed. The aim performed systemically review and meta-analyses to evaluate the effect adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of paclitaxel and its nano-based delivery systems.

Methods

Systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, Clinicalkey, Clinicaltrial.com, ASCO and ESMO. Data of adverse effect were analyzed to odds ratio (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI). The quality of studies was assessed with CASP Randomised Controlled Trial Checklist. Statistical analysis was used WinBUGS software (version 1.4.3) with the NetMetaXL interface (version 1.6.1).

Results

Twenty-one studies, including 7011 patients and 6 paclitaxel formulations fulfilled the inclusion criteria. In all grade hypersensitivity reactions, comparing to SB-P, people with Lip-P had 0.19 times (95% CI= 0.02, 1.3) of chance, with Nab-P had 0.47 times (95% CI= 0.11, 1.40) of chance, with PPX had 0.44 times (95% CI= 0.03, 5.7) of chance for all grade adverse effect. In All grad neutropenia, comparing to Lip-P, people with SB-P had 0.83 times (95% CI= 0.15, 4.81) of chance for all grade adverse effect; comparing to PM-P, people with SB-P had 0.73 times (95% CI= 0.22, 2.42) of chance for all grade adverse effect. In leucopenia, comparing to Nab-P, people with SB-P had 0.66 times (95% CI= 0.50, 0.87) of chance for all grade adverse effect; comparing to PM-P, people with SB-P had 0.64 times (95% CI= 0.32, 1.16) of chance for all grade adverse effect. The rate of incidence in peripheral sensory neuropathy, myalgias and arthralgias tend to no significant differences between different formulations.

Conclusion

Nano-based paclitaxel delivery resulted in fewer hypersensitivity reactions than solvent-based delivery. However, the incidence of neutropenia and leucopenia was higher in nano-based than solvent-based paclitaxel delivery. Dose-dependent ADRs were more frequent in paclitaxel anticancer treatment.

Transformation of Meloxicam Containing Nanosuspension into Surfactant-Free Solid Compositions to Increase the Product Stability and Drug Bioavailability for Rapid Analgesia

Purpose

The aim of this work was to study the influence of solidification of meloxicam (Mel) containing nanosuspension (nanoMel) on the physical stability and drug bioavailability of the products. The nanoMel sample had poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a protective polymer, but no surfactant as a further stabilizing agent because the final aim was to produce surfactant-free solid phase products as well.

Methods

The solidified samples produced by fluidization and lyophilization (fluidMel, lyoMel) were examined for particle size, crystallinity, and in vitro release of Mel compared to similar parameters of nanoMel. The products were subjected to an animal experiment using per oral administration to verify their bioavailability.

Results

Mel containing (1%) nanoMel sample was produced by wet milling process using an optimized amount of PVA (0.5%) which resulted in 130 nm as mean particle size and a significant reduction in the degree of crystallinity (13.43%) of Mel. The fluidization technique using microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as carrier resulted in a quick conversion and no significant change in the critical product parameters. The process of lyophilization required a longer operation time, which resulted in the amorphization of the crystalline carrier (trehalose) and the recrystallization of Mel increased its particle size and crystallinity. The fluidMel and lyoMel samples had nearly five-fold higher relative bioavailability than nanoMel application by oral administration. The correlation between in vitro and in vivo studies showed that the fixed Mel nanoparticles on the surface of solid carriers (MCC, trehalose) in both the artificial gastric juice and the stomach of the animals rapidly reached saturation concentration leading to faster dissolution and rapid absorption.

Conclusion

The solidification of the nanosuspension not only increased the stability of the Mel nanoparticles but also allowed the preparation of surfactant-free compositions with excellent bioavailability which may be an important consideration for certain groups of patients to achieve rapid analgesia.

