Infliximab microencapsulation: an innovative approach for intra-articular administration of biologics in the management of rheumatoid arthritis-in vitro evaluation

Microencapsulation of the therapeutical monoclonal antibody infliximab (INF) was investigated as an innovative approach to improve its stability and to achieve formulations with convenient features for intra-articular administration. Ultrasonic atomization (UA), a novel alternative to microencapsulate labile drugs, was compared with the conventional emulsion/evaporation method (Em/Ev) using biodegradable polymers, specifically Polyactive® 1000PEOT70PBT30 [poly(ethylene-oxide-terephthalate)/poly(butylene-terephthalate); PEOT-PBT] and its polymeric blends with poly-(D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) RG502 and RG503 (PEOT-PBT:PLGA; 65:35). Six different formulations of spherical core-shell microcapsules were successfully developed and characterized. The UA method achieved a significantly higher encapsulation efficiency (69.7-80.25%) than Em/Ev (17.3-23.0%). Mean particle size, strongly determined by the microencapsulation method and to a lesser extent by polymeric composition, ranged from 26.6 to 49.9 µm for UA and 1.5-2.1 µm for Em/Ev. All formulations demonstrated sustained INF release in vitro for up to 24 days, with release rates modulated by polymeric composition and microencapsulation technique. Both methods preserved INF biological activity, with microencapsulated INF showing higher efficacy than commercial formulations at comparable doses regarding bioactive tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) neutralization according to WEHI-13VAR bioassay. Microparticles' biocompatibility and extensive internalization by THP-1-derived macrophages was demonstrated. Furthermore, high in vitro anti-inflammatory activity was achieved after treatment of THP-1 cells with INF-loaded microcapsules, significatively reducing in vitro production of TNF-α and interleucine-6 (Il-6).

3D Printed Tacrolimus Rectal Formulations Ameliorate Colitis in an Experimental Animal Model of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The aim of this study was to fabricate novel self-supporting tacrolimus suppositories using semisolid extrusion 3-dimensional printing (3DP) and to investigate their efficacy in an experimental model of inflammatory bowel disease. Blends of Gelucire 44/14 and coconut oil were employed as lipid excipients to obtain suppository formulations with self-emulsifying properties, which were then tested in a TNBS (2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid) induced rat colitis model. Disease activity was monitored using PET/CT medical imaging; maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax), a measure of tissue radiotracer accumulation rate, together with body weight changes and histological assessments, were used as inflammatory indices to monitor treatment efficacy. Following tacrolimus treatment, a significant reduction in SUVmax was observed on days 7 and 10 in the rat colon sections compared to non-treated animals. Histological analysis using Nancy index confirmed disease remission. Moreover, statistical analysis showed a positive correlation (R2 = 71.48%) between SUVmax values and weight changes over time. Overall, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of 3D printed tacrolimus suppositories to ameliorate colitis and highlights the utility of non-invasive PET/CT imaging to evaluate new therapies in the preclinical area.

Drug Delivery to the Posterior Segment of the Eye: Biopharmaceutic and Pharmacokinetic Considerations

The treatment of the posterior-segment ocular diseases, such as age-related eye diseases (AMD) or diabetic retinopathy (DR), present a challenge for ophthalmologists due to the complex anatomy and physiology of the eye. This specialized organ is composed of various static and dynamic barriers that restrict drug delivery into the target site of action. Despite numerous efforts, effective intraocular drug delivery remains unresolved and, therefore, it is highly desirable to improve the current treatments of diseases affecting the posterior cavity. This review article gives an overview of pharmacokinetic and biopharmaceutics aspects for the most commonly-used ocular administration routes (intravitreal, topical, systemic, and periocular), including information of the absorption, distribution, and elimination, as well as the benefits and limitations of each one. This article also encompasses different conventional and novel drug delivery systems designed and developed to improve drug pharmacokinetics intended for the posterior ocular segment treatment.

Evaluation of the therapeutic activity of melatonin and resveratrol in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A longitudinal PET/CT study in an animal model

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a group of chronic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, which two main types are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Although conventional therapeutic strategies have demonstrated to be effective in the IBD treatment, it is necessary to incorporate novel therapeutic agents that target other mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of the disease, such as oxidative stress. For this reason, the efficacy in vivo of two antioxidant compounds, melatonin and resveratrol, has been investigated in an animal model of TNBS (2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid) induced colitis. PET/CT (Positron emission tomography/Computer Tomography) scans were performed to assess disease activity and evaluate treatment response. SUV_max (Standardized Uptake Value) values, body weight changes and histological evaluation were used as inflammatory indices to measure the efficacy of both treatments. SUV_max values increased rapidly after induction of colitis, but after the beginning of the treatment (day 3) a statistically significant decrease was observed on days 7 and 10 in treated animals compared to the non-treated group. This remission of the disease was also confirmed by histological analysis of the colon tissue using the Nancy histological index (p value < 0.05 for differences between non-treated and both groups of treated animals). Moreover, statistical analysis showed a correlation (R² = 65.52%) between SUV_max values and weight changes throughout the treatment. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of resveratrol, and melatonin in lower extent, as therapeutic agents in the IBD treatment.

