Injectable PLA-based in situ forming implants for controlled release of Ivermectin a BCS Class II drug: solvent selection based on physico-chemical characterization

In situ forming implants (ISI) prepared from biodegradable polymers such as poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA) and biocompatible solvents can be used to obtain sustained drug release after parenteral administration. The aim of this work was to study the effect of several biocompatible solvents with different physico-chemical properties on the release of ivermectin (IVM), an antiparasitic BCS II drug, from in situ forming PLA-based implants. The solvents evaluated were N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), 2-pyrrolidone (2P), triacetine (TA) and benzyl benzoate (BB). Hansen's solubility parameters of solvents were used to explain polymer/solvent interactions leading to different rheological behaviours. The stability of the polymer and drug in the solvents were also evaluated by size exclusion and high performance liquid chromatography, respectively. The two major factors determining the rate of IVM release from ISI were miscibility of the solvent with water and the viscosity of the polymer solutions. In general, the release rate increased with increasing water miscibility of the solvent and decreasing viscosity in the following order NMP>2P>TA>BB. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a relationship between the rate of IVM release and the surface porosity of the implants, release being higher as implant porosity increased. Finally, drug and polymer stability in the solvents followed the same trends, increasing when polymer-solvent affinities and water content in solvents decreased. IVM degradation was accelerated by the acid environment generated by the degradation of the polymer but the drug did not affect PLA stability.

Optimization of a New Non-viral Vector for Transfection: Eudragit Nanoparticles for the Delivery of a DNA Plasmid

The development of new vectors to deliver DNA into cells for therapy of cancers or genetic diseases has been a major area of research for many years. However, the clinical application of this technology requires the development of efficient, reliable and sterile vectors enabling the transfer of genes in vivo. Non viral, polymer or lipid-based vectors offer a new impetus to gene therapy because they are less toxic than viral vectors (no endogenous recombination, fewer immunological reactions, easy production and delivery of large-sized plasmid). The aim of this study is to develop a new tool for DNA delivery composed of methacrylic polymeric (Eudragit® RS and RL) nanoparticles. These nanoparticles were prepared by two methods: nanoprecipitation and double emulsion. The nanoparticles were characterized by their size, zeta potential and amount of DNA adsorption. Cytotoxicity tests based on mitochondrial activity (MTT test) revealed that the nanoparticles had limited cytotoxicity and that this depended on both the cell type and the nanoparticle concentration. Transgene expression was observed using the Green Fluorescence Protein gene as reporter gene, and was evaluated by flow cytometry in FaDu, MDA-MB 231 and MCF-7 cell lines. The results showed that transfection rates ranging between 4 and 7% were achieved in FaDu and MDA-MB 231 cells with nanoparticles prepared by the nanoprecipitation method. In MCF-7 cells transfected with nanoparticles prepared by either the double emulsion or the nanoprecipitation method, the transfection efficiency was between 2 and 4%. Nanoparticles prepared by nanoprecipitation were slightly more efficient than nanoparticles prepared from a double emulsion. Particle size was not an important factor for transfection, since no significant difference was observed with size between 50 and 350 nm. We showed that Eudragit® RS and RL nanoparticles could introduce the transgene into different types of cells, but were generally less effective than the lipofectamine control.

Effect of the microencapsulation of nanoparticles on the reduction of burst release

The initial burst release is one of the major problems in the development of controlled release formulations including drug-loaded micro- and nanoparticles, especially with low molecular weight drugs. The objective of the present work was to encapsulate, by the W/O/W emulsion, polymeric nanoparticles into polymeric microparticles by using non-water soluble polymers and appropriate organic solvents for the preparation of these composite microparticles. They were characterized in vitro (encapsulation efficiency, mean diameter and release kinetics) and compared with nanoparticles and classical microparticles prepared by the same method. Poly-epsilon-caprolactone (PCL) dissolved in methylene chloride was used to make nanoparticles, whereas ethylcellulose and Eudragit RS dissolved in ethyl acetate, a non-solvent of poly-epsilon-caprolactone, were used for the preparation of microparticles. Ibuprofen and triptorelin acetate were chosen as lipophilic and hydrophilic model drugs, respectively. High entrapment efficiencies were obtained with ibuprofen whereas lower amounts of triptorelin acetate were encapsulated, mainly with formulations prepared with poly-epsilon-caprolactone and Eudragit RS used alone or blended with ethylcellulose. The burst was significantly lower with composite microparticles and may be explained by the slower diffusion of the drugs through the double polymeric wall formed by the nanoparticle matrix followed by another diffusion step through the microparticle polymeric wall.

