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This study proposed a novel injectable nanocarrier for paclitaxel (PTX) based on biotin-modified bovine serum albumin (BSA). First, the biotin-modified BSA (biotin-BSA) was successfully synthesized and characterized by FT-IR analysis. Then, the PTX-loaded biotin-BSA nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by disulfide bond reducing method and stabilized through the formation of intermolecular disulfide bonds. The influence of solution pH, glutathione concentration, temperature and organic solvent on the formation of NPs was studied. Under the optimized conditions, the PTX-loaded NPs had a mean diameter of 163 nm with zeta potential of − 35 mV. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that the NPs were sphere in shape and had a narrow size distribution. XRD and DSC spectra confirmed the successful encapsulation of PTX in the NPs in an amorphous state. The MTT assay verified that the in vitro cytotoxicity of PTX-loaded biotin-BSA NPs to biotin receptor-positive MCF-7 cells was a little higher than that of Taxol®. The cellular uptake experiments by flow cytometry demonstrated the biotin receptor-mediated endocytosis of biotin-BSA NPs. It can be concluded that the PTX-loaded biotin-BSA NPs were a promising drug delivery carrier for PTX.

The clinical application of paclitaxel is limited due to its low solubility and severe side effects. A tumor-targeting and redox-sensitive paclitaxel-loaded micellar system could exhibit high drug ...

In this study, a redox-sensitive chitosan derivative with modifications by cholesterol, sulfhydryl, and mPEG (mPEG-CS(SH)-CHO) was successfully synthesized and characterized. Due to its amphiphilicity, the conjugate could spontaneously form micelles in an aqueous environment. The optimized paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded mPEG-CS(SH)-CHO micelles, with a mean diameter of 158 nm, zeta potential of +26.9 mV, drug loading of 11.7%, and entrapment efficiency of 88.3%, were successfully prepared. The results of an XRD study demonstrated that PTX was loaded in the core of the micelles in a non-crystalline state. Inspiringly, the PTX-loaded micelles possessed excellent anticancer effect but low toxicity to the body. It can be concluded that the mPEG-CS(SH)-CHO micellar system is a promising drug delivery carrier for the controlled release of PTX.

In our previous study, α-tocopherol succinate modified chitosan (CS-TOS) was synthesized and encapsulated paclitaxel (PTX) to form micelles. Preliminary study revealed that the CS-TOS was a potential micellar carrier for PTX. In this study, some further researches were done using Taxol formulation as the control to evaluate the micelle system deeply. In vitro cell experiments demonstrated that the cytotoxic effect of PTX-loaded CS-TOS micelles against MCF-7 cells was comparable with that of Taxol formulation, and the PTX-loaded micelles had excellent cellular uptake ability, which was in a time-dependent manner. The in vivo pharmacokinetic study in rats showed that the micelles prolonged the half-life and increased AUC of PTX than Taxol formulation. From biodistribution study, it was clear that for micelles, the drug concentrations in the liver and spleen were significantly higher than those of Taxol formulation, but much lower in the heart and kidney. Furthermore, the PTX-loaded micelles showed superior antitumor effect, but yielded less toxicity as indicated by the results of antitumor efficacy study and survival study in U14 tumor-bearing mice. These results suggested that CS-TOS micelles could be a potentially useful drug delivery system to improve the performance and safety of PTX.

In this study, we designed and developed a new drug delivery system of multifunctional composite microcapsules for oral administration of insulin. Firstly, in order to enhance the encapsulation efficiency, insulin was complexed with functional sodium deoxycholate to form insulin-sodium deoxycholate complex using hydrophobic ion pairing method. Then the complex was encapsulated into poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles by emulsion solvent diffusion method. The PLGA nanoparticles have a mean size of 168 nm and a zeta potential of −29.2 mV. The encapsulation efficiency was increased to 94.2% for the complex. In order to deliver insulin to specific gastrointestinal regions and reduce the burst release of insulin from PLGA nanoparticles, hence enhancing the bioavailability of insulin, enteric targeting multifunctional composite microcapsules were further prepared by encapsulating PLGA nanoparticles into pH-sensitive hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose phthalate (HP55) using organic spray-drying method. A pH-dependent insulin release profile was observed for this drug delivery system in vitro. All these strategies help to enhance the encapsulation efficiency, control the drug release, and protect insulin from degradation. In diabetic fasted rats, administration of the composite microcapsules produced a great enhancement in the relative bioavailability, which illustrated that this formulation was an effective candidate for oral insulin delivery.

