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Beads made of a zinc-pectinate matrix containing activated charcoal were designed for the adsorption of colonic residual antibiotics responsible of the emergence of resistance. Bead stability was shown to correlate with bead zinc content, 0.08 mg/mg being the minimal amount of zinc that protects the egg-box structure against total disintegration. Moreover, the stability in simulated gastro-intestinal media was shown to be related to the composition of the incubation medium. Indeed, gastric medium was shown to extract a large amount of zinc inducing an early disintegration of the beads in the intestinal medium, making necessary their protection by gastro-resistant capsules. Simulated intestinal medium buffered by phosphate was not adapted for the disintegration studies since the formation of a zinc phosphate precipitate on beads surface enhances their resistance to further degradation by pectinases contained in colonic medium. On the other hand, beads incubated in HEPES were stable in intestinal medium and nicely degraded by pectinases contained in simulated colonic medium. Despite this stability, coating with Eudragit RS was needed to prevent the early adsorption of antibiotics in intestinal medium. Adsorption studies in the simulated colonic medium show that the adsorption capacity of activated charcoal is not modified after its encapsulation within pectin beads making the elimination of ciprofloxacin reaching the colon clinically feasible.

We present here an easy method to modify the surface chemistry of polymeric microcapsules of perfluorooctyl bromide used as ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs). Capsules were obtained by a solvent emulsification-evaporation process with phospholipids incorporated in the organic phase before emulsification. Several phospholipids were reviewed: fluorescent, pegylated and biotinylated phospholipids. The influence of phospholipid concentration on microcapsule size and morphology was evaluated. Only a fraction of the phospholipids is associated to microcapsules, the rest being dissolved with the surfactant in the aqueous phase. Microscopy shows that phospholipids are present within the shell and that the core/shell structure is preserved up to 0.5 mg fluorescent phospholipids, up to about 0.25 mg pegylated phospholipids or biotinylated phospholipids (for 100 mg of polymer, poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)). HPLC allows quantifying phospholipids associated to capsules: they correspond to 10% of pegylated phospholipids introduced in the organic phase. The presence of pegylated lipids at the surface of capsules was confirmed by X-ray photon electron spectroscopy (XPS). The pegylation did not modify the echographic signal arising from capsules. Finally biotinylated microcapsules incubated with neutravidin tend to aggregate, which confirms the presence of biotin at the surface. These results are encouraging and future work will consist of nanocapsule surface modification for molecular imaging.

In a strategy to develop more stable ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs), we have designed a process to obtain nano/microcapsules with a single core of liquid perfluorocarbon within a biodegradable polymeric shell of homogeneous thickness. During the optimization of perfluorooctyl bromide (PFOB) encapsulation by solvent emulsion-evaporation, a marked influence of surfactants has been observed. While sodium cholate leads to spherical capsules of homogeneous thickness, sodium taurocholate induces to the formation of "acorn"-particles with one hemisphere of PFOB and another one of PLGA, and polyvinyl alcohol is responsible for the coexistence of both morphologies. Whereas the theoretical model proposed by Torza and Mason [J. Colloid Interface Sci. 33 (1970) 67] fails to predict the observed morphologies, microscopic observations of the evaporation and interfacial tension measurements provide an insight into the mechanism of formation of these structures. Most probably, there is a competition between PLGA and the surfactant stabilizing the emulsion at the dichloromethane-water interface. If PLGA is able to adsorb at the interface, the core-shell morphology is obtained, otherwise the acorn morphology is preferentially formed. When the surfactant rearrangement at the interface is long (>30 min), a coexistence of morphologies can be obtained.

It seems well established that CpG oligonucleotide Th1-biased adjuvant activity can be improved when closely associated with a variety of antigens in, for example, microparticles. In this context, we prepared 1-micron near non-charged poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) 502 and PLGA 756 microparticles that loaded with high-efficiency antigen (50% ovalbumin (OVA), approximately) into their matrix and CpG-chitosan complexes (near to 20%) onto their surface maintaining OVA and CpG integrity intact. In the intradermal immunization studies, whereas OVA microencapsulated into PLGA 756 alone induced a strong humoral immune response assisted by a very clear Th1 bias (IgG2a/IgG1=0.88) that was decreased by CpG co-delivery (IgG2a/IgG1=0.55), the co-encapsulation of CpG with OVA in PLGA 502 particles significantly improved the antibody response and isotype shifting (IgG2a/IgG1=0.73) in comparison with mice immunized with OVA-loaded PLGA 502 (IgG2a/IgG1=0). This improvement was not correlated with the cellular immune response where the effect of co-encapsulated CpG was rather negative (2030 and 335 pg/mL IFN-gamma for OVA PLGA 502 and OVA CpG PLGA 502, respectively). These results underscore the critical role of polymer nature and microparticle characteristics to show the benefits of co-encapsulating CpG motifs in close proximity with an antigen.

