Formulation of Quaternized Aminated Chitosan Nanoparticles for Efficient Encapsulation and Slow Release of Curcumin

An effective drug nanocarrier was developed on the basis of a quaternized aminated chitosan (Q-AmCs) derivative for the efficient encapsulation and slow release of the curcumin (Cur)-drug. A simple ionic gelation method was conducted to formulate Q-AmCs nanoparticles (NPs), using different ratios of sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) as an ionic crosslinker. Various characterization tools were employed to investigate the structure, surface morphology, and thermal properties of the formulated nanoparticles. The formulated Q-AmCs NPs displayed a smaller particle size of 162 ± 9.10 nm, and higher surface positive charges, with a maximum potential of +48.3 mV, compared to native aminated chitosan (AmCs) NPs (231 ± 7.14 nm, +32.8 mV). The Cur-drug encapsulation efficiency was greatly improved and reached a maximum value of 94.4 ± 0.91%, compared to 75.0 ± 1.13% for AmCs NPs. Moreover, the in vitro Cur-release profile was investigated under the conditions of simulated gastric fluid [SGF; pH 1.2] and simulated colon fluid [SCF; pH 7.4]. For Q-AmCs NPs, the Cur-release rate was meaningfully decreased, and recorded a cumulative release value of 54.0% at pH 7.4, compared to 73.0% for AmCs NPs. The formulated nanoparticles exhibited acceptable biocompatibility and biodegradability. These findings emphasize that Q-AmCs NPs have an outstanding potential for the delivery and slow release of anticancer drugs.     

Using Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) to Decipher Mucoadhesion Propensity of Curcumin-Containing Chitosan Nanoparticles and Curcumin Release

Real-time nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) was used to evaluate the propensity of curcumin-containing chitosan nanoparticles (CUR-CS-NP) to muco adhere and release curcumin under simulated colon conditions. This novel procedure is relatively simple and fast and does not require use of animals, but more importantly, it permits the correlation of physical changes to the CUR-CS-NP with the observed behavior under simulated conditions in realtime. The CUR-CS-NP formed spontaneous aggregates in response to exposure to mucin. This observation correlated with curcumin release from CUR-CS-NP was observed in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) where, 81% of curcumin was released within 6 hours. Atomic force microscopy imaging CUR-CS-NP exposed to mucin solution revealed a decorated surface of the CUR-CS-NP by mucin, consistent with expected electrostatic interactions between the two. The use of NTA, thus, provided us with a means of ascertaining the performance of the CUR-CS-NP under simulated colonic conditions and we propose that this prototype delivery system could be the basis for an effective colon mucoadhesive drug delivery system.      

Development and Validation of an HPLC-UV Method for the Quantification of 4′-Hydroxydiclofenac Using Salicylic Acid: Future Applications for Measurement of In Vitro Drug–Drug Interaction in Rat Liver Microsomes

Salicylic acid is a key compound in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that has been recently used for preventing the risk of hospitalization and death among COVID-19 patients and in preventing colorectal cancer (CRC) by suppressing two key proteins. Understanding drug–drug interaction pathways prevent the occurrence of adverse drug reactions in clinical trials. Drug–drug interactions can result in the variation of the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic of the drug. Inhibition of the Cytochrome P450 enzyme activity leads to the withdrawal of the drug from the market. The aim of this paper was to develop and validate an HPLC-UV method for the quantification of 4′-hydroxydiclofenac as a CYP2C9 metabolite using salicylic acid as an inhibitor in rat liver microsomes. A CYP2C9 assay was developed and validated on the reversed phase C₁₈ column (SUPELCO 25 cm × 4.6 mm × 5 µm) using a low-pressure gradient elution programming at T = 30 °C, a wavelength of 282 nm, and a flow rate of 1 mL/min. 4′-hydroxydiclofenac demonstrated a good linearity (R² > 0.99), good reproducibility, low detection, and quantitation limit, and the inter and intra-day precision met the ICH guidelines (<15%). 4′-hydroxydiclofenac was stable for three days and showed an acceptable accuracy and recovery (80–120%) within the ICH guidelines in a rat liver microsome sample. This method will be beneficial for future applications of the in vitro inhibitory effect of salicylic acid on the CYP2C9 enzyme activity in rat microsomes and the in vivo administration of salicylic acid in clinical trials.     