To make a comparative study on sustained delivery performance of rhIFN with random amorphous and spherical crystal-like ordered self-assemblies.The rhIFN self-assemblies were identified in batch crystallization mode. Physico-chemical characteristics were compared, including morphology, XRD, FTIR, CD, biological potency, the dissolution behaviors in vitro and plasma pharmacokinetics in vivo. Moreover, molecular simulation was performed to better understand their binding site and mode.Here, we suggest that random amorphous and spherical ordered self-assemblies allow for long action without new molecular entities generation or carriers employed. By manipulating supersaturation, the ordered aggregates were self-organized at high concentration of Zn(II) (100 mM) in pH 5.5-6.0, which was the first time that spherical semi-crystals of rhIFN can act as a depot source for the sustained delivery of biologically active proteins. The secondary structure and biological potency of rhIFN were unchanged after aggregation. Compared with that of the native rhIFN, both self-assemblies exhibited slower absorption and extended elimination profiles after s.c. administration, which were characterized as 4.75 ± 0.82 h and 10.58 ± 1.86 h of terminal half-life for random amorphous and spherical ordered self-assemblies, respectively.The work described here demonstrates the possibility of self-assemblies of biomacromolecules for controllable release application of therapeutic proteins.

The amorphous-to-crystalline transformation of nitrendipine was investigated using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The nucleation and growth rate of crystalline nitrendipine in a medium containing poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG 200) were quantitatively determined using image analysis based on polarized light microscopy. The findings from the image analysis revealed that the transformation process occurred through the dissolution of amorphous drug precipitate followed by the nucleation and growth of the crystalline phase with the amorphous precipitate acting as a reservoir for maintaining the supersaturation. The rates of nucleation and crystal growth of nitrendipine decreased with an increase in PEG 200 concentration in organic phase from 0% to 75% (v/v). Increasing the PVA concentration in water phase from 0.1% to 1.0% (w/w) also decreased the rates of nucleation and crystal growth, however, an increase in PVA concentration from 1.0% to 2.0% (w/w) did not result in a further decrease in the rates of nucleation and crystal growth. An increase in drug concentrations in the organic phase from 10 mg/ml to 30 mg/ml led to faster nucleation rates. However, a further increase in drug concentration to 100 mg/ml decelerated the growth of nitrendipine crystals. Combining image analysis of polarized light micrographs together with Raman spectroscopy and XRPD provided an in-depth insight into solid state transformations in amorphous nitrendipine suspensions.

In this study, chitosan, a cationic polymer with positive charge, was introduced to modify the nanocrystals of nitrendipine with negative charge. The nanocrystals were prepared via precipitation-high pressure homogenization method. Then the nanocrystals were dispersed into chitosan solution, and the free chitosan was removed by centrifugation to obtain the chitosan modified nanocrystals, which remained the same particle size. However, the zeta-potential changed to positive after modification. The physical stability of the chitosan modified nanocrystals was remarkably improved under ambient conditions. During the in vitro dissolution test, the modified nanocrystals showed a certain degree of slow-release property. In the in vivo study, the C(max) of nitrendipine remained the same, however, the T(max) delayed from 0.75 h to 1.5 h with the chitosan modified nanocrystals. The surface modification by chitosan improved the bioavailability compared with the initial nanocrystals, which had demonstrated significant improvement of bioavailability compared to the traditional coarse powder form. Based on the experimental results, modification of the nanocrystals with certain polymer was supposed to be a good method to control the in vitro and in vivo behaviors of the nanocrystals, which could further increase the bioavailability of the water insoluble drug.