Nanocrystals of Poorly Soluble Drugs: Drug Bioavailability and Physicochemical Stability

Many approaches have been developed over time to overcome the bioavailability limitations of poorly soluble drugs. With the advances in nanotechnology in recent decades, science and industry have been approaching this issue through the formulation of drugs as nanocrystals, which consist of “pure drugs and a minimum of surface active agents required for stabilization”. They are defined as “carrier-free submicron colloidal drug delivery systems with a mean particle size in the nanometer range, typically between 10–800 nm”. The primary importance of these nanoparticles was the reduction of particle size to nanoscale dimensions, with an increase in the particle surface area in contact with the dissolution medium, and thus in bioavailability. This approach has been proven successful, as demonstrated by the number of such drug products on the market. Nonetheless, despite the definition that indicates nanocrystals as a “carrier-free” system, surface active agents are necessary to prevent colloidal particles aggregation and thus improve stability. In addition, in more recent years, nanocrystal properties and technologies have attracted the interest of researchers as a means to obtain colloidal particles with modified biological properties, and thus their interest is now also addressed to modify the drug delivery and targeting. The present work provides an overview of the achievements in improving the bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs according to their administration route, describes the methods developed to overcome physicochemical and stability-related problems, and in particular reviews different stabilizers and surface agents that are able to modify the drug delivery and targeting.

Polymorphism of chlorpropamide on liquid-assisted mechanical treatment: choice of liquid and type of mechanical treatment matter

Different types of mechanical treatment (tableting, grinding, milling, etc.) are important technological operations in the pharmaceutical industry.

Lignin from Micro- to Nanosize: Production Methods

Lignin is the second most abundant biopolymer after cellulose. It has long been obtained as a by-product of cellulose production in pulp and paper production, but had rather low added-value applications. A changing paper market and the emergence of biorefinery projects should generate vast amounts of lignin with the potential of value addition. Nanomaterials offer unique properties and the preparation of lignin nanoparticles and other nanostructures has therefore gained interest as a promising technique to obtain value-added lignin products. Due to lignin’s high structural and chemical heterogeneity, methods must be adapted to these different types. This review focuses on the ability of different formation methods to cope with the huge variety of lignin types and points out which particle characteristics can be achieved by which method. The current research’s main focus is on pH and solvent-shifting methods where the latter can yield solid and hollow particles. Solvent shifting also showed the capability to cope with different lignin types and solvents and antisolvents, respectively. However, process conditions have to be adapted to every type of lignin and reduction of solvent demand or the integration in a biorefinery process chain must be focused.

A recent trend of drug-nanoparticles in suspension for the application in drug delivery

Persistent development in nanomedicine has enabled successful nanosizing of most drug samples which, in turn, imparts remarkable properties to the drugs such as enhanced solubility and bioavailability for the applications in drug delivery. In this context, several review articles are available in scientific domain covering inorganic nanoparticles such as Au, Ag, SPIONs, Qdots, carbon nanotubes and graphene; however, this review covers the development of drug nanoparticles together with their possibilities and limitation from fabrication (bottom up vs top down) to application in drug delivery during the last 5 years. In addition, some distinguished studies and novel drug particles are presented in order to contribute significantly toward the understanding of drug nanocrystals and its use in drug delivery.

Paclitaxel-Nanodiamond Nanocomplexes Enhance Aqueous Dispersibility and Drug Retention in Cells

Nanodiamonds (NDs) with 5 nm crystalline structures have been recognized as emerging carbon delivery vehicles due to their biocompatible inertness, high surface-to-volume ratio, and energy absorbance properties. In this study, carboxylated nanodiamond (ND-COOH) was reduced to hydroxylated nanodiamond (ND-OH) for stable and pH-independent colloidal dispersity. The poorly water-soluble paclitaxel (PTX) was physically loaded into ND-OH clusters, forming amorphous PTX nanostructure on the interparticle nanocage of the ND substrate. Stable physical PTX loading onto the ND substrate with stable colloidal stability showed enhanced PTX release. ND-OH/PTX complexes retained the sustained release of PTX by up to 97.32% at 70 h, compared with the 47.33% release of bare crystalline PTX. Enhanced PTX release from ND substrate showed low cell viability in Hela, MCF-9, and A549 cancer cells due to sustained release and stable dispersity in a biological aqueous environment. Especially, the IC50 values of ND-OH/PTX complexes and PTX in Hela cells were 0.037 μg/mL and 0.137 μg/mL, respectively. Well-dispersed cellular uptake of suprastructure ND-OH/PTX nanocomplexes was directly observed from the TEM images. ND-OH/PTX nanocomplexes assimilated into cells might provide convective diffusion with high PTX concentration, inducing initial necrosis. This study suggests that poorly water-soluble drugs can be formulated into a suprastructure with ND and acts as a highly concentrated drug reservoir directly within a cell.