Validation of a Fast and Simple HPLC-UV Method for the Quantification of Adenosine Phosphates in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells

A new HPLC method for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) was developed and validated. ATP, ADP, and AMP were extracted from human bronchial epithelial cells with a rapid extraction procedure and separated with a C18 column (3 × 150 mm, 2.7 µm) using isocratic elution with a mobile phase consisting of 50 mM of potassium hydrogen phosphate (pH 6.80). The absorbance was monitored at 254 nm. The calibration curves were linear in 0.2 to 10 µM, selective, precise, and accurate. This method allowed us to quantify the nucleotides from two cell models: differentiated NHBE primary cells grown at the air–liquid interface (ALI) and BEAS-2B cell line. Our study highlighted the development of a sensitive, simple, and green analytical method that is faster and less expensive than other existing methods to measure ATP, ADP, and AMP and can be carried out on 2D and 3D cell models.     

A novel HPLC-UV method for determining alendronate in rat plasma through precolumn derivatization with phenyl isothiocyanate: Application to pharmacokinetics

The determination of alendronate (ALE) in biofluids using a low-cost instrument is potentially useful in preclinical pharmacokinetic studies. This study developed and validated a high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet method for ALE determination in rat plasma using precolumn derivatization with phenyl isothiocyanate (PITC). Inhibiting compounds in the samples were first eliminated using solid-phase extraction. ALE in the sample was subsequently allowed to react with PITC to form a phenylthiocarbamoyl derivative for further analysis. The assay was linear within the concentration range of 0.29–25.0?µg/mL. The precision and accuracy were less than 3.9% and 98.0?±?3.9%, respectively. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.08 and 0.20?µg/mL, respectively. The method was successfully used to evaluate the pharmacokinetic parameters of ALE in rats following a single oral administration (30.0?mg/kg). The results show that the peak plasma ALE concentration is 0.69?±?0.18?µg/mL. The area under the plasma concentration–time curve value of ALE was 2.14?±?0.68?µg/mL hr. This method can suitably evaluate the bioavailabilities of different ALE dosage forms in preclinical pharmacokinetic studies.     

RP-HPLC Method for Simultaneous Determination of Sofosbuvir and Ledipasvir in Tablet Dosage Form and Its Application to In Vitro Dissolution Studies

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous determination of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir in tablet dosage form. The analysis was performed on Luna analytical column 250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm, octyl silica packing (Si–[CH₂]₇–CH₃) C8, using ammonium acetate buffer solution pH 7.0 and acetonitrile 35:65 % v/v as mobile phase at flow rate of 0.7 mL min⁻¹ for isocratic elution. Detection of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir was performed on a UV detector at 245 nm. The retention times of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir were 4.468 ± 0.013 min and 8.242 ± 0.012 min, respectively, and the total run time was 20 min. The method was validated according to the requirements of the United States Pharmacopeia (category I). The overall recovery of both analytes was 100 ± 1 %; the relative standard deviation for precision and intraday precision was less than 2.0 %. The method was linear with correlation coefficient (r) >0.9999, limits of detection 0.485 and 0.175 µg mL⁻¹, and limits of quantification was 1.619 and 0.586 µg mL⁻¹ for sofosbuvir and ledipasvir, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the assay and in vitro dissolution studies of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir in tablet dosage form.

     

Fast and Sensitive HPLC-ESI-MS/MS Method for Etoricoxib Quantification in Human Plasma and Application to Bioequivalence Study

Etoricoxib is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat pain and inflammation. The objective of the current study was to develop a sensitive, fast and high-throughput HPLC-ESI-MS/MS method to measure etoricoxib levels in human plasma using a one-step methanol protein precipitation technique. A tandem mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source operated in a positive mode and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) were used for data collection. The quantitative MRM transition ions were m/z 359.15 > 279.10 and m/z 363.10 > 282.10 for etoricoxib and IS. The linear range was from 10.00 to 4000.39 ng/mL and the validation parameters were within the acceptance limits of the European Medicine Agency (EMA) and Food and Drug Analysis (FDA) guidelines. The present method was sensitive (10.00 ng/mL with S/N > 40), simple, selective (K prime > 2), and fast (short run time of 2 min), with negligible matrix effect and consistent recovery, suitable for high throughput analysis. The method was used to quantitate etoricoxib plasma concentrations in a bioequivalence study of two 120 mg etoricoxib formulations. Incurred sample reanalysis results further supported that the method was robust and reproducible.     

