In vivo and in vitro emergence of simultaneous resistance to both β-lactam and aminoglycoside antibiotics in a strain of Serratia marcescens

In a patient with Serratia marcescens bacteraemia, a variant resistant to cefotaxime and amikacin was isolated in a blood culture under combined treatment with cefotaxime and amikacin. In addition, in vitro selection on cefotaxime and/or amikacin yielded resistant mutants from the sensitive parent strain. These mutants displayed the same type of cross-resistance as the clinical strain to all β-lactam and aminoglycoside antibiotics. The mechanisms for this resistance was a decrease in the permeability of the cell. To our knowledge, the isolation of such strains from blood cultures and the mechanism responsible for this ⪡ broad-spectrum resistance ⪢ have not been previously described.     

Encapsulation of apple polyphenols in β-CD nanosponges

Rutin, phloridzin and chlorogenic acid are some of the most important and characteristic polyphenols found in apples and their by-products (cider, apple juice, apple pomace, etc.). Despite their antioxidant power, their low stability under light or heating conditions restricts the use of this kind of molecules as nutraceuticals. To deal with this issue, encapsulation seems to be an alternative solution. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that β-cyclodextrin nanosponges (β-CD NS) are promising agents for the encapsulation of polyphenols. Rutin, phloridzin and chlorogenic acid have been included for the first time in β-CD NS in this work. In particular, the highest encapsulation efficiency for rutin (83.7 %) was obtained using 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole as cross-linker in a 1:3 ratio (nanosponge/cross-linker). However, for smaller molecules as phloridzin and chlorogenic acid, the nanosponge which showed the best results was the one with HMDI in a 1:8 ratio (87.2 and 77.5 %, respectively). In vitro dissolution studies of encapsulated polyphenols showed that rutin and phloridzin are better dissolved in ethanol, while chlorogenic acid is better dissolved in water. Besides, TGA, DSC, FTIR and XRPD were used as characterization techniques. Individual polyphenols and nanosponges, equimolar physical mixtures and synthesized complexes were characterized. Taking into account the obtained results, it can be confirmed that the solid products were not physical mixtures, but inclusion complexes. Thus, using these encapsulating agents, other polyphenols from apple and its by-products could be encapsulated in order to enhance their bioavailability.     

Molecular encapsulation of lidocaine and procaine into β-cyclodexrin cavity: in vitro cytotoxic evaluation

Among the potent anticancer agent, Local Anesthetics (LA) have been found to be efficient against many different types of cancer cell lines. However, the major disadvantage associated with the use of LA its low systemic bio-availability when administered due to its poor aqueous solubility. Our present work concentrates on improving the bio-availability by complexing with β-Cyclodextrin. We synthesized the inclusion complexes of selective LAs by co-precipitation method which is an efficient method among others and characterized the formulation of complex by UV, steady state and time resolved fluorescence studies. The optimization and orientation of the free LA and the complexes have also been studied by molecular docking with the help of Patch-Dock server. An in vitro study of cytotoxicity against breast cancer cell line is performed. Our study shows the formation of the complex with 1:1 ratio and the result showed that the improved CT activity for LDC:β-CD than the free LDC. For PRC and its complex with β-CD has no much activity even after forming a complex.     

In vitro digestibility of soybean β-conglycinin hydrolysates

The in vitro digestibility of alcalase enzymatic hydrolysates ofβ-conglycinin was studied.The results showed that the zeta potentials ofβ-conglycinin hydrolysates decreased and their electronegativity increased when digested with pepsin and trypsin.Furthermore,the content of peptides with molecular weight from 10 kDa to 20 kDa remained stable,while those with higher molecular weight(>20 kDa) decreased,and those with lower molecular weight(<10 kDa) increased.The proportion of highly hydrophobic peptides decreased in the process of the in vitro digestion,but no significant change in the surface hydropliobicity indices of digestion products was observed(P<0.05).These results indicate that theβ-congiycinin hydrolysates were degraded through in vitro digestion,but the degree of degradation was relatively low.Peptides with molecular weight from 10 kDa to 20 kDa in theβ-conglycinin hydrolysates resisted the digestion by pepsin and trypsin and they remained stable during the in vitro digestion processes.     