A two-phase delivery system involving local injections of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) -loaded hydrogel was developed using 2-methoxyestradiol as a model anticancer drug. This approach improves the effectiveness of conventional treatments for subcutaneous tumors and avoids that solid lipid nanoparticles are rapidly cleared from the circulation following systemic administration. The specific aim of the study presented in this article was to investigate the in vivo release, delivery and antitumor effects of 2-ME SLNs entrapped in a hydrogel. The results indicated that the hydrogel could deliver fluorescence-marked SLNs to tumor masses and cancer cells, exhibiting a controlled release of 2-ME SLNs over 46 days following a zero-order model. After treatment with the 2-ME SLN-loaded hydrogel, BALB/c mice that had been inoculated with syngeneic 4T1 breast cancer cells displayed significantly more tumor growth suppression for at least 21 days than those treated with a hydrogel containing the free drug, which was consistent with the in vitro cytotoxicity of 2-ME SLNs. This experiment demonstrated the efficacy of the hydrogel as a depot of 2-ME SLNs. Additionally, the mice treated with the hydrogel did not exhibit a loss of body weight or abnormal levels of white blood cells compared to the control group. These experiments demonstrated the potential value of 2-ME SLN hydrogel local injections as a safer and more effective method for the chemotherapy of subcutaneous tumors.

The objective of this study was to prepare 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME)-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) by hot homogenization-ultrasonication and evaluate their cytotoxicity on three cell lines, breast cancer [Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7)], prostatic carcinoma (PC-3), and glioma (SK-N-SH), by the sulforhodamineB method. The particle sizes and zeta potentials of the prepared SLN were around 120 nm and -40 mV, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements revealed that the monostearin and 2-ME existed in solid and amorphous states in the SLN prepared, respectively. The high drug entrapment efficiency (>85%) indicated that most 2-ME was incorporated in the SLN. An in-vitro drug release study showed that 2-ME was released from the SLN in a slow but time-dependent manner. The cytotoxicity of 2-ME in SLN on each cell line was significantly enhanced compared with the solution. 2-ME SLN composed of Tween80 was approximately 17-fold more effective on PC-3 cells and 6.7-fold more effective on SK-N-SH cells than in the solution, whereas a lower sensitivity was achieved on MCF-7 cells. In each cell line, the cellular uptake percentages of 2-ME in SLN were much higher than the solution, respectively. In addition, surfactants may exert different effects on the cytotoxicity of 2-ME SLN depending on the cell line. The above assay demonstrated that SLN could significantly enhance the cytotoxicity of 2-ME compared with the free drug because of the increased cellular internalization and concentration of 2-ME. The results suggested that SLN could be an excellent carrier candidate to entrap 2-ME for improving the effectiveness of tumor chemotherapy.

α-Tocopherol succinate hydrophobically modified chitosan (CS-TOS) containing 17 α-tocopherol groups per 100 anhydroglucose units was synthesized by coupling reaction. The formation of CS-TOS was confirmed by (1)H NMR and FT-IR analysis. In aqueous medium, the polymer could self-aggregate to form micelles, and the critical micelle concentration (CMC) was determined to be 5.8 × 10(-3) mg/ml. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation revealed that both bare and paclitaxel-loaded micelles were near spherical in shape. The mean particle size and zeta potential of drug-loaded micelles were about 78 nm and +25.7 mV, respectively. The results of DSC and XRD analysis indicated that paclitaxel was entrapped in the micelles in molecular or amorphous state. In vitro cytotoxicity and hemolysis study revealed the effectiveness and safety of this delivery system, which was further confirmed by the in vivo antitumor evaluations. It can be concluded that the CS-TOS was a potential micellar carrier for paclitaxel.