Formulation and In Vitro Evaluation of Sustained Release Microspheres of Diltiazem Hydrochloride Prepared by Emulsification-Internal Gelation Method

The present work describes the formulation of alginate microspheres containing diltiazem hydrochloride by the emulsification-internal gelation method with the use of barium carbonate as a cross-linking agent. The effect of various factors (the concentration of alginate and barium chloride) on the drug loading efficiency and in vitro release were investigated. Fourier transform infrared microscopy (FTIR) and differential scanninig calorimetry (DSC) analysis confirmed the absence of any drug polymer interaction. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern showed that there is a decrease crystallinity of the drug. The in vitro drug release profile could be altered significantly by changing various processing parameters to give a controlled release of drug from microcapsules. The stability studies of drug-loaded microcapsules showed that the drug was stable at different storage conditions.     

Physicochemical,Structural, and In Vitro Gastrointestinal Tract Release Properties of Sodium Alginate-Based Cryogel Beads Filled with Hydroxypropyl Distarch Phosphate as a Curcumin Delivery System

The objectives of this study were to produce sodium alginate (SA)-based cryogel beads filled with different concentrations (0, 0.4, 1.0, and 2.5%, w/w) of hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate (HDP) as a curcumin delivery system and to investigate the physicochemical, structural, and in vitro gastrointestinal tract release properties of the cryogel beads. According to FT-IR analysis, the formation of ionic crosslinking between SA and Ca²⁺ and the presence of HDP were found. XRD analysis demonstrated the successful encapsulation of curcumin in the beads by observing the disappearance of the characteristic peaks of curcumin. SEM analysis results revelated that SA-based cryogel beads exhibited a denser internal structure as the HDP concentration was increased. The encapsulation efficiency of curcumin in SA cryogel beads filled with HDP concentration from 0% to 2.5% was increased from 31.95% to 76.66%, respectively, indicating that HDP can be a suitable filler for the encapsulation of curcumin in the production of SA-based cryogel beads. After exposure to simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), the release rate of curcumin was decreased as HDP concentration was increased. Accordingly, SA-based cryogel beads filled with HDP can be utilized for the delivery system of curcumin in the food industry.     

A comparative study of HPLC-UV and UPLC-DAD methods for simultaneous estimation of aspirin and cilostazol in the presence of their related impurities in bulk and capsules

Aspirin (ASP) and cilostazol (CST) are used as a combination in pharmaceutical formulations for treatment of strokes. Salicylic acid (SAL) is considered to be one of the main synthesis impurities and a degradation product of ASP. On the other hand, the main related impurities of CST are CST related A, B, and C (CST-RA, CST-RB, and CST-RC), respectively. Furthermore, as high efficiency and less elution are the basic requirements of high-speed chromatographic separation, so, a comparative study of two simple, precise, and accurate reversed-phase HPLC and UPLC methods was developed and validated for simultaneous estimation of ASP and CST in bulk and capsules in the presence of SAL, CST-RA, CST-RB, and CST-RC. A Eurospher II C18 (250?×?4.6?mm², 5?µm) for HPLC method and an Agilent Zorbax Eclipse Plus C18 (50?×?2.1?mm², 1.8?µm) for UPLC method were used. A gradient mobile phase of 20?mM anhydrous KH₂PO₄ buffer solution (containing 0.2% triethylamine (TEA), v/v) with pH adjusted to 2.9 using orthophosphoric acid (solution A) and acetonitrile (solution B) mixed in different proportions for HPLC and UPLC methods was prepared. Flow rate was set to 1.0 and 0.3?mL min^?1 for HPLC and UPLC methods, respectively, and the detection was performed for both methods at 210?nm. It worth noting that the proposed UPLC-DAD assay exhibited relatively much more precision, sensitivity, specificity, and economic and chromatographic separation superiority than proposed HPLC-UV assay. Both developed methods were compared with reference methods to prove its applicability and are suitable for purity assessment of ASP and CST in bulk and capsules.     