Multifunctional Nanoparticles Self-Assembled from Small Organic Building Blocks for Biomedicine

Supramolecular self-assembly shows significant potential to construct responsive materials. By tailoring the structural parameters of organic building blocks, nanosystems can be fabricated, whose performance in catalysis, energy storage and conversion, and biomedicine has been explored. Since small organic building blocks are structurally simple, easily modified, and reproducible, they are frequently employed in supramolecular self-assembly and materials science. The dynamic and adaptive nature of self-assembled nanoarchitectures affords an enhanced sensitivity to the changes in environmental conditions, favoring their applications in controllable drug release and bioimaging. Here, recent significant research advancements of small-organic-molecule self-assembled nanoarchitectures toward biomedical applications are highlighted. Functionalized assemblies, mainly including vesicles, nanoparticles, and micelles are categorized according to their topological morphologies and functions. These nanoarchitectures with different topologies possess distinguishing advantages in biological applications, well incarnating the structure-property relationship. By presenting some important discoveries, three domains of these nanoarchitectures in biomedical research are covered, including biosensors, bioimaging, and controlled release/therapy. The strategies regarding how to design and characterize organic assemblies to exhibit biomedical applications are also discussed. Up-to-date research developments in the field are provided and research challenges to be overcome in future studies are revealed.

Impact of surfactant treatment of paclitaxel nanocrystals on biodistribution and tumor accumulation in tumor-bearing mice

We have previously tested paclitaxel nanocrystals (PTX-NCs) in tumor murine models and learned that the nanocrystal formulation could achieve similar and superior anticancer efficacy to the conventional Taxol® formulation, but with significantly reduced side-effects. The nanocrystals were not coated with any surfactants and a majority of the injected dose was taken up by the liver (>40%), while a minimal amount was present in the blood circulation and quickly eliminated. The aim of this work was to treat the surface of PTX-NCs with PEG-based polymers and examine the impact by surface coating on biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, and tumor retention. Testing in tumor-bearing mice showed that PTX-NCs treated with Pluronic® F68 (PEG-PPG-PEG block polymer) significantly enhanced blood circulation of the drug and accumulation in tumor tissue. The absolute amount reaching the tumor, however, was still minimal relative to the dose.

Recent advances in the engineering of nanosized active pharmaceutical ingredients: Promises and challenges

The advances in the field of nanotechnology have revolutionized the field of delivery of poorly soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Nanosized formulations have been extensively investigated to achieve a rapid dissolution and therefore pharmacokinetic properties similar to those observed in solutions. The present review outlines the recent advances, promises and challenges of the engineering nanosized APIs. The principles, merits, demerits and applications of the current 'bottom-up' and 'top-down' technologies by which the state of the art nanosized APIs can be produced were described. Although the number of research reports on the nanoparticle engineering topic has been growing in the last decade, the challenge is to take numerous research outcomes and convert them into strategies for the development of marketable products.

Developing nanocrystals for cancer treatment

Nanocrystals are carrier-free solid drug particles that are sized in the nanometer range and have crystalline characteristics. Due to high drug loading (as high as 100%) - free of organic solvents or solubilizing chemicals - nanocrystals have become attractive in the field of drug delivery for cancer treatment. Top-down and bottom-up approaches have been developed for preparing anticancer nanocrystals. In this review, preparation methods and in vivo performance of anticancer nanocrystals are discussed first, followed by an introduction of hybrid nanocrystals in cancer theranostics.

Preparation and characterization of paclitaxel nanosuspension using novel emulsification method by combining high speed homogenizer and high pressure homogenization

The aim of this study was to develop an alternative, more bio-available, better tolerated paclitaxel nanosuspension (PTXNS) for intravenous injection in comparison with commercially available Taxol(®) formulation. In this study, PTXNS was prepared by emulsification method through combination of high speed homogenizer and high pressure homogenization, followed by lyophilization process for intravenous administration. The main production parameters including volume ratio of organic phase in water and organic phase (Vo:Vw+o), concentration of PTX, content of PTX and emulsification time (Et), homogenization pressure (HP) and passes (Ps) for high pressure homogenization were optimized and their effects on mean particle size (MPS) and particle size distribution (PSD) of PTXNS were investigated. The characteristics of PTXNS, such as, surface morphology, physical status of paclitaxel (PTX) in PTXNS, redispersibility of PTXNS in purified water, in vitro dissolution study and bioavailability in vivo were all investigated. The PTXNS obtained under optimum conditions had an MPS of 186.8 nm and a zeta potential (ZP) of -6.87 mV. The PTX content in PTXNS was approximately 3.42%. Moreover, the residual amount of chloroform was lower than the International Conference on Harmonization limit (60 ppm) for solvents. The dissolution study indicated PTXNS had merits including effect to fast at the side of raw PTX and sustained-dissolution character compared with Taxol(®) formulation. Moreover, the bioavailability of PTXNS increased 14.38 and 3.51 times respectively compared with raw PTX and Taxol(®) formulation.