Methotrexate (MTX)-loaded chitosan microspheres with a mean particle size of 5.0-5.5 μm and high drug encapsulation efficiencies (90.71-93.20 %) were prepared by spray-drying technique using chitosan with different molecular weights and degrees of deacetylation. MTX-loaded chitosan microspheres displayed a swift swelling property, a controlled manner of release, strong mucoadhesion and minor cilia irritation. MTX was found in rat brain tissues after nasal administration of MTX solution and MTX-loaded chitosan microspheres, the relative bioavailability of which was 118 % referring to MTX solution. In contrast, MTX cannot be detected in rat brain sections after intravenous administration of MTX. The MTX-loaded chitosan microspheres revealed a higher nose-to-brain transport as compared to MTX aqueous solution after nasal administration. Chitosan demonstrated its ability to be a safe and effective nasal absorption enhancer for poorly absorbed drugs, such as MTX, via the olfactory pathway.

L-Ascorbic acid (AA, vitamin C) easily decomposes into inactive compounds in aqueous solutions and this has limited its topical use. This work reports the preparation of a solid-in-oil nanosuspension (SONS) containing AA and validation of its basic storage stability. Although AA itself is water-soluble, it can readily be nanosuspended in squalane via complex formation involving a combination of sucrose erucate (i.e. lipophilic surfactant) and sucrose monolaureate (i.e. hydrophilic surfactant) to yield SONS with a very low moisture content (

The present work described the effect of CoQ10 dissolution characteristics in nanocrystals and lipid nanoparticles (LNs) on its oral absorption in rats. Nanocrystals and LNs were prepared by melt-high pressure homogenization and sucrose monolaurate was used as a stabilizer in all formulations. Witepsol®W35 and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) were selected as lipid additives to form LNCoQ10+W35 and LNCoQ10+MCT, respectively. From the results obtained, the particle size of CoQ10 nanocrystals was 285 nm, while it was reduced to 150 nm by mixture with an equal amount of lipid additives due to their lower melting points. In vitro dissolution results indicated that the drug release from two LNs was delayed compared with that from nanocrystals, and LNCoQ10+W35 exhibited the highest drug release over 4 h. Finally, in vivo evaluation demonstrated that the oral absorption of CoQ10 was markedly increased by using nanocrystals and LNs compared with a coarse suspension. A good relationship was found between the in vitro dissolution and in vivo evaluation. The enhanced oral absorption of CoQ10 by nanocrystals and LNs was due to improved dissolution. In conclusion, Witepsol®W35 was shown to be a better lipid additive for the preparation of LNs to increase the oral absorption of CoQ10.

To investigate anti-solvent crystallization and growth mechanism of nitrendipine spherical crystals in an aqueous solution containing polymeric additives. Size and shape of crystals were investigated using laser diffractometry, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Crystalline form was determined by X-ray powder diffractometer (XRPD). During crystal growth, morphological changes at different time points were observed using SEM. Morphology of nitrendipine crystals was affected by polymers and temperature. Monodispersed micro-spherical crystals were obtained when polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and PEG 200 were present in crystallization medium at 2°C. During crystallization, large number of amorphous nanoparticles was first observed, followed by aggregation into a core for spherical crystals. Once crystalline state was achieved, rapid growth on core surface was observed with amorphous particles acting as a reservoir allowing formation of star-like particles with needle-like subunits. Spherical crystals were formed by filling the gap between needle-like distinct crystalline units of star-like templates with molecules from dissolved amorphous particles. Monodispersed nitrendipine spherical crystals were obtained using carefully controlled conditions. A mechanism for the nitrendipine spherical crystal growth is suggested. These findings provide a new insight into spherulitic crystallization of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

The controlled release of chemotherapeutical reagent with high water solubility was a challenge for targeting drug delivery. In this article, an antiviral agent, acyclovir was conjugated to chitosan- g -stearate via a succinate linker. Chitosan- g -stearate was synthesized by the reaction between the amino group of chitosan oligosaccharide and the carboxyl group of stearic acid. Both chitosan- g -stearate and acyclovir-chitosan- g -stearate could self aggregate to form micelles in aqueous solution. Acyclovir-chitosan- g -stearate micelle had smaller size (24.9 ± 1.1 nm), lower positive zeta potential (24.4 mV) and higher critical micelle concentration (123.23 mg mL −1 ) in distilled water, compared with those of chitosan- g -stearate (34.2 ± 3.8 nm, 46.9 ± 6.2 mV and 90.07 mg mL −1 , respectively). Acyclovir release from acyclovir-chitosan- g -stearate micelles could prolong to 24 h in vitro . For the free acyclovir and acyclovir-chitosan- g -stearate micelle with acyclovir concentration of 0.044 μM mL −1 , the inhibition of acyclovir on hepatitis B surface antigen was increased from 12.7% to 22.3% from 5 d to 9 d, while the inhibition of acyclovir-chitosan- g -stearate was increased from 58.2% to 80.3% from 5 d to 9 d. The cellular uptake and antiviral activity of acyclovir was successfully increased and improved through chemical conjugation of acyclovir to chitosan- g -stearate.