New MSPQC Method for Rapid Identification and Quantification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

A new method for the rapid identification and quantification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa using multichannel series piezoelectric quartz crystal (MSPQC) was proposed. The identification of P. aeruginosa was based on the development of acetamide broth, which can selective culture P. aeruginosa and performed perfectly in MSPQC. The quantitative detection of P. aeruginosa was based on the fact that the frequency detection time (FDT) detected by MSPQC in developed medium had a linear relationship with the logarithm of its initial concentration in the range of 10–10⁸ colony ? forming units (cfu) ml^–1 (R=?0.984). The detection limit was 10 cfu ml^–1.     

Clinoptilolite Microparticles as Carriers of Catechin-Rich Acacia catechu Extracts: Microencapsulation and In Vitro Release Study

The main goal of the present study was to investigate the microencapsulation, in vitro release capacity and efficiency of catechin-rich Acacia catechu extract by Clinosorbent-5 (CLS-5) microparticles by in-depth detailed analyses and mathematical modelling of the encapsulation and in vitro release kinetics behaviour of the polyphenol-mineral composite system. The bioflavanol encapsulation and release efficiency on/from the mineral matrix were assessed by sorption experiments and interpretative modelling of the experimental data. The surface and spectral characteristics of the natural bioactive substance and the inorganic microcarrier were determined by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Ultraviolet/Visible (UV/Vis) spectrophotometric analyses. The maximum extent of catechin microencapsulation in acidic medium was 32%. The in vitro release kinetics study in simulated enzyme-free gastric medium (pH = 1.2) approved 88% maximum release efficiency achieved after 24 h. The in vitro release profile displayed that the developed bioflavanol/clinoptilolite microcarrier system provided sustained catechin in vitro release behaviour without an initial burst effect. Thus, the results from the present study are essential for the design and development of innovative catechin-CLS-5 microcarrier systems for application in human and veterinary medicine.     

Simple, Sensitive, and Rapid LC–ESI-MS Method for Quantification of Mitiglinide in Human Urine

A sensitive and specific liquid chromatographic method with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-MS) has been developed and validated for identification and quantification of mitiglinide in human urine. A simple liquid–liquid extraction procedure was followed by separation on a C₁₈ column with gradient elution, and detection using a single-quadrupole mass spectrometer in selected-ion-monitoring (SIM) mode. The method was tested using six different batches of urine. Linearity was established for the mitiglinide concentrations in the range 0.005–1.0 μg mL⁻¹, with a coefficient of determination (r) of 0.9998 and good back-calculated accuracy and precision. Intra- and inter-day precision (as RSD, %) was below 10% and accuracy for mitiglinide ranged from 85 to 115%. The lower limit of quantification was reproducible at 0.002 μg mL⁻¹ for 500 μL urine. The proposed method enables unambiguous identification and quantification of mitiglinide in pre-clinical and clinical studies.     

The Unexplored Wound Healing Activity of Urtica dioica L. Extract: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study