Synthesis of a novel, sequentially active-targeted drug delivery nanoplatform for breast cancer therapy

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women. Paclitaxel (PTX), an important breast cancer medicine, exhibits reduced bioavailability and therapeutic index due to high hydrophobicity and indiscriminate cytotoxicity. PTX encapsulation in one-level active targeting overcomes such barriers, but enhances toxicity to normal tissues with cancer-similar expression profiles. This research attempted to overcome this challenge by increasing selectivity of cancer cell targeting while maintaining an ability to overcome traditional pharmacological barriers. Thus, a multi-core, multi-targeting construct for tumor specific delivery of PTX was fabricated with (i) an inner-core prodrug targeting the cancer-overexpressed cathepsin B through a cathepsin B-cleavable tetrapeptide that conjugates PTX to a poly(amidoamine) dendrimer, and (ii) the encapsulation of this prodrug (PGD) in an outer core of a RES-evading, folate receptor (FR)-targeting liposome. Compared to traditional FR-targeting PTX liposomes, this sequentially active-targeted dendrosome demonstrated better prodrug retention, an increased cytotoxicity to cancer cells (latter being true when FR and cathepsin B activities were both at moderate-to-high levels) and higher tumor reduction. This research may eventually evolve a product platform with reduced systemic toxicity inherent with traditional chemotherapy and localized toxicity inherent to single-target nanoplatforms, thereby allowing for better tolerance of higher therapeutic load in advanced disease states.

The aspect ratio effect of drug nanocrystals on cellular internalization efficiency, uptake mechanisms, and in vitro and in vivo anticancer efficiencies

In this paper, we investigated the aspect ratio (AR) effect of anticancer drug nanocrystals (NCs) on their cellular internalization efficiency, uptake mechanisms, biodistributions as well as in vitro and in vivo antitumor efficiencies. Both confocal imaging and flow cytometry show that shorter NCs with AR = 1.3 have a much faster cellular uptake rate and a much higher anticancer efficacy than longer NCs. All NCs with different ARs were found to enter the cells via an energy-dependent clathrin-mediated pathway. In vivo experiments indicate that NCs with higher ARs have a shorter half-life and are more easily captured by the liver, while the corresponding tumor uptake decreased. We also observed that NCs with the smallest AR have the highest therapeutic efficacy with appreciably less weight loss. These results would assist in the future design of drug NCs and may lead to the development of new drug nanostructures for biomedical applications.

The effect of molecular structure on the anticancer drug release rate from prodrug nanoparticles

The controlled release of an anticancer agent from drug nanoparticles could be successfully achieved by optimizing the chemical structure of dimeric compounds as prodrug.

Fluorescent organic ion pairs based on berberine: counter-ion effect on the formation of particles and on the uptake by colon cancer cells

Counter-ions modulate the fluorescence of berberine ion pairs in cells, this process being possibly linked to the formation of nanoparticles.

Evaluation of self-assembled HCPT-loaded PEG-b-PLA nanoparticles by comparing with HCPT-loaded PLA nanoparticles

We present a dialysis technique to prepare the 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT)-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) using methoxypolyethylene glycol-poly(D,L-lactide) (PEG-b-PLA) and PLA, respectively. Both HCPT-loaded PEG-b-PLA NPs and HCPT-loaded PLA NPs were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The results showed that the HCPT-loaded PEG-b-PLA NPs and HCPT-loaded PLA NPs presented a hydrodynamic particle size of 120.1 and 226.8 nm, with a polydispersity index of 0.057 and 0.207, a zeta potential of -31.2 and -45.7 mV, drug encapsulation efficiency of 44.52% and 44.94%, and drug-loaded content of 7.42% and 7.49%, respectively. The HCPT-loaded PEG-b-PLA NPs presented faster drug release rate compared to the HCPT-loaded PLA NPs. The HCPT-loaded PEG-b-PLA NPs presented higher cytotoxicity than the HCPT-loaded PLA NPs. These results suggested that the HCPT-loaded PEG-b-PLA NPs presented better characteristics for drug delivery compared to HCPT-loaded PLA NPs.