We describe the supramolecular organization of hybrid microparticles encapsulating dexamethasone (DXM) prepared by spray drying 1,2-Dipalmitoyl-sn-Glycero-3-Phosphocholine (DPPC) and hyaluronic acid (HA). The effect of DXM concentration on size distribution and encapsulation efficacy was evaluated as a function of HA concentration. In the absence of HA, DXM leads to a strong particle aggregation, whereas in the presence of HA, the aggregation is practically suppressed. DXM percentage of encapsulation is high (95+/-6%), independently of composition. Drug-excipient interactions were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction. DSC demonstrates that only a small fraction of DXM interacts with DPPC, whereas X-ray diffraction does not detect this interaction. Finally, in vitro release studies show that HA does not influence DXM release kinetics. In all cases, a burst release of DXM is observed during the first hour. Under sink conditions, powder concentration in the release medium governs the extent of the burst. Under non sink conditions, DXM release is mostly governed by DXM solubility in the release medium. In the dry microparticles, DXM is probably mostly in amorphous domains within the DPPC-HA matrix. Upon hydration, the majority of the drug is released and only a small amount of DXM interacts with DPPC.

We have combined the therapeutic potential of nanoparticles systems with the ease of manipulation of microparticles by developing a hybrid vector named Trojan particles. We aim to use this new delivery vehicle for intravitreal administration of dexamethasone. Initialy, dexamethasone acetate (DXA) encapsulation into biodegradable poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles was optimized. Then, Trojan particles were formulated by spray drying 1,2-Dipalmitoyl-sn-Glycero-3-Phosphocholine (DPPC), hyaluronic acid (HA) and different concentrations of nanoparticle suspensions. The effect of nanoparticles concentration on Trojan particle physical characteristics was investigated as well as the effect of the spray drying process on nanoparticles size. Finally, DXA in vitro release from nanoparticles and Trojan particles was evaluated under sink condition. SEM and confocal microscopy show that most of Trojan particles are spherical, hollow and possess an irregular surface due to the presence of nanoparticles. Neither Trojan particle tap density nor size distribution are significantly modified as a function of nanoparticles concentration. The mean nanoparticles size increase significantly after spray drying. Finally, the in vitro release of DXA shows that the excipient matrix provides protection to encapsulated nanoparticles by slowing drug release.

We characterized the morphology, structure and supramolecular organization of microparticles obtained by spray drying 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and hyaluronic acid (HA). Pure DPPC microparticles are small and strongly aggregated with phospholipids organized in a lamellar-like structure observable by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). X-ray scattering demonstrates that it corresponds to an almost dry lamellar phase with chains tilted with respect to the bilayer surface and organized according to a hexagonal lattice within the bilayer. Upon aging, DPPC reorganizes into an orthorhombic structure within the bilayer. The addition of HA leads to an increase of particle size and a decrease of aggregation and tap density associated to a morphology switch from dense spheres to hollow shells. By contrast, the supramolecular organization is not modified: HA is mostly "sandwiched" between DPPC headgroups. In addition, HA impedes phospholipids rearrangement upon aging. Altogether, for drug delivery purposes, the addition of HA is beneficial in terms of stability and physical properties.

Pectin beads containing beta-lactamases were designed for the hydrolysis of colonic residual antibiotics responsible for the emergence of resistance. Beads were prepared by ionotropic gelation in CaCl2 and stabilized by coating with polyethylenimine (PEI) to resist disintegration in the upper GI tract. Particle characterization showed that dried beads had a diameter around 1 mm independently of the presence of PEI. Seven to ten percent (w/w) of PEI was located on bead surface forming a coating layer as observed by scanning electron microscopy. PEI improved considerably bead stability in simulated intestinal medium while affecting slightly the encapsulation efficiency of active beta-lactamases. Coated beads were able to preserve beta-lactamases from premature leakage in the upper GIT whereas, in simulated colonic medium, pectinases induced matrix degradation and reduction of beta-lactamase content especially in beads coated in a 0.8% PEI solution. Finally, the pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin in rat after oral administration was not modified by the co-administration of beads containing beta-lactamases. In conclusion, PEI-coated beads are stable in the upper GIT but remain sensitive to the action of pectinolytic enzymes allowing release of beta-lactamases in a colonic medium without modification of the absorption of a beta-lactam antibiotic when co-administered with loaded beads.

