Pre-formulation of an oral cyclosporine free of surfactant

The purpose of this study was to develop a new oral cyclosporine A (CsA) formulation free of surfactant cremophor using cyclodextrin terpolymers (P-αβ-CD, P-βγ-CD and P-αγ-CD) as excipients in attempt to enhance its stability, dissolution rate and eliminate surfactant side effects. Two spray-dried dispersions (SDDs) containing poorly water-soluble CsA were prepared with either P-αβ-CD, P-βγ-CD or P-αγ-CD using water ( $ F_{{{\text{H}}_{2} {\text{O}}}} $ ) and ethanol (F _EOH) via spray-drying technique and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, particle size distribution, circular dichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance along with the dissolution study which was compared to Neoral^® and Sandimmune^®. The results showed an interaction between CsA and P-αβ-CD, P-βγ-CD and P-αγ-CD without secondary structure change of CsA. The order of the CsA release from the terpolymers was ranked as follows: P-αγ-CD/CsA ( $ F_{{{\text{H}}_{2} {\text{O}}}} $ ) = Neoral^® > P-βγ-CD/CsA ( $ F_{{{\text{H}}_{2} {\text{O}}}} $ ) > P-αβ-CD/CsA ( $ F_{{{\text{H}}_{2} {\text{O}}}} $ ) > P-αγ-CD/CsA (F _EOH) > Sandimmune^® > P-αβ-CD/CsA (F _EOH) > P-βγ-CD/CsA (F _EOH). The results of ( $ F_{{{\text{H}}_{2} {\text{O}}}} $ ) could be explained by hydrophilisation and absence of crystallinity of CsA while maintaining part of its crystallinity in the case of formulations (F _EOH). In summary, developed SDD formulations P-αγ-CD/CsA ( $ F_{{{\text{H}}_{2} {\text{O}}}} $ ) revealed same dissolution profile as Neoral^® and better than Sandimmune^®. These systems seem to be stable to carry cyclosporine and release it, while preserving structure and thus, potentially, also maintaining cyclosporine activity.     

Effect of partially methylated β cyclodextrin on percutaneous absorption of metopimazine

Metopimazine (MPZ) is an antiemetic drug used by oral and rectal administration. A transdermal delivery system of MPZ may present a great advantage for the treatment of nausea and vomiting to improve therapeutic adhesion. MPZ is a lipophilic drug with poor water solubility. Partially methyled β cyclodextrin (PMβ-CD) was tested to enhance percutaneous absorption of MPZ. Complex MPZ/cyclodextrin was characterized by Higushi’s phase solubility, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses and MPZ octanol partition coefficient was also determinated. The permeation of free MPZ and inclusion complex through pig skin were investigated using Franz’s cells. Four concentrations of cyclodextrins, 0, 5, 10 and 20% were tested. Partition coefficient was depending on pH of the solution. At pH 5.5, MPZ ionization increased the hydrophily (0.71) and at pH 10.3, non-ionized MPZ was the dominant form (591). The solubility of MPZ increased with the concentration of PMβ-CD and the phase solubility diagram is an Ap type. The used characterization analyses demonstrated the formation of an inclusion complex and this complex improved percutaneous absorption of MPZ. No MPZ flux was detected for a suspension of MPZ and it was more important with MPZ hydrochloride, 0.177 ± 0.044 μg/h/cm2. Flux was increased to 0.570 ± 0.058 μg/h/cm2 with a concentration of 20%. The use of cyclodextrin with MPZ hydrochloride increased also the percutaneous absorption with 0.549 ± 0.175 μg/h/cm2 for a concentration of 5%, 0.435 ± 0.031 μg/h/cm2 for a concentration of 10% and 0.474 ± 0.054 μg/h/cm2 for a concentration of 20%. This study shows that PMβ-CD improves percutaneous penetration of MPZ. But the absorption is not enough to allow a therapeutic effect. Cyclodextrin complex increases MPZ solubility and this bioavailability at the skin surface, and cyclodextrin may also modify the barrier propriety of skin.     

Nimesulide/cyclodextrin/PEG 6000 ternary complexes: physico-chemical characterization, dissolution studies and bioavailability in rats

Purpose Ternary solid dispersions were prepared in order to estimate the effect of a double hydrophilization by cyclodextrins and PEG 6000 on nimesulide apparent characteristics. Ternary solid dispersions of nimesulide, cyclodextrins and PEG 6000 were characterized using DSC, FT-IR, dissolution studies and evaluating the bioavailability in rats. Methods Ternary solid dispersions were prepared either using native powders or using a preformed inclusion complex of nimesulide and cyclodextrin. Inclusion complexes and pure drug were used as references. Circulating nimesulide was measured out in rat plasma after orally administration of our different products (ternary solid dispersions, inclusion complexes and pure drug). Results An improvement of the nimesulide dissolution rate was obtained with inclusion complexes and ternary solid dispersion. In rat plasma, inclusion complexes and ternary solid dispersion improved T _max. Conclusions A second hydrophilization of inclusion complexes by PEG 6000 does not allow to achieve better results concerning nimesulide concentration in rat plasma or in dissolution studies than with inclusion complexes alone.     