Inclusion complexes of fluconazole with β-cyclodextrin: physicochemical characterization and in vitro evaluation of its formulation

Fluconazole (FZ) is a triazole antifungal drug administered orally or intravenously. It is employed for the treatment of mycotic infections. However, the efficacy of FZ is limited with its poor aqueous solubility and low dissolution rate. One of the important pharmaceutical advantages of cyclodextrins is to improve pharmacological efficacy of drugs due to increasing their aqueous solubility. The aim of present study was to prepare an inclusion complex of FZ and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) to improve the physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties of FZ. The effects of β-CD on the solubility of FZ were investigated according to the phase solubility technique. Complexes were prepared with 1:1 M ratio by different methods namely, freeze-drying, spray-drying, co-evaporation and kneading. For the characterization of FZ/β-CD complex, FZ amount, practical yield %, thermal, aqueous solubility, XRD, FT-IR and NMR (¹H and ¹³C) analysis were performed. In vitro dissolution from hard cellulose capsules containing FZ/β-CD complexes was compared to pure FZ and its commercial capsules and evaluated by f₁ (difference) and f₂ (similarity) factors. Paddle method defined in USP 31 together with high pressure liquid chromatographic method were used in in vitro dissolution experiments. It was found that solubility enhancement by FZ/β-CD complexes depends on the type of the preparation method. High release of active agent from hard cellulose capsules prepared with β-CD complexes compared to commercial capsules was attributed to the interactions between β-CD and active agent, high energetic amorphous state and inclusion complex formation.     

In vivo and in vitro metabolism of a novel β2-adrenoceptor agonist, trantinterol: metabolites isolation and identification by LC-MS/MS and NMR

Trantinterol is a novel β₂-adrenoceptor agonist used for the treatment of asthma. The aim of this study is to identify the metabolites of trantinterol using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), to isolate the main metabolites, and confirm their structures by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Urine, feces, bile, and blood samples of rats were obtained and analyzed. Reference standards of six metabolites were achieved with the combination of chemical synthesis, microbial transformation, and the model systems of rats. Moreover, in order to investigate the phase I metabolism of trantinterol in humans and to study the species differences between rats and humans, incubations with liver microsomes were performed. The biotransformation by a microbial model Cunninghamella blakesleana AS 3.970 was also studied. A total of 18 metabolites were identified in vivo and in vitro together, 13 of which were newly detected. Three phase I metabolites were detected in vivo and in vitro as well as in the microbial model, including the arylhydroxylamine (M1), the tert-butyl hydroxylated trantinterol (M2) and the 1-carbonyltrantinterol (M3). Another important pathway in rats is glutathione conjugation and further catabolism and oxidation to form consecutive derivatives (M4 through M10). Other metabolites include glucuronide, glucoside, and sulfate conjugates. The results of in vitro experiments indicate no species difference exists among rats, humans, and C. blakesleana AS 3.970 on the phase I metabolism of trantinterol. Our study provided the most comprehensive picture for trantinterol in vivo and in vitro metabolism to this day, and may predict its metabolism in humans.     