Design of a paclitaxel prodrug conjugate for active targeting of an enzyme upregulated in breast cancer cells

Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Chemotherapy is an important treatment modality, and paclitaxel (PTX) is often the first-line therapy for its metastatic form. The two most notable limitations related to PTX-based treatment are the poor hydrophilicity of the drug and the systemic toxicity due to the drug's nonspecific and indiscriminate distribution among the tissues. The present work describes an approach to counter both challenges by designing a conjugate of PTX with a hydrophilic macromolecule that is coupled through a biocleavable linker, thereby allowing for active targeting to an enzyme significantly upregulated in cancer cells. The resultant strategy would allow for the release of the active ingredient preferentially at the site of action in related cancer cells and spare normal tissue. Thus, PTX was conjugated to the hydrophilic poly(amdioamine) [PAMAM] dendrimer through the cathepsin B-cleavable tetrapeptide Gly-Phe-Leu-Gly. The PTX prodrug conjugate (PGD) was compared to unbound PTX through in vitro evaluations against breast cancer cells and normal kidney cells as well as through in vivo evaluations using xenograft mice models. As compared to PTX, PGD demonstrated a higher cytotoxicity specific to cell lines with moderate-to-high cathepsin B activity; cells with comparatively lower cathepsin B activity demonstrated an inverse of this relationship. Regression analysis between the magnitude of PGD-induced cytotoxic increase over PTX and cathepsin B expression showed a strong, statistically significant correlation (r(2) = 0.652, p < 0.05). The PGD conjugate also demonstrated a markedly higher tumor reduction as compared to PTX treatment alone in MDA-MB-231 tumor xenograft models, with PGD-treated tumor volumes being 48% and 34% smaller than PTX-treated volumes at weeks 2 and 3 after treatment initiation.

Formulation strategies to improve the bioavailability of poorly absorbed drugs with special emphasis on self-emulsifying systems

Poorly water-soluble drug candidates are becoming more prevalent. It has been estimated that approximately 60–70% of the drug molecules are insufficiently soluble in aqueous media and/or have very low permeability to allow for their adequate and reproducible absorption from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) following oral administration. Formulation scientists have to adopt various strategies to enhance their absorption. Lipidic formulations are found to be a promising approach to combat the challenges. In this review article, potential advantages and drawbacks of various conventional techniques and the newer approaches specifically the self-emulsifying systems are discussed. Various components of the self-emulsifying systems and their selection criteria are critically reviewed. The attempts of various scientists to transform the liquid self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) to solid-SEDDS by adsorption, spray drying, lyophilization, melt granulation, extrusion, and so forth to formulate various dosage forms like self emulsifying capsules, tablets, controlled release pellets, beads, microspheres, nanoparticles, suppositories, implants, and so forth have also been included. Formulation of SEDDS is a potential strategy to deliver new drug molecules with enhanced bioavailability mostly exhibiting poor aqueous solubility. The self-emulsifying system offers various advantages over other drug delivery systems having potential to solve various problems associated with drugs of all the classes of biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS).

Recent advancements in mechanical reduction methods: particulate systems

The screening of new active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) has become more streamlined and as a result the number of new drugs in the pipeline is steadily increasing. However, a major limiting factor of new API approval and market introduction is the low solubility associated with a large percentage of these new drugs. While many modification strategies have been studied to improve solubility such as salt formation and addition of cosolvents, most provide only marginal success and have severe disadvantages. One of the most successful methods to date is the mechanical reduction of drug particle size, inherently increasing the surface area of the particles and, as described by the Noyes-Whitney equation, the dissolution rate. Drug micronization has been the gold standard to achieve these improvements; however, the extremely low solubility of some new chemical entities is not significantly affected by size reduction in this range. A reduction in size to the nanometric scale is necessary. Bottom-up and top-down techniques are utilized to produce drug crystals in this size range; however, as discussed in this review, top-down approaches have provided greater enhancements in drug usability on the industrial scale. The six FDA approved products that all exploit top-down approaches confirm this. In this review, the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches will be discussed in addition to specific top-down techniques and the improvements they contribute to the pharmaceutical field.