Clostridium difficile pathogenesis is mainly due to toxins A and B. However, the first step of pathogenesis is the colonization process. We evaluated C. difficile surface proteins as vaccine antigens to diminish intestinal colonization in a human flora-associated mouse model. First, we used the flagellar cap protein FliD of C. difficile, in order to test several immunization routes: intranasal, rectal, and intragastric. The rectal route, which is the most efficient, was used to vaccine groups of mice with different antigen combinations. After immunizations, the mice were challenged with the toxigenic C. difficile and a significant statistical difference between the control group and the immunized groups was observed in the colonization levels of C. difficile.

The present paper concerns both the optimization of dexamethasone (DXM) entrapment and its release from biodegradable poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles prepared by the solvent evaporation process. Since the addition of DXM induced the formation of drug crystals beside the nanoparticle suspension, the influence of several parameters on DXM encapsulation was investigated such as the type of organic solvent and polymer, the DXM initial mass, the evaporation rate of the solvent, the continuous phase saturation and the incorporation of a lipid in the polymer. Nanoparticle size and zeta potential were not modified in the presence of DXM and were respectively around 230 nm and -4 mV. The highest drug loading was obtained using 100 mg PLGA 75:25 in a mixture of acetone-dichloromethane 1:1 (v:v) and 10 mg of DXM. The drug was completely released from this optimized formulation after 4 h of incubation at 37 degrees C. Neither the evaporation rate of the organic solvent, nor the aqueous phase saturation with salt or the incorporation of 1mg 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) within the nanoparticles modified the encapsulation efficiency. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrated that the drug was molecularly dispersed within the nanoparticles whereas the non-encapsulated DXM crystallized. These results demonstrate the feasibility of encapsulating dexamethasone and its subsequent delivery.

The purpose of this study was to design microspheres combining sustained delivery and enhanced intracellular penetration for ocular administration of antisense oligonucleotides. Nanosized complexes of antisense TGF-beta2 phosphorothioate oligonucleotides (PS-ODN) with polyethylenimine (PEI), and naked PS-ODN were encapsulated into poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres prepared by the double-emulsion solvent evaporation method. The PS-ODN was introduced either naked or complexed in the inner aqueous phase of the first emulsion. We observed a marked influence of microsphere composition on porosity, size distribution and PS-ODN encapsulation efficiency. Mainly, the presence of PEI induced the formation of large pores observed onto microsphere surface. Introduction of NaCl in the outer aqueous phase increased the encapsulation efficiency and reduced microsphere porosity. In vitro release kinetic of PS-ODN was also investigated. Clearly, the higher the porosity, the faster was the release and the higher was the burst effect. Using an analytical solution of Fick's second law of diffusion, it was shown that the early phase of PS-ODN and PS-ODN-PEI complex release was primarily controlled by pure diffusion, irrespectively of the type of microsphere. Finally, microspheres containing antisense TGF-beta2 nanosized complexes were shown, after subconjunctival administration to rabbit, to significantly increase intracellular penetration of ODN in conjunctival cells and subsequently to improve bleb survival in a rabbit experimental model of filtering surgery. These results open up interesting prospective for the local controlled delivery of genetic material into the eye.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to characterize oligonucleotide-polyethylenimine (ODN/PEI) complex preparation for potential transfection of retinal cells in vitro and in vivo., Methods: The effect of medium preparation [HEPES-buffered saline (HBS), water] on particle size and morphology was evaluated. Cultured Lewis rat retinal Müller glial (RMG) cells were transfected using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-ODN/PEI complexes specifically directed at transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta)-2. Efficacy of transfection was evaluated using confocal microscopy, and regulation of gene expression was assayed using quantitative real-time RT-PCR and ELISA assay. One, 24, and 72 h after injection of FITC-ODN/PEI complexes into the vitreous of rat eyes, their distribution was analyzed on eye sections., Results: Complexes prepared in HBS were smaller than complexes prepared in pure water and presented a core-shell structure. These particles showed a high cellular internalization efficacy, along with a significant and specific down-regulation of TGFbeta-2 expression and production in RMG cells, correlating with specific inhibition of cell growth at 72 h. In vivo, complexes efficiently transfect retinal cells and follow a transretinal migration at 24 h. After 72 h, ODN seems to preferentially target RMG cells without inducing any detectable toxicity., Conclusions: Specific down-regulation of TGFbeta-2 expression using ODN/PEI complexes may have potential interest for the treatment of retinal diseases associated with glial proliferation.