Synthesis and reactions of N-heterocyclic carbene boranes

Boranes are widely used Lewis acids and N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are popular Lewis bases, so it is remarkable how little was known about their derived complexes until recently. NHC-boranes are typically readily accessible and many are so stable that they can be treated like organic compounds rather than complexes. They do not exhibit "borane chemistry", but instead are proving to have a rich chemistry of their own as reactants, as reagents, as initiators, and as catalysts. They have significant potential for use in organic synthesis and in polymer chemistry. They can be used to easily make unusual complexes with a broad spectrum of functional groups not usually seen in organoboron chemistry. Many of their reactions occur through new classes of reactive intermediates including borenium cations, boryl radicals, and even boryl anions. This Review provides comprehensive coverage of the synthesis, characterization, and reactions of NHC-boranes.     

Neighboring pyrrolidine amide participation in thioether oxidation. Methionine as a "hopping" site

Methionine residues have been shown to function as efficient "hopping" sites in long-range electron transfer in model polyprolyl peptides. We suggest that a key to this ability of methionine is stabilization of the transient sulfur radical cation by neighboring proline amide participation. That is, in a model system a neighboring pyrrolidine amide lowers the oxidation potential of the thioether by over 0.5 V by formation of a two-center three-electron SO bond.     

First total syntheses of (±)-3-aza-11-selena and (±)-3-aza-11-tellura steroids

An efficient synthesis of 11-selena and 11-tellura steroids bearing a pyridine as an A ring was achieved via an intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition of o-quinodimethanes, which were generated from a 3-azabicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-trien-7-one ketal. The major isomer matches the trans-anti-trans ring configuration of natural products. Finally, the vinyl groups of the synthesized 11-hetero steroids have been oxidized by the Wacker process in good yields. The characteristic ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic features of the synthesized compounds are reported.     

Tuning the optical and electronic properties of 4,8-disubstituted benzobisoxazoles via alkyne substitution

In an effort to design new electron-deficient building blocks for the synthesis of conjugated materials, a series of new trans-benzobisoxazoles bearing halogen or alkynyl substituents at the 4,8-positions was synthesized. Additionally, the impact of these modifications on the optical and electronic properties was investigated. Theoretical calculations predicted that the incorporation of various alkynes can be used to tune the energy levels and band gaps of these small molecules. The targeted 4,8-disubstituted benzobisoxazoles were easily prepared in good yields using a two-step reaction sequence: Lewis acid catalyzed orthoester cyclization followed by Sonogashira cross-coupling. The experimentally determined HOMO values for these 4,8-disubstituted benzobisoxazoles ranged from -4.97 to -6.20 eV and showed reasonable correlation to the theoretically predicted values, with a percent deviation that ranged from 2.4-12.8%. However, the deviation between actual and predicted HOMO values was reduced to less than 3.5% when the theoretical values were extrapolated to the long-chain limit and compared to copolymers containing the 4,8-disubstituted benzobisoxazoles. Collectively, these results indicate that these 4,8-disubstituted trans-benzobisoxazoles can be used for the synthesis of new conjugated materials with electronic properties that are variable and predictable.     

Cyclic Voltammetry Study of the Mn‐Substituted Polyoxoanions [MnII4(H2O)2(H4AsW15O56)2]18− and [((MnIIOH2)MnII2PW9O34)2(PW6O26)]17−: Electrodeposition of Manganese Oxides Electrocatalysts for Dioxygen Reduction

The electrochemical behavior of two manganese (Mn)‐substituted polyoxoanions, the dissymmetrical Dawson sandwich‐type [Mn^II₄(H₂O)₂(H₄AsW₁₅O₅₆)₂]^18? and the Keggin sandwich banana‐shaped [((Mn^IIOH₂)Mn^II₂PW₉O₃₄)₂(PW₆O₂₆)]^17? is investigated. At pH 5, the oxidation of the Mn^II‐centers results in one oxidation wave for [Mn^II₄(H₂O)₂(H₄AsW₁₅O₅₆)₂]^18? and two oxidation waves for [((Mn^IIOH₂)Mn^II₂PW₉O₃₄)₂(PW₆O₂₆)]^17?. To the best of our knowledge, presence of the second Mn‐based wave is rarely observed in the electrochemistry of Mn‐containing polyoxometalates. Deposition of Mn‐oxides electrocatalysts for dioxygen reduction is noticed by cyclic voltammetry, which can be distinguished by the significant positive shift in potentials of the dioxygen reduction reaction.