To investigate the effect of crystal size on the dissolution and oral absorption of nitrendipine, a poorly soluble drug, in rats.Five types of nitrendipine crystal suspensions with different particle sizes (200 nm, 620 nm, 2.7 microm, 4.1 microm, 20.2 microm) were prepared either by the precipitation-ultrasonication or the anti-solvent precipitation method. The simulated intestinal fluid in the fasted state (FaSSIF) was selected as the dissolution medium, and the dissolution behaviors of different nitrendipine crystals were simulated based on a Noyes-Whitney type equation. The in vivo absorption and the absolute bioavailability of the different nitrendipine crystals were evaluated in Wistar rats.The dissolution rate of nitrendipine was significantly increased by a reduction in particle size. The dissolution test in FaSSIF could discriminate between the differences in the dissolution rates of the different particle sizes, and the simulated results were in agreement with the observed dissolution curves. From the simulated T(50%) values (50% dissolution time), the dissolution rates of crystals with particle sizes of 200 nm, 620 nm, 2.7 microm, 4.1 microm and 20.2 microm were calculated to be 5.1 x 10(4), 1.0 x 10(4), 237, 64 and 11-fold greater than that of the raw crystals and resulted in absolute bioavailability of 61.4% 51.5%, 29.4%, 26.7%, 24.7%, respectively. The reduction in the drug particle size correlated well with incremental improvements in oral absorption. A good linear relationship was observed between the Log (T(50%)) and the absolute bioavailability of nitrendipine.The dissolution rate and the oral bioavailability of nitrendipine were significantly affected by the crystal size, and the oral bioavailability could be improved significantly by preparing it as nanocrystals. FaSSIF can be used to predict differences in oral absorption of crystals with different particle sizes.

Amphiphilic polymer of α-tocopherol succinate modified glycol chitosan (TS-GC) was successfully constructed by conjugating α-tocopherol succinate to the skeleton of glycol chitosan and characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). In aqueous milieu, the conjugates self-assembled to micelles with the critical aggregation concentration of 7.2 × 10−3 mg/mL. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) observation and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements were carried out to determine the physicochemical properties of the micelles. The results revealed that paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded TS-GC micelles were spherical in shape. Moreover, the PTX-loaded micelles showed increased particle sizes (35 nm vs. 142 nm) and a little reduced zeta potential (+19 mV vs. +16 mV) compared with blank micelles. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra demonstrated that PTX existed inside the micelles in amorphous or molecular state. In vitro and in vivo tests showed that the PTX-loaded TS-GC micelles had advantages over the Cremophor EL-based formulation in terms of low toxicity level and increased dose, which suggested the potential of the polymer as carriers for PTX to improve their delivery properties.

