Artificial intelligence-assisted development of in situ forming nanoparticles for arthritis therapy via intra-articular delivery

Intra-articular (IA) injection is grasping much interest due to the poor drug bioavailability at the targeted site of action which minimizes the effect of the orally administered moiety. Based on the integral role of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), much effort is exerted to develop novel localized drug delivery systems to increase their bioavailability and minimize their side effects. Artificial intelligence (AI) is acquiring an increasing role in the design of experiments being an effective tool for saving both time and resources. Hence, the aim of this work was to develop, characterize and optimize targeted in-situ forming nano particles (ISNs) for IA delivery of piroxicam using Design^® Expert as an AI-based application where a 3³ full factorial experimental design was adopted. Morphological investigation, injectability, rheological studies, Fourier Transform Infrared Radiation (FTIR) as well as biological, histopathological, and biochemical examinations were performed to evaluate the optimized-ISNs. The optimized formulation, exhibiting a nano-sized particle size with a dense core, showed significant improvement in the histopathological findings compared to both the oral solution and the placebo. Additionally, the once-a-week IA administration of the optimized-ISNs proved a significant reduction in the protein expression of both STAT-3 and RANKL and the levels of anti-CCP and MCP-1 by almost 54 and 73%, respectively, coupled with a marked decline in the content of IL-17, MMP-3, NF-κB and TNF-α as compared to the positive control. In conclusion, the use of ISNs for intra-articular injection has demonstrated their effectiveness in piroxicam delivery for RA treatment.

Solubilization, Hansen solubility parameters and apparent thermodynamic parameters of Osimertinib in (propylene glycol + water) cosolvent mixtures

The solubilization, Hansen solubility parameters (HSPs) and apparent thermodynamic parameters of a novel anticancer medicine osimertinib (OMT) in binary propylene glycol (P) + water (W) cosolvent mixtures were evaluated. The mole fraction solubility (x e) of OMT in various (P + W) cosolvent mixtures including neat P and neat W was determined at T = 298.2–318.2 K and p = 0.1 MPa by applying a saturation shake flask method. HSPs of OMT, neat P, neat W and (P + W) cosolvent compositions free of OMT were also estimated. The x e values of OMT were regressed with Van’t Hoff, modified Apelblat, Yalkowsky-Roseman, Jouyban-Acree and Jouyban-Acree-Van’t Hoff models with an average errors of <3.0 %. The highest and lowest x e value of OMT was estimated in neat P (2.70 × 10−3 at T = 318.2 K) and neat W (1.81 × 10−5 at T = 298.2 K), respectively. Moreover, HSP of OMT was found to be closed with that of neat P. The solubility of OMT was found to be increased significantly with an increase in temperature and P mass fraction in all (P + W) cosolvent compositions including neat P and neat W. The results of activity coefficients suggested higher molecular interactions in OMT-P combination compared with OMT-W combination. The results of thermodynamic studies indicated an endothermic and entropy-driven dissolution of OMT in all (P + W) cosolvent compositions including neat P and neat W.

Solubility determination, computational modeling, Hansen solubility parameters and apparent thermodynamic analysis of brigatinib in (ethanol + water) mixtures

The solubility and various thermodynamic parameters of an antitumor drug brigatinib (BRN) in various ethanol (EtOH) + water (H2O) mixtures were determined in this study. The mole fraction solubility (x e) of BRN in various (EtOH + H2O) mixtures including pure EtOH and pure H2O was obtained at T = 298.2–323.2 K and p = 0.1 MPa by adopting a saturation shake flask method. Hansen solubility parameters (HSPs) of BRN, pure EtOH, pure H2O and (EtOH + H2O) mixtures free of BRN were also computed. The x e values of BRN were correlated using Van’t Hoff, Apelblat, Yalkowsky–Roseman, Jouyban–Acree and Jouyban–Acree–Van’t Hoff models with mean errors of <2.0%. The maximum and minimum x e value of BRN was obtained in pure EtOH (1.43 × 10−2 at T = 323.2 K) and pure H2O (3.08 × 10−6 at T = 298.2 K), respectively. The HSP of BRN was also found more closed with that of pure EtOH. The x e value of BRN was obtained as increasing significantly with the rise in temperature and increase in EtOH mass fraction in all (EtOH + H2O) mixtures including pure EtOH and pure H2O. The data of apparent thermodynamic analysis showed an endothermic and entropy-driven dissolution of BRN in all (EtOH + H2O) mixtures including pure EtOH and pure H2O.