Wound healing is a great challenge in many health conditions, especially in non-healing conditions. The search for new wound healing agents continues unabated, as the use of growth factors is accompanied by several limitations. Medicinal plants have been used for a long time in would healing, despite the lack of scientific evidence veryfying their efficacy. Up to now, the number of reports about medicinal plants with wound healing properties is limited. Urtica dioica L. is a well-known plant, widely used in many applications. Reports regarding its wound healing potential are scant and sparse. In this study, the effect of an Urtica dioica L. extract (containing fewer antioxidant compounds compared to methanolic or hydroalcoholic extracts) on cell proliferation, the cell cycle, and migration were examined. Additionally, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties were examined. Finally, in vivo experiments were carried out on full-thickness wounds on Wistar rats. It was found that the extract increases the proliferation rate of HEK-293 and HaCaT cells up to 39% and 30% after 24 h, respectively, compared to control cells. The extract was found to increase the population of cells in the G₂/M phase by almost 10%. Additionally, the extract caused a two-fold increase in the cell migration rate of both cell lines compared to control cells. Moreover, the extract was found to have anti-inflammatory properties and moderate antioxidant properties that augment its overall wound healing potential. Results from the in vivo experiments showed that wounds treated with an ointment of the extract healed in 9 days, while wounds not treated with the extract healed in 13 days. Histopathological examination of the wound tissue revealed, among other findings, that inflammation was significantly reduced compared to the control. Urtica dioica L. extract application results in faster wound healing, making the extract ideal for wound healing applications and a novel drug candidate for wound healing.     

Benign Production of AgNPs/Bacterial Nanocellulose for Wound Healing Dress: Antioxidant,Cytotoxicity and In Vitro Studies

Journal of Cluster Science - New facile way for production of antimicrobial wound healing dress was achieved using freshly fabricated bacterial cellulose (BNC) decorated with in situ formed silver...     

A Simple,Rapid, and Sensitive HPTLC Method for the Estimation of Clarithromycin: Application to Single Dose Clinical Study

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - Clarithromycin used for the treatment of respiratory tract infection. Anew alternative simple, rapid, sensitive, and selective...     

Formulation and Optimization of Alogliptin-Loaded Polymeric Nanoparticles: In Vitro to In Vivo Assessment

The nano-drug delivery system has gained greater acceptability for poorly soluble drugs. Alogliptin (ALG) is a FDA-approved oral anti-hyperglycemic drug that inhibits dipeptidyl peptidase-4. The present study is designed to prepare polymeric ALG nanoparticles (NPs) for the management of diabetes. ALG-NPs were prepared using the nanoprecipitation method and further optimized by Box–Behnken experimental design (BBD). The formulation was optimized by varying the independent variables Eudragit RSPO (A), Tween 20 (B), and sonication time (C), and the effects on the hydrodynamic diameter (Y1) and entrapment efficiency (Y2) were evaluated. The optimized ALG-NPs were further evaluated for in vitro release, intestinal permeation, and pharmacokinetic and anti-diabetic activity. The prepared ALG-NPs show a hydrodynamic diameter of between 272.34 nm and 482.87 nm, and an entrapment efficiency of between 64.43 and 95.21%. The in vitro release data of ALG-NPs reveals a prolonged release pattern (84.52 ± 4.1%) in 24 h. The permeation study results show a 2.35-fold higher permeation flux than pure ALG. ALG-NPs exhibit a significantly (p < 0.05) higher pharmacokinetic profile than pure ALG. They also significantly (p < 0.05) reduce the blood sugar levels as compared to pure ALG. The findings of the study support the application of ALG-entrapped Eudragit RSPO nanoparticles as an alternative carrier for the improvement of therapeutic activity.     

Identification of Vinyl Sulfone Derivatives as EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor: In Vitro and In Silico Studies

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), overexpressed in many types of cancer, has been proved as a high potential target for targeted cancer therapy due to its role in regulating proliferation and survival of cancer cells. In the present study, a series of designed vinyl sulfone derivatives was screened against EGFR tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK) using in silico and in vitro studies. The molecular docking results suggested that, among 78 vinyl sulfones, there were eight compounds that could interact well with the EGFR-TK at the ATP-binding site. Afterwards, these screened compounds were tested for the inhibitory activity towards EGFR-TK using ADP-Glo™ kinase assay, and we found that only VF16 compound exhibited promising inhibitory activity against EGFR-TK with the IC₅₀ value of 7.85 ± 0.88 nM. In addition, VF16 showed a high cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ values of 33.52 ± 2.57, 54.63 ± 0.09, and 30.38 ± 1.37 µM against the A431, A549, and H1975 cancer cell lines, respectively. From 500-ns MD simulation, the structural stability of VF16 in complex with EGFR-TK was quite stable, suggesting that this compound could be a novel small molecule inhibitor targeting EGFR-TK.