S.O (sodium oleate) is an anionic surfactant, which is able to forman ionic complex with positively charged insulin at suitable pH. In a previous study, the insulin-S.O (Ins-S.O) complex was prepared by a hydrophobic ion pairing (HIP) method to improve the apparent liposolubility of insulin. The formation of the complex was further confirmed by Zeta potential and X-ray method. Based on the preliminary study, poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles harbouring Ins-S.O complex was prepared via an emulsion solvent diffusion method. The effects of key parameters such as concentration of PVA, concentration of PLGA and initial-loaded drug on the properties of the nanoparticles were investigated. The insulin encapsulation efficiency (EE(%)) reached up to 91.2% and mean diameter of the nanoparticles was sized approximately 160 nm under optimal conditions. The pharmacological effects of the nanoparticles made of PLGA (75/25, Av Mw 15,000) were further evaluated to confirm their potential suitability for oral delivery. In order to evaluate hyperglycaemic effect of the nanoparticles for oral administration, Ins-S.O complex-loaded PLGA nanoparticles (20 IU/Kg) were administered orally by force-feeding to diabetic rats. In the case of the nanoparticles, the plasma glucose level reduced to 23.85% from the initial one 12 h post-administration and this continued for 24 h. The results showed that the use of Ins-S.O complex-loaded PLGA nanoparticles is an effective method of reducing plasma glucose levels. The insulin nanoparticles also improved the glycaemic response to an oral glucose challenge.

A microemulsion system of docetaxel was prepared and evaluated for its solubilization capacity and oral bioavailability improvement. Based on a solubility study and pseudo ternary phase diagrams, microemulsions of about 30 nm in mean diameter were formulated with improved solubilization capacity towards the hydrophobic drug, docetaxel. The o/w microemulsion formulation (M-3) composed of Capryol 90 (oil), Cremophor EL (surfactant) and Transcutol (co-surfactant) enhanced the solubility of docetaxel up to 30 mg/mL, which maintained solubilization capacity for 24 h even after it was diluted 20 times with normal saline. The three formulations did not show significant difference in the in vitro lipid digestion study. Both the ultrafiltration and dialysis studies revealed that the release of 80% of docetaxel was released from the microemulsions within 12 h in vitro. Compared to the commercial product Taxotere (0.025 microg/cm(2)), the apical to basolateral transport of docetaxel across the Caco-2 cell monolayer from the M-3 formulation (Capryol 90/Cremophor EL/Transcutol=29.4:24.9:12.4, w/w) was significantly improved (0.624 microg/cm(2), p < 0.01). Moreover, the oral bioavailability of the M-3 formulation in rats (34.42%) rose dramatically compared to that of the orally administered Taxotere (6.63%). This increase in bioavailability was probably due to the combined effect of the enhancement in solubility, the inhibition of P-gp efflux system and the increase in permeability. These results encourage further development of docetaxel microemulsions as an oral drug delivery system.

The key structural requirement for the antitumor activity of 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) is the intact lactone moiety which is always instability and suffered from pH-dependent hydrolysis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protection effects of liposomal encapsulation on the labile lactone ring. Mono-modal dispersed quasi-spherical liposomes with mean diameter of 145 nm and high drug entrapment efficiency of 90% were obtained under optimal conditions. The in vitro hydrolysis kinetics behaviors of lactone were studied in varied pH buffers. Compared to that of free HCPT in solution formulation, both the hydrolysis half-life and observed equilibrium constant of liposomal HCPT were increased significantly along with the decreased apparent hydrolysis rate constant. The plasma pharmacokinetics was studied by assessing the lactone stability versus time profiles in vivo following intravenous administration of free and liposomal HCPT. The liposomal encapsulation led to a twofold increase in the AUC values and significant decrease in the plasma clearance of lactone (P 0.05). There was a good correlation between in vitro and in vivo stability of HCPT-lactone. These results suggested a potential application of the novel liposome formulation for the stable delivery system of HCPT.

Chitosan-modified paclitaxel-loaded poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 200-300 nm in distilled water were prepared by a solvent evaporation method. The mean diameter increased dramatically in contact with the mouse (CDF(1)) plasma, as a function of chitosan concentration in the modification solution (e.g., 2670.5 nm for 0.7% chitosan-modified nanoparticles, NP(3)), but reverted to almost its original size (i.e., 350.7 nm for NP(3)) following 5 min of gentle agitation. The zeta potential of PLGA nanoparticles was changed to positive by the chitosan modification. The in vitro uptake into, and cytotoxicity of the nanoparticles against, a lung cancer cell line (A549) were significantly increased by the modification. Most importantly, a lung-specific increase in the distribution index of paclitaxel (i.e., AUC(lung)/AUC(plasma)) was observed for chitosan-modified nanoparticles (e.g., 99.9 for NP(3) vs. 5.4 for Taxol) when nanoparticles were administered to lung-metastasized mice via the tail vein at a paclitaxel dose of 10 mg/kg. Transient formation of aggregates in the blood stream followed by enhanced trapping in the lung capillaries, and electrical interaction-mediated enhanced uptake across the endothelial cells of the lung tumor capillary appear to be responsible for the lung-tumor-specific distribution of the chitosan modified nanoparticles.