Development, Characterization, and In Vitro Evaluation of Resveratrol-Loaded Poly-(ε-caprolactone) Microcapsules Prepared by Ultrasonic Atomization for Intra-Articular Administration

Intra-articular administration of drugs to the joint in the treatment of joint disease has the potential to minimize the systemic bioavailability and the usual side-effects associated with oral drug administration. In this work, a drug delivery system is proposed to achieve an anti-inflammatory local effect using resveratrol (RSV). This study aims to develop microcapsules made of poly-(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) by ultrasonic atomization to preserve the antioxidant activity of RSV, to prevent its degradation and to suppress the inflammatory response in activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. An experimental design was performed to build a mathematical model that could estimate the effect of nozzle power and polymer concentration on particle size and encapsulation efficiency. RSV-loaded microcapsules showed adequate morphology, particle size, and loading efficiency properties. RSV formulations exhibited negligible cytotoxicity and an efficient amelioration of inflammatory responses, in terms of Nitric Oxide (NO), ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species), and lipid peroxidation in macrophages. Thus, RSV-loaded microcapsules merit consideration as a drug delivery system suitable for intra-articular administration in inflammatory disorders affecting the joint.

Pharmacokinetic model of florfenicol in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus): establishment of optimal dosage and administration in medicated feed

The pharmacokinetics of florfenicol (FF) in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) was studied after single intravenous (10 mg kg^-1 ) and oral (100 mg kg^-1 ) administration. The plasma concentration-time data of florfenicol were described by an open one-compartment model. The elimination half-life (t_1/2 ) was estimated to be 21.0 h, and the total body clearance, Cl, was determined as 0.028 L kg h^-1 . The apparent volume distribution (V_d ) was calculated to be 0.86 L kg^-1 and the mean residence time (MRT_iv ) was 30.2 h. Following oral administration, the maximum plasma concentration (C_max ) of 55.4 μg mL^-1 was reached at 12 h (T_max ). The absorption constant (k_a ) was 0.158 h^-1 . The bioavailability was estimated to be 57.1%. The low bioavailability observed at higher doses was explained by the saturation of the mechanisms of absorption. The drug absorption process was limited by its inherent low solubility, which limited the amount of available FF absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. Based on the pharmacokinetic data, an optimal dosing schedule for FF administration is hereby provided. Based on the minimum inhibitory concentration found for susceptible strains of Aeromonas salmonicida, oral FF administration of first, an initial dose of 30 mg FF kg^-1 , followed by 6 maintenance doses at 18 mg kg^-1 /daily could be effective against furunculosis in turbot.

Inflammatory responses and side effects generated by several adjuvant-containing vaccines in turbot

Several of the adjuvants used in fish vaccines cause adhesions in internal organs when they are injected intraperitoneally. We describe the damage caused by vaccines containing different adjuvants in the turbot Scophthalmus maximus and show that internal adhesions can be greatly reduced by injecting the fish in a specific way. Injection of fish with the needle directed towards the anterior part of the peritoneal cavity induced formation of a single cell-vaccine mass (CVM) that became attached to the parietal peritoneum. However, injection of the fish with the needle pointing in the opposite direction generated many small CVM that became attached to the visceral and parietal peritoneum and in some cases caused internal adhesions. We describe the structural and cellular changes in the adjuvant-induced CVMs. The CVMs mainly comprised neutrophils and macrophages, although most of the former underwent apoptosis, which was particularly evident from day 3 post-injection. The apoptotic cells were phagocytosed by macrophages, which were the dominant cell type from the first days onwards. All of the vaccines induced angiogenesis in the area of contact between the CVM and the mesothelium. Vaccines containing oil-based adjuvants or microspheres induced the formation of granulomas in the CVM; however, no granulomas were observed in the CVM induced by vaccines containing aluminium hydroxide or Matrix-Q(®) as adjuvants. All of the vaccines induced strong migration of cells to the peritoneal cavity. Although some of these cells remained unattached in the peritoneal cavity, most of them formed part of the CVM. We also observed migration of the cells from the peritoneal cavity to lymphoid organs, indicating bidirectional traffic of cells between the inflamed areas and these organs.