Study on formability of solid nanosuspensions during nanodispersion and solidification: I. Novel role of stabilizer/drug property

Few or no attempts have been made so far to understand the feasibility of solid nanosuspension formulation during nanodispersion and solidification in terms of drug properties and stabilizer characterizations. In order to establish a knowledge base about the effect of physicochemical property of drug compounds and stabilizers on solid nanosuspension production during nanodispersion and solidification, a comparative study was firstly performed on 10 different stabilizers at 3 concentrations for 8 structurally different drug compounds. Synthetic polymers (HPMC, PVP K30, CMS-Na and MC) displayed a poor stabilizing performance (10% success rate on average) during nanodispersion, but polymers showed better potential when higher concentrations was applied during freezing and lyophilization. Meanwhile, an effect for the surfactants group was even more pronounced during nanodispersion. However, the solid nanosuspension stabilized by surfactants showed the worst formability potential when be applied in setted concentrations during freezing and lyophilization. From the point of view of drug property, it was found that the surface hydrophobicity and cohesive energy of drug, were responsible for the formability of the solid nanosuspension during nanodispersion and solidification. Wetting index (k) and ΔE were concluded to have a direct correlation on the feasibility of formation of a stable solid nanosuspension, which can give a formulation design strategy from where candidate drugs and stabilizers with a set of properties.

Strategies to address low drug solubility in discovery and development

Drugs with low water solubility are predisposed to low and variable oral bioavailability and, therefore, to variability in clinical response. Despite significant efforts to "design in" acceptable developability properties (including aqueous solubility) during lead optimization, approximately 40% of currently marketed compounds and most current drug development candidates remain poorly water-soluble. The fact that so many drug candidates of this type are advanced into development and clinical assessment is testament to an increasingly sophisticated understanding of the approaches that can be taken to promote apparent solubility in the gastrointestinal tract and to support drug exposure after oral administration. Here we provide a detailed commentary on the major challenges to the progression of a poorly water-soluble lead or development candidate and review the approaches and strategies that can be taken to facilitate compound progression. In particular, we address the fundamental principles that underpin the use of strategies, including pH adjustment and salt-form selection, polymorphs, cocrystals, cosolvents, surfactants, cyclodextrins, particle size reduction, amorphous solid dispersions, and lipid-based formulations. In each case, the theoretical basis for utility is described along with a detailed review of recent advances in the field. The article provides an integrated and contemporary discussion of current approaches to solubility and dissolution enhancement but has been deliberately structured as a series of stand-alone sections to allow also directed access to a specific technology (e.g., solid dispersions, lipid-based formulations, or salt forms) where required.

Development of PIK-75 nanosuspension formulation with enhanced delivery efficiency and cytotoxicity for targeted anti-cancer therapy

PIK-75 is a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor that shows selectivity toward p110-α over the other PI3K class Ia isoforms p110-β and p110-δ, but it lacks solubility, stability and other kinase selectivity. The purpose of this study was to develop folate-targeted PIK-75 nanosuspension for tumor targeted delivery and to improve therapeutic efficacy in human ovarian cancer model. High pressure homogenization was used to prepare the non-targeted and targeted PIK-75 nanosuspensions which were characterized for size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, morphology, saturation solubility and dissolution velocity. In vitro analysis of drug uptake, cell viability and cell survival was conducted in SKOV-3 cells. Drug pharmacokinetics and pAkt expression were determined in SKOV-3 tumor bearing mice. PIK-75 nanosuspensions showed an improvement in dissolution velocity and an 11-fold increase in saturation solubility over pre-milled PIK-75. In vitro studies in SKOV-3 cells indicated a 2-fold improvement in drug uptake and 0.4-fold decrease in IC50 value of PIK-75 following treatment with targeted nanosuspension compared to non-targeted nanosuspension. The improvement in cytotoxicity was attributed to an increase in caspase 3/7 and hROS activity. In vivo studies indicated a 5-10-fold increased PIK-75 accumulation in the tumor with both the nanosuspension formulations compared to PIK-75 suspension. The targeted nanosuspension showed an enhanced downregulation of pAkt compared to non-targeted formulation system. These results illustrate the opportunity to formulate PIK-75 as a targeted nanosuspension to enhance uptake and cytotoxicity of the drug in tumor.