In this study, the conjugate of PEG2000–stearic acid (PEG2000–SA) was used to prepare PEGylated solid lipid nanoparticles loading vinorelbine bitartrate (VB-pSLNs) by cold homogenization technique. The particle size and zeta potential of resulted VB-pSLNs ranged 180–250 nm and 0–10 mV, which were determined using a Zetasizer, respectively. Although the drug entrapment efficiency (EE) slightly decreased after the PEG modification of VB-SLNs, above 60 % EE could be reached. The drug release tests in vitro indicated the faster drug release from VB-pSLNs than that from VB-SLNs without PEG modification. To investigate the cellular uptake of VB-pSLNs, the chemical conjugate of octadecylamine-fluorescein isothiocynate (FITC-ODA) was synthesized, and was used as a fluorescence marker to incorporate into nanoparticles. The results from cellular uptake indicated that the phagocytosis of VB-pSLNs by RAW264.7 cells was inhibited effectively by the PEG modification of SLNs, while the uptake by cancer cells (MCF-7 and A549) could be improved significantly. The assay of anticancer activity in vitro demonstrated that the anticancer activity of VB was significantly enhanced by the encapsulation of SLNs and pSLNs due to the increased cellular internalization of drug. The results suggested that SLNs and pSLNs could be excellent carrier candidates to entrap VB for tumor chemotherapeutics.

The purpose of this work was to study the physicochemical characteristics of a series of melittin-loaded poly (d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres (MS) intended for intra-articular injection and the mechanism of melittin release. Melittin-loaded MS were prepared by a double emulsion solvent evaporation method and characterized in terms of drug loading, size, surface morphology, in vitro and in vivo in rat air-pouch (pseudo synovial fluid) drug release profiles. The effects of molecular weight of PLGA and osmotic pressure gradient between the inner and the outer water phase were investigated. The melittin MS were round in shape and with the size in the range of 4-15 μm which is suitable for intraarticular injection. The encapsulation efficiency varied between 65 and 96%. In vitro melittin release occurred in typical tri-phase pattern. The in vitro release data were fitted to certain theoretical models and it was concluded that the erosion of polymer is the main mechanism that controls the release of melittin after initial burst release. Melittin could be released continuously and completely from the lower molecular weight PLGA for one month both in vitro and in vivo. There is a satisfactory correlation between in vitro and in vivo release behavior. The present work demonstrated that the lower molecular weight PLGA is the best candidate for a one month long-term sustained release dosage form of melittin.

The aim of this study was to prepare a novel insulin-sodium oleate (Ins/SO) complex and to evaluate the characteristics of the resultant complex. The Ins/SO complex was prepared using the hydrophobic ion pairing (HIP) method and the structure characters were assessed by the FTIR and DSC analysis method. It was found that the Ins/SO complex was synthesized by the HIP method. The insulin complexation efficiency was reached up to 96.6 ± 0.41% and mean diameter of the Ins/SO complex was sized about 80 nm under optimal conditions. The insulin bioactivity of the complex was evaluated by in vivo test. When 1 IU/kg insulin or insulin equivalent Ins/SO complex was given to normal rats by subcutaneous injection, the plasma glucose level was reduced by almost the same percentage (41.0 ± 8.19% for insulin and 44.0 ± 6.29% for Ins/SO complex, respectively) over 1 h. It was showed that insulin was not out of the bioactivity during the complexation process. In order to evaluate the bioactivity of the complex for oral administration, 20 IU/kg insulin or insulin equivalent Ins/SO complex was given to rats by intragastric administration, respectively. In the case of the Ins/SO complex, the plasma glucose level reduced to 59.5 ± 6.29% of the initial one within the first 4 h and gradually recovered to 88.9 ± 8.73% within 16 h, while there was almost no hypoglycemic effect for native insulin. The results suggested that the complex has potential for oral candidates.