Towards controlled release of BDNF — Manufacturing strategies for protein-loaded lipid implants and biocompatibility evaluation in the brain

It was the aim of this study to establish triglyceride matrices as potential carriers for long-term release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a potential therapeutic for Huntington's disease. First, four different manufacturing strategies were investigated with lysozyme as a model substance: either lyophilized protein was mixed with lipid powder, or suspended in organic solution thereof (s/o). Or else, an aqueous protein solution was dispersed by w/o emulsion in organic lipid solution. Alternatively, a PEG co-lyophilization was performed prior to dispersing solid protein microparticles in organic lipid solution. After removal of the solvent(s), the resulting powder formulations were compressed at 250 N to form mini-cylinders of 2 mm diameter, 2.2 mm height and 7 mg weight. Protein integrity after formulation and release was evaluated from an enzyme activity assay and SDS-PAGE. Confocal microscopy revealed that the resulting distribution of FITC-lysozyme within the matrices depended strongly on the manufacturing method, which had an important impact on matrix performance: matrices with a very fine and homogeneous protein distribution (PEG co-lyophilization) continually released protein for 2 months. The other methods did not guarantee a homogeneous distribution and either failed in sustaining release for more than 1 week (powder mixture), completely liberating the loading (s/o dispersion) or preserving protein activity during manufacturing (w/o emulsion, formation of aggregates and 25% activity loss). Based on these results, miniature-sized implants of 1 mm diameter, 0.8 mm height and 1 mg weight were successfully loaded by the PEG co-lyophilization method with 2% BDNF and 2% PEG. Release studies in phosphate buffer pH 7.4 at 4 and 37 degrees C revealed a controlled release of either 20 or 60% intact protein over one month as determined by ELISA. SDS-PAGE detected only minor aggregates in the matrix during release at higher temperature. In vivo evaluation of lipid cylinders in the striatum of rat brains revealed a biocompatibility comparable to silicone reference cylinders.

Development of new polymer-based particulate systems for anti-glioma vaccination

Biodegradable and biocompatible microspheres represent a promising alternative to conventional adjuvants for anti-tumour vaccination. Focusing on glioma, we developed two poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)-based particulate systems presenting tumour antigens associated with plasma membranes or with cell lysates. Glioma cell fractions were prepared for adsorption onto poly-D-lysine (PDL)-coated PLGA microspheres formulated using a double-emulsion procedure. Adsorption was followed by (125)I-radiolabelling, Western blot and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Only a panel (34%) of the proteins isolated from both cell fractions adsorbed onto PDL-coated PLGA microspheres. The integrity of the epitopes after loading was preserved, as shown by identification of plasma membrane and cytoplasmic markers. Finally, one of the major potential advantages of those particulate systems resides in the fact they not only serve as injectable adjuvant matrices presenting tumour antigens to antigen presenting cells, but also as potential reservoirs for controlled delivery of active immunostimulant molecules.

Characterization and detection of experimental rat gliomas using magnetic resonance imaging

Two different experimental rat brain tumours (F98 glioma and 9L glioma) were characterized using T1 and T2, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and magnetization transfer ratio (MTR). Even though both tumours appeared homogenous at the early stage of growth, significant differences were measured for all parametric images between tumours and normal brain tissue. Irrespective of the sequence used, tumour lesion/normal parenchyma contrast for the non-infiltrative 9L was twice that of the infiltrative F98 glioma. The use of spin preparation via an inversion pulse in a fast spin echo sequence increases contrast by a factor of 20-30.