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A physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) human model for alpelisib, an oral α-specific class I phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, was established to simulate oral absorption and plasma pharmacokinetics of healthy subjects to allow model-informed drug development. The GastroPlus™ model consisted of an advanced absorption gut model, which was linked to a 2-compartmental model. Systemic clearance and volume of distribution were estimated using population pharmacokinetics (popPK). Various food effect and pH-mediated absorption drug-drug interaction (DDI) scenarios were modeled. In fasted healthy subjects, simulated absorption was lower (ca. 70% for a 300-mg dose) due to pH and bile acid concentration-dependent solubility. Ranitidine showed a significant pH-mediated DDI effect only in the fasted but not fed state. The PBPK model identified that more drug is absorbed in the fed state, and alpelisib intestinal permeability is rate limiting to systemic exposure. Simulations for healthy subject showed a positive food effect with ca. 2-fold increase in plasma Cmax and 1.5-fold increase in AUC0-inf with a meal compared with fasted conditions. The PBPK model was verified using clinical food effect data with pivotal clinical formulation (PCF) and then applied to predict the performance of a commercial formulation (CF) in healthy volunteers. The model successfully predicted the outcome of a clinical bioequivalence study for PCF and CF with included in vitro dissolution data, both fasted and fed state. Estimated predictive errors (based on plasma Cmax, AUC0-t) were equal or below 30%. The alpelisib model for healthy subjects enables future bioequivalence formulation assessments, in fasted, fed, or altered pH conditions. Graphical Abstract.

A systematic theoretical analysis was performed on N -acetyl- l -alanine N ′-methylamide (Ac- l -Ala-NHMe) and the analogues methylated on the N-terminus (Ac- l -(Me)Ala-NHMe), C-terminus (Ac- l -Ala-NMe 2 ), and both N/C-termini (Ac- l -(Me)Ala-NMe 2 ), to evaluate the influence of methylation of the amide group on the conformational properties of the affected residues. The ϕ , ψ potential energy surfaces were calculated at the B3LYP/6-31+G**//HF/3-21G level of theory with inclusion of the solvent (water) effect (SCRF method). The conformers localised were fully optimised at the B3LYP/6-31+G** in vacuo. The accessible areas of the potential energy surfaces; the number of conformers and the stabilising internal forces were compared for all the studied molecules. For comparison, data drawn from the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre has been presented. The conformational freedom of residue methylated either on the N-terminal ( trans and cis ) or C-terminal amide group is reduced, in contrast to residue methylated on both the N/C-terminal amide groups. For all the studied molecules the lowest energy conformers have the methylated amide bond in the trans configuration. N H⋯O hydrogen bonds stabilise the lowest conformers of Ac- l -Ala-NMe 2 and all the conformers of trans -Ac- l -(Me)Ala-NHMe, but not those of cis -Ac- l -(Me)Ala-NHMe where N H⋯N operates. For all the methylated residues studied, the weaker C H⋯O hydrogen bonds and the carbonyl C O▶⋯◀C O attractions seem to play an important role.

This work illustrates the use of Physiologically-Based Toxicokinetic (PBTK) modelling for the healthy Caucasian population in in vitro -to- in vivo correlation of kinetic measures of caffeine skin penetration and liver clearance (based on literature experiments), as well as dose metrics of caffeine-induced measured HepaRG toxicity. We applied a simple correlation factor to quantify the in vitro and in vivo differences in the amount of caffeine permeated through the skin and concentration-time profiles of caffeine in the liver. We developed a multi-scale computational approach by linking the PBTK model with a Virtual Cell-Based Assay to relate an external oral and dermal dose with the measured in vitro HepaRG cell viability. The results revealed higher in vivo skin permeation profiles than those determined in vitro using identical exposure conditions. Liver clearance of caffeine derived from in vitro metabolism rates was found to be much slower than the optimised in vivo clearance with respect to caffeine plasma concentrations. Finally, HepaRG cell viability was shown to remain almost unchanged for external caffeine doses of 5–400 mg for both oral and dermal absorption routes. We modelled single exposure to caffeine only.

Joint physiologically-based toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic (PBTK/TD) modelling was applied to simulate concentration–time profiles of nicotine, a well-known stimulant, in the human body following single and repeated dosing. Both kinetic and dynamic models were first calibrated by using in vivo literature data for the Caucasian population. The models were then used to estimate the blood and liver concentrations of nicotine in terms of the Area Under Curve (AUC) and the peak concentration (Cmax) for selected exposure scenarios based on inhalation (cigarette smoking), oral intake (nicotine lozenges) and dermal absorption (nicotine patches). The model simulations indicated that whereas frequent cigarette smoking gives rise to high AUC and Cmax in blood, the use of nicotine-rich dermal patches leads to high AUC and Cmax in the liver. Venous blood concentrations were used to estimate one of the most common acute effects, mean heart rate, both at rest and during exercise. These estimations showed that cigarette smoking causes a high peak heart rate, whereas dermal absorption causes a high mean heart rate over 48h. This study illustrates the potential of using PBTK/TD modelling in the safety assessment of nicotine-containing products.

The bioavailability of diazepam in rabbits after rectal administration of three formulations: organic-aqueous Relsed rectal solution (containing ethanol, benzyl alcohol and propylene glycol), submicron emulsion and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), was studied. Submicron emulsion contained MCT oil (20% w/w), egg lecithin and poloxamer; SLN were prepared with cetyl palmitate 10% w/v and non-ionic emulsifying agent, Plantacare. All formulations contained 4 mg/ml of diazepam and the dose administrated to rabbits was 2 mg/kg. In both submicron preparations nearly the same mean size of the dispersed particles (201-206 nm) and the fraction of the free drug in aqueous phase (0.9-1.5%) was determined. Besides very moderate prolongation of drug release, the submicron emulsion as a vehicle did not alter pharmacokinetics of diazepam when compared with the solution: the mean C(max) was 48.9+/-24.0 and 49.5+/-17.0 ng/ml, and area under the curve was 134.0+/-42.3 and 186.8+/-59.8 ng h/ml, for solution and emulsion, respectively. The low relative bioavailability, 47% compared to the solution, was observed after administration of SLN. Transmission electron microscopy pictures revealed that some of diazepam is present on the surface of the SLN and this fraction was immediately absorbed, while the diffusion of the drug in the solid core was not efficient enough to allow a complete release. It may be concluded that submicron emulsion may be a good choice of an ethanol-free drug formulation, but lipid matrix, which is solid at body temperature, is not advantageous system for diazepam rectal delivery, even if delivered as a submicron dispersion.

Antimicrobial agents should be added to lecithin-stabilized submicron emulsions when these preparations are non-sterile products or when packed in multidose containers. Eleven antimicrobials were introduced to a standard submicron emulsion. The emulsions were adjusted to pH 5.0 or 8.2 prior aseptic filtration or thermal sterilization, respectively. The physicochemical stability of the preparations was observed during storage for 2 years at room temperature. Parabens showed the best compatibility but satisfying stability was also observed in emulsions containing phenylethanol, m-cresol and benzalkonium chloride. Partitioning studies revealed poor correlation between aqueous solubility and content of the preservatives in the aqueous phase of the emulsion. Only 1.2% of the total content of benzalkonium chloride was found in this phase and incorporation of this compound into different microscopic structures of the emulsion is proposed as a reason for such effect. Preliminary studies on the efficacy of antimicrobial preservation was performed for emulsions containing parabens, benzalkonium chloride or chlorocresol and the negative results bring conclusion that higher concentration of antimicrobials or their combination may be required for efficient preservation of submicron emulsions.