Use of 1H NMR STD, waterLOGSY, and Langmuir monolayer techniques for characterization of drug-zein protein complexes

Zein is a protein based natural biopolymer containing a large amount of nonpolar amino acids, which has shown the ability to form aggregates and entrap solutes, such as drugs and amino acids to form stable protein-drug complexes. In this work, π-A isotherm, NMR, and Dynamic light scattering were used to detect the formation of protein aggregates and the affinity between zein and two different drugs: tetracycline and indomethacin. An effective interaction of zein and the two drugs was evidenced by means of liquid NMR reinforced by means of changes in the surface pressure by π-A isotherm. The effective interactions zein/drugs under air/water interface were evidenced as a change in the surface pressure of the π-A isotherm of zein in the presence of drug solutions. The presence of tetracycline in the subphase decreased the area occupied by the monolayer at the expanded region until pressures of 12 mN/m were the areas became similar, but indomethacin produces an increment of the area in both expanded and collapsed region. The feasible methodology employed, focused in the functionality of the protein-drug interaction, can be very promising in the drug delivery field.

Biodegradable microparticles covalently linked to surface antigens of the scuticociliate parasite P. dicentrarchi promote innate immune responses in vitro

The histiophagous scuticociliate endoparasite Philasterides dicentrarchi is an emerging pathogen that infects the turbot Scophthalmus maximus and thus causes important economic losses in turbot aquaculture. This in vitro study investigated the adjuvant capacity of biodegradable microspheres (MS) composed of two polymers (chitosan and Gantrez(®)) covalently coupled to surface antigens (Ag) of P. dicentrarchi. The coupled MS-Ag significantly stimulated the phagocytic response of both murine macrophages (RAW 264.7 cells) and leukocytes from the anterior kidney of turbot (HLK), at a level similar to that induced by zymosan A. The MS-Ag also significantly increased production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, as shown by the increased O(2) consumption and stimulation of the respiratory burst and nitric oxide production by murine and in particular by turbot HLK. The MS-Ag stimulated the production of the proinflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) by murine and turbot HLK. The results confirm the high adjuvant capacity of biodegradable MS covalently bound to Ag as regards stimulating the innate immune response, and they justify the use of MS in the production of safe and effective vaccines against fish pathogens.

A vaccine based on biodegradable microspheres induces protective immunity against scuticociliatosis without producing side effects in turbot

The histiophagous scuticociliate parasite Philasterides dicentrarchi is an emergent pathogen in aquaculture and causes significant economic losses on turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) farms. In this study, the surface antigens (Ag) of the parasite were encapsulated and covalently linked to a polymeric microparticle formulation composed of two biodegradable polymers (chitosan and Gantrez). The antigenicity of the formulation and the protection provided were compared in mice and turbot. This formulation induced a higher antibody (Ab) response in mice at doses of 5mg of microspheres (MS) conjugated with approximately 230 μg of Ag (MS-Ag(c)). However, Ab levels were significantly lower than in mice vaccinated with the same concentration of Ag in complete Freund's adjuvant (FCA). In turbot, the MS-Ag(c) formulation induced a higher level of Abs than that induced by the same vaccine emulsified in FCA. The challenge experiments performed with P. dicentrarchi and vaccinated turbot also showed a clear correlation between Ab levels and survival levels. Growth was significantly affected in fish vaccinated with FCA, but not in fish vaccinated with MS. The high adjuvant capacity of MS, together with its biodegradability and low toxicity to fish, makes this new vaccine an economical, effective and safe alternative to oil-based adjuvants for the immunoprophylaxis of scuticociliatosis in turbot.

Effect of zein on biodegradable inserts for the delivery of tetracycline within periodontal pockets

Treatment with antibiotics within the periodontal pocket against bacterial infections represents a useful and adjunctive tool to conventional therapy for healing and teeth preservation. With this function in view, an implantable, tetracycline delivery device for the treatment of periodontal disease was developed. The aim of this study was to develop biodegradable, tetracycline-loaded microparticles made of two polymers: PLGA and zein which were compressed into monolithic devices. In this polymer delivery system, the encapsulation efficiency, release characteristics, drug–polymer interaction, and antibacterial activity of loaded drug were investigated. The interaction of tetracycline with the corn protein zein was studied by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared, and X-ray diffraction. The hydrophobic interaction of tetracycline with zein in the formulations was deduced from the NMR studies, whereas X-ray diffraction studies showed a new crystalline state of the drug in the presence of the protein. Zein was not denatured by preparation of inserts. Sustained release of tetracycline was obtained, and the proportion of zein in the inserts had a great impact on the drug release. Finally, an effective tetracycline release from inserts against Staphylococcus aureus was achieved over 30 days. In conclusion, the PLGA:zein delivery system described in this study was found to be effective in controlled delivery of tetracycline, and hence may be suitable for intra-pocket delivery of antimicrobial agents in the treatment of periodontitis.