Synthesis and Antiplatelet Potential Evaluation of 1,3,4-Oxadiazoles Derivatives

A novel series of 2-(3-methyl-1,6-diphenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-4-yl)-5-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles (4a–4h) has been synthesized from corresponding hydrazones (3a–3h) and evaluated their antiplatelet aggregation effect induced by arachidonic acid and collagen. Spectral data and elemental evaluation were used to confirm the structure of the compounds while molecular docking against cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (COX1 & COX2) and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) were performed in describing their antiplatelet potential. All synthesized compound exhibited more than 50% platelet aggregation inhibition against both arachidonic acid and collagen. Antiplatelet activities results showed that 4b and 4f compounds have highest % inhibition against arachidonic acid. High Egap and ionization potential values showed that the compound 4d, 4e and 4f were supposed to be more active and good electron donor while 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4g and 4h might be more active due to more electrophilic sites. Interaction with more than one residues in the binding pocket of COX-1 in comparison with aspirin and ligand efficacy (LE) consequences showed that compounds have excellent action potential for COX-1. Computational evaluations are in good agreement with antiplatelet activities of the compounds. All compounds might be promising antiplatelet agents especially 4b, 4f and helpful in the synthesis of new drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

Temperature Dependent Solubility of Benzoic Acid in Aqueous Phase and Aqueous Mixtures of Aliphatic Alcohols

The benzoic acid solubility in aqueous phase and in various aqueous mixtures of methanol, ethanol and 2-propanol was determined at temperatures ranging from 303 to 333 K by an analytical technique. The results showed that the solubility of the acid in alcohols-water binary mixtures is high as compared to pure aqueous phase. The addition of alcohols to water favors the dissolution of benzoic acid which increases further with the increase in alcohols content of water within the investigated temperature range. The benzoic acid solubility in water alone and aqueous mixtures of the selected alcohols was in the order of; 2-propanol in water > ethanol in water > methanol in water > pure water. It is also observed that within the investigated temperature range, the acid solubility increases with rise in temperature in both the aqueous phase and alcohols-water binary solvents. The logarithm of the mole fraction of the acid’s solubility also showed a linear trend against the temperature. The experimental results obtained in the current study were compared with the reported literature for the studied acid and other organic acids in various solvents and showing a good agreement. The study will have implications in the processes involving separation, crystallization and pharmaceutical formulation in various industries.

Solubility and Solution Thermodynamics of Baricitinib in Six Different Pharmaceutically Used Solvents at Different Temperatures

The preset study was undertaken to determine solubility and solution thermodynamics of a novel anticancer drug baricitinib in some pharmaceutically used mono/pure solvents including “water, ethanol, polyethylene glycol-400 (PEG-400), ethyl acetate (EA), dichloromethane (DCM) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)” at “T = 298.2 K to 323.2 K” and “p = 0.1 MPa”. The solubility of baricitinib after equilibrium (saturation state) was analyzed spectrophotometrically by applying an isothermal technique. Characterization of solid phases of initial and equilibrated baricitinib was confirmed with the help of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Measured solubilities of baricitinib were regressed using “van’t Hoff and Apelblat models”. DSC spectra of baricitinib showed no change in physical state of baricitinib after equilibrium. Solubilities of baricitinib (as mole fraction) were estimated highest in DMSO (1.65 × 10−1) followed by PEG-400 (1.42 × 10−1), DCM (1.29 × 10−3), ethanol (7.41 × 10−4), EA (4.74 × 10−4) and water (1.76 × 10−4) at “T = 323.2 K” and same tendencies were also noted at other temperatures studied. With the help of theoretical solubilities of baricitinib, activity coefficients were estimated. The estimated data of activity coefficients indicated higher molecular interactions in baricitinib-DMSO and baricitinib-PEG-400 as compared with baricitinib-water, baricitinib-EA, baricitinib-DCM and baricitinib-ethanol. Thermodynamic treatment of solubility values of baricitinib showed “endothermic and entropy-driven dissolution” of baricitinib in all pharmaceutically used solvents evaluated.

Solubility and Thermodynamics of 6-Phenyl-4,5-dihydropyridazin-3(2H)-one in Various (PEG 400+Water) Mixtures

The aim of this study was to determine the solubility of pyridazinone derivative 6-phenyl-4,5-dihydropyridazin-3(2H)-one (PDP-6) in different “polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400)+water” mixtures at temperatures “T=293.2 K to 313.2 K” and pressure “p=0.1 MPa”. The solubilities of PDP-6 were determined using an isothermal method and correlated with Apelblat, van’t Hoff and Yalkowsky–Roseman models. The maximum solubilities of PDP-6 in mole fraction were obtained in neat PEG 400 (8.46×10−2 at T=313.2 K). However, the minimum one was recorded in neat water (7.50×10−7 at T=293.2 K). Apparent thermodynamic analysis showed an endothermic dissolution of PDP-6 in all (PEG 400 water) mixtures. Based on the solubility data of the current study, PDP-6 has been considered as practically insoluble in water and soluble in PEG 400.