In vitro evaluation of Radachlorin® sensitizer for photodynamic therapy

This paper reports the evaluation of a new photosensitizer, Radachlorin® in comparison with one of its well known components but used solely, Chlorin e₆. The photodynamic properties and cell uptake and localisation of the two drugs were compared. In vitro studies were conducted on human adenocarcinoma cells (HT29) and lung carcinoma cell line (A549). Both dyes showed an absorption maximum between 640 and 650 nm, but those absorption peaks are enhanced by interactions with serum, with a shifted maximum at 661 and 664 nm, and much higher absorbance. As Radachlorin® is constituted of different products and as photoreactivity is dependent on absorbed light energy, we chose to adapt concentrations so that both drugs had the same absorption at the irradiation wavelength (664 nm) for photoreactivity tests, and express concentrations in optical density at 664 nm. The capacity of the two drugs to generate Reactive Oxygen Species was identical, but on HT29 cells, Radachlorin® reaches its optimal LD50 sooner than Chlorin e₆. Radachlorin® LD50 on HT29 cells was 0.0251 OD_664nm after 2 h and 0.0672 OD_664nm for Chlorin e₆ for a 20 J cm^?2 irradiation. Radachlorin® gave very similar results on A549 cells, LD50 being 0.05 for 5 J irradiation, and 0.026 for 10 and 20 J cm^?2. Pharmacokinetics using fluorescence showed that, even if Radachlorin® quickly crossed HT29 (a human colonic cancer line) cell membrane, cellular distribution evolved from a diffuse cytoplasmic repartition 1 hour after Radachlorin® addition to a delimited localisation into organelles all around the nucleus. Radachlorin® intracellular fluorescence decreased after 4 h, whereas we did not observe a decrease of Chlorin e₆ intracellular fluorescence for times up to 24 h. In both case, a quick decline was observed as soon as the culture medium was replaced with a drug-free one. Radachlorin® appears to be an excellent photosensitizer, with similar phototoxicity to Chlorin e₆ on cell cultures, but with quicker kinetics, which could be an improvement if confirmed on further in vivo studies.     

¹¹C-labeled analogs of indomethacin esters and amides for brain cyclooxygenase-2 imaging: radiosynthesis, in vitro evaluation and in vivo characteristics in mice

There is great potential in the use of positron emission tomography (PET) and suitable radiotracers for the study of cyclooxygenase type 2 (COX-2) enzyme in living subjects. In the present study, we prepared and evaluated five 11C-labeled ester and amide analogs derived from indomethacin as potential PET imaging agents for the in vivo visualization of the brain COX-2 enzyme. Five 11C-labeled COX-2 inhibitors, with different lipophilicities and moderate COX-2 inhibitory activity, were prepared by treatment of the corresponding O-desmethyl precursors with [11C]methyl triflate and purified by HPLC (radiochemical yields of 55-71%, radiochemical purity of >93%, and the specific activities of 22-331 GBq/μmol). In mice, radioactivity in the brain for all radiotracers was low, with very low brain-to-blood ratios. A clear inverse relationship was observed between brain uptake at 1 min postinjection and the lipophilicity (experimental log P?.?) of the studied 11C-radiotracers. Pretreatment of mice with cyclosporine A to block P-glycoproteins caused a significant increase in brain uptake of radioactivity following injection of the 11C-radiotracer compared to control. HPLC analysis showed that each radiotracer was rapidly metabolized, and a few metabolites, which were more polar than the original radiotracers, were found in both plasma and brain. No specific binding of the tracers towards the COX-2 enzyme in the brain was clearly revealed by in vivo blocking study. Further structural refinement of the tracer agent is necessary for better enhancement of brain uptake and for sufficient metabolic stability.     

Design, synthesis and in vitro evaluation of phenylbenzamidine derivatives as SSRIs

A series of phenylbenzamidine analogs were synthesized and tested for their biological activities of inhibiting the reuptake of 5- HT. All of them were new compounds, and their structures were confirmed by 1HNMR, MS and XRD.     

Investigation of the sorption properties of β-cyclodextrin-based polyurethanes with phenolic dyes and naphthenates

