Enteric solid dispersion of ciclosporin A (CiA) having potential to deliver CiA into lymphatics

Solid dispersions composed of three components, ciclosporin A (CiA), surfactant (HCO-60) and a pharmaceutical additive, were prepared. As an additive, cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP), methacrylic acid and methacrylic acid methylester copolymer (Eudragit L-100) and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate (HP-55), which are generally used as enteric coating materials, were employed. The dissolution behavior of CiA from these enteric solid-dispersion system was studied according to the paddle method of JP XI in comparison with that of Sandimmun, an olive oily CiA solution as a reference. Solid dispersion of CiA preparation did not dissolve in the 1st test fluid (pH 1.2) in 2 h. In the 2nd fluid (pH 6.8), about 80% of CiA was dissolved within 12 min, though the dissolution rate was dependent on both the quality and quantity of the additives. An in vivo systemic and lymphatic availability study was performed with rats whose carotid artery and thoracic lymph duct were cannulated. After intrastomach administration of each CiA preparation to rats at a dose of 7 mg/kg, blood and lymph samples were collected for 6 h. One of the HP-55 preparations gave the highest plasma CiA level, Cmax = 0.99 +/- 0.20 (S.E., n = 4) micrograms/ml, and also showed the highest lymphatic availability, the percentage of dose delivered to the lymphatics in 6 h was 1.98 +/- 0.10% and the maximum lymph CiA level was 76.8 +/- 12.86 micrograms/ml. Lymphatic availability of CiA from Sandimmun was 0.78 +/- 0.11% and the peak plasma CiA level was 0.46 +/- 0.10 microgram/ml.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Is recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) orally available in rats?

Oral availability of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was investigated in rats by measuring the blood total leucocyte (BTL) counts. Oral test G-CSF solution was prepared with 10% HCO-60 (polyoxyethylated, 60 mumol, castor oil derivative), 1% DK ester (sugar ester) or 10% MYS-40 (polyethyleneglycol monostearate), in which the G-CSF concentration was 500 or 250 micrograms/ml. Each test solution was injected into the duodenum of three rats at the G-CSF dose level of 300 or 600 micrograms/kg, and BTL counts were monitored for 48 h. All of the test G-CSF solution raised the BTL levels within 24 h after injection. In particular, the HCO-60 solution increased the BTL levels over 2 times as compared to the predose level at 600 micrograms/kg dose and the effect was apparently dose-dependent. A short-term study suggested that the effect of G-CSF on the BTL level appeared at the fastest at about 5 h after administration of HCO-60 test solution, 300 micrograms/kg. In view of the pattern of BTL dynamics obtained after i.v. injection of HCO-60 solution at 25 and 50 micrograms/kg, the increase of BTL levels observed after oral administration of the HCO-60 solution is considered to be due to the orally supplied G-CSF.     

A new method for the synthesis of novel 1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-f][1,2,4]triazines

Novel compounds 8-(quinoxalin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-f][1,2,4]triazines 3a,b were obtained by a new annulation method in the 1,2,4-triazine synthesis.     

Reaction of azole condensed quinoxaline N-oxides with acetic anhydride

The reaction of 7-chlorotetrazolo[1,5-α]quinoxaline 5-oxide 6a with acetic anhydride gave 7-chloro-5-(7-chlorotetrazolo[1,5-α]quinoxalin-4-yl)-4,5-dihydro-4-oxotetrazolo[1,5-α]quinoxaline 7a , while the reaction of 7-chloro-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-α]quinoxaline 5-oxide 6b with acetic anhydride afforded 7-chloro-5-(7-chloro-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-α]quinoxalin-4-yl)-4,5-dihydro-4-oxo-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-α]quinoxaline 7b and 7-chloro-4,5-dihydro-4-oxo-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-α]quinoxaline 8b . The reaction of compound 6a or 6b with acetic anhydride/acetic acid provided 7-chloro-4,5-dihydro-4-oxo-tetrazolo[1,5-α]quinoxaline 8a or compound 8b , respectively.     

External control of drug release and penetration. VI. Enhancing effect of ultrasound on the transdermal absorption of indomethacin from an ointment in rats.

The effect of an ultrasound (1 MHz) on transdermal absorption of indomethacin from an ointment was studied in rats. Ultrasound energy was supplied for between 5 and 20 min at a range of intensities (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 W cm-2), energy levels commonly used for therapeutic purposes. For evaluating skin penetration of indomethacin, the change of plasma concentration was measured. The pronounced effect of ultrasound on the transdermal absorption of indomethacin was observed at all ultrasound energy levels studied. The intensity and the time of application were found to play an important role in the transdermal phonophoretic delivery system of indomethacin; 0.75 W cm-2 appeared to be the most effective intensity in improving the transdermal absorption of indomethacin, while the 10 min ultrasound treatment was the most effective. Although the highest penetration was observed at an intensity of 0.75 W cm-2, 0.5 W cm-2 was preferred because intensities of less than 0.5 W cm-2 of ultrasound for 10 min did not result in any significant skin temperature rise nor did it have any destructive effect on rat skin. Progressively more skin damage was noted as the intensity and the time of application of ultrasound increased. When used at a proper intensity and time of application, ultrasound appears to be a safe technique for enhancing the passage of various drug molecules through human skin.     

Synthesis and tautomeric behavior of 3-(pyrazolylhydrazonomethyl)-2-oxo-1, 2-dihydroquinoxalines. Specification of hydrazone imine and diazenyl enamine forms

3-(Pyrazolylhydrazonomethyl)-2-oxo-1, 2-dihydroquinoxalines were synthesized, and their tautomer ratios between hydrazone imine and diazenyl enamine forms were specified by pmr spectral data.     

Substituent effects on the tautomer ratios between the hydrazone imine and diazenyl enamine forms in side-chained quinoxalines

The 3-(arylhydrazono)methyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinoxalines 9–11 were synthesized by the reaction of the quinoxalines 6–8 with various p-substituted benzenediazonium salts. Compounds 9–11 showed the tautomeric equilibria between the hydrazone imine A and diazenyl enamine B forms in dimethyl sulfoxide media. The substituent effect on the tautomer ratios of A to B was studied by the nmr spectroscopy to clarify that the presence of the ester group R² on the hydrazone carbon and electron-donating p-substituent R¹ on the side chain benzene ring exhibited a tendency to increase the ratios of the tautomer A .     

Molecular dynamics study of the methanol effect on the membrane morphology of perfluorosulfonic ionomers

The membranes of a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer swollen in 10-80 wt % methanol solution were investigated to elucidate the methanol effect on their morphologies, such as size of the solvent cluster, solvent location, and polymer structure, by using isothermal-isobaric molecular dynamics simulations. In higher methanol concentrations, we found less-spherical solvent aggregation and a more spread polymer structure because of the ampholytic nature of methanol. The partial radial distribution functions between solvent oxygen and fluorocarbons, which are composed of the main chain, clearly show that methanol is located closer to the polymer matrix than water. On the other hand, water is preferentially located in the vicinity of an acidic headgroup, SO(3)(-), compared with methanol, although both have similar attractive interaction energies to the acidic group. Furthermore, we discussed solvent dynamics and hydrogen bonding between sulfonic oxygen and solvent O-H groups.