The sorption of p-nitrophenol (PNP), phenolphthalein (phth) and naphthenates (NAs) with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) based polyurethane sorbents from aqueous solutions are reported. The copolymer sorbents were synthesized at various β-CD/diisocyanate monomer mole ratios (e.g., 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3) with diisocyanates of variable molecular size and hydrogen deficiency. The copolymer sorbents were characterized in the solid state using (13)C CP-MAS NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and elemental (C,H,N) analysis. The equilibrium sorption properties of the copolymer sorbents in aqueous solution were characterized using isotherm models at pH 4.6 and 9.0 for PNP, pH 9.0 for naphthenates and pH 10.5 for phth. UV-Vis spectroscopy was used to monitor the unbound fraction of the phenolic dyes in the aqueous phase, whereas, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was used to monitor the unbound fraction of naphthenates. The sorption results of the copolymer sorbents were compared with a commercially available carbonaceous standard; granular activated carbon (GAC). The sorption properties and capacities of the copolymer sorbents (Q(m)) were estimated using the Sips isotherm. The sorption capacity for GAC was 2.15 mmol PNP/g, 0.0698 mmol phth/g, and 142 mg NAs/g, respectively, whereas the polymeric materials ranged from 0.471 to 1.60 mmol/g (PNP), 0.114 to 0.937 mmol/g (phth), and 0 to 75.5 mg/g (naphthenates), respectively, for the experimental conditions investigated. The observed differences in the sorption properties were attributed to the accessible surface areas and pore structure characteristics of the copolymer sorbents. The binding constant, K(eq), for copolymer materials for each sorbate is of similar magnitude to the binding affinity observed for native β-CD. PNP showed significant binding onto the copolymer framework containing diisocyanate domains, whereas, negligible sorption to the sites was observed for phth and naphthenates. The β-CD inclusion sites in the copolymer framework are concluded to be the main sorption site for phth and naphthenates through the formation of well-defined inclusion complexes.     

Bioevaluation of 99mTc(CO)3–Guanine in vitro and in vivo

The aim of this study is to examine biological behaviour of radiolabeled guanine with [Tc(CO)₃]⁺ core in vitro and in vivo. In vitro biological behavior of ^99mTc(CO)₃–Gua was evaluated on Lung (A-549), Breast (MCF-7), Colonic (Caco) carcinoma cell lines and normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE). ^99mTc(CO)₃–Gua compound showed high uptake on A-549 cell line when compared to NHBE cell line. Biodistribution characteristics of ^99mTc(CO)₃–Gua was evaluated using New Zeland Rabbits. Scintigraphic results showed that a high level of radioactivity was observed in the lungs and liver shortly after administration of the ^99mTc(CO)₃–Gua and excretion takes place via both renal and hepatobiliary route. It was concluded that ^99mTc(CO)₃–Gua could be used as a nucleotide radiopharmaceutical for imaging purposes.     

An amphiphilic dendrimer for effective delivery of small interfering RNA and gene silencing in vitro and in vivo

An amphiphilic dendrimer bearing a hydrophobic alkyl chain and hydrophilic poly(amidoamine) dendrons is able to combine the advantageous features of lipid and dendrimer vectors to deliver a heat shock protein?27 siRNA and produce potent gene silencing and anticancer activity in?vitro and in?vivo in a prostate cancer model. This dendrimer can be used alternatively for treating various diseases.     

Preparation and evaluation of inclusion complexes of diacerein with β-cyclodextrin and hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin

The objective of this research was to improve the aqueous solubility, dissolution rate and, consequently, bioavailability of diacerein, along with avoiding its side effect of diarrhea, by complexation with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and HP-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD). Phase solubility curve was classified as an A_N type for both the CDs, which indicated formation of complex of diacerein with β-CD and HP-β-CD in 1:1 stoichiometry and demonstrating that both CDs are proportionally less effective at higher concentrations. The complexes were prepared by kneading method and were evaluated to study the effect of complexation on aqueous solubility and rate of dissolution in phosphate buffer (pH 6.8). Based on the dissolution profile HP-β-CD was selected for preparing fast disintegrating tablet of diacerein which was compared with marketed formulation (MF-J). The HP-β-CD complex was probed for Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and powder X-ray diffraction studies which evidenced stable complex formation and increase in amorphousness of diacerein in complex. In brief, the characterization studies confirmed the inclusion of diacerein within the non-polar cavity of HP-β-CD. HP-β-CD complex showed improved in vitro drug release profile compared to pure drug and similar to that of marketed formulation respectively.