Cyclosporine A as a model drug, drug loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were prepared with glyceryl monostearate and Compritol ATO 888 using the ultrasonication method. The characteristics of SLN were assessed by particle size analysis, zeta potential measurement, entrapment efficiency, physical stability andpre-ocular retention study. It demonstrated that the particle size and stability of the SLNs were greatly influenced by the formulation including the composition of lipid matrix, surfactant, charge modifier and the drug amount. The CyA-loaded SLNs produced by optimized formulation showed a good particle size distribution, the average particle size, zeta potential and entrapment efficiency was 122 nm, + 23 mv and 93%, respectively, as well as good physical stability. The ocular retention study indicated that the SLNs coated with plus charge modifier enhanced ocular retention time on the cornea surface compared with SLNs without surface modifier.

Self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) are mixtures of oils, surfactants, and cosurfactants, which are emulsified in aqueous media under conditions of gentle stirring and digestive motility that would be encountered in the gastrointestinal tract. We found that SEDDS could efficiently improve oral absorption of the sparingly soluble drugs by rapid self-emulsification and subsequently dispersion in the absorption sites. Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) has become a widely used herbal remedy for increasing cognitive function in elderly people. The main purpose of our work is to prepare SEDDS for improving oral absorption of GBE. Pseudoternary phase diagrams were constructed to identify the efficient self-emulsification region, and particle size distributions of resultant emulsions were determined. The optimized formulation for bioavailability assessment consisted of 45% Tween 80-Cremophor EL35 (1:1, w/w), 10% 1, 2-propanediol, and 45% ethyl oleate. The mean droplet size distribution of the optimized SEDDS was approximately 100 nm when diluted with 500-fold volume of the distilled water. The in vitro dissolution rates of the active components of GBE SEDDS form were significantly faster than those of the GBE tablets. After single oral administration of 800 mg GBE as SEDDS or tablets to fasted dogs, the relative bioavailability of SEDDS for bilabolide and ginkgolide A and B was 162.1, 154.6, and 155.8% compared with the reference tablets, respectively. Our results suggested the potential and promising use of SEDDS for the efficient delivery of the sparingly soluble drugs or traditional Chinese medicines, such as GBE by oral administration.

Herbal medicines have received great attention as alternative medicines in recent years and are also referred to as a dietary supplement or health food. Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) is one of the most popular herbal medicines. However, little is known about the metabolic interactions between GBE and clinically used drugs. This study attempted to investigate the effect of GBE on the pharmacokinetics of theophylline, a cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2 substrate and an important therapeutic agent with narrow therapeutic window used for the treatment of asthma. Commercial GBE (10 or 100 mg/kg, p.o.) or water (control group) was given to rats (6 rats for each group) for 5 consecutive days and on the sixth day theophylline (10 mg/kg) was administered either orally or intravenously. The results showed that pretreatment of rats with GBE resulted in an increase in the total clearance of theophylline of about 30% (GBE 10 mg/kg, P

A hydrophilic and temperature-induced degradation drug, vinorelbine bitartrate (VB)-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were prepared by a cold homogenization technique. The physicochemical properties of the SLNs, with various lipid composition, drug content and altered homogenizing times, were investigated. The mean particle size of the SLNs ranged from 150 to 350 nm. The enhancement of lecithin content in lipid matrix resulted in smaller particle of SLNs. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) images displayed that the shape of the SLNs was irregular sphere with smooth surface. The drug entrapment efficiency (EE) could be improved with the increasing of lecithin or oleic acid content in lipid matrix, and reduced with the added amount of drug. The highest EE and drug loading capacity (DL) could reach up to 80 and 6.6%, respectively. The studies of drug release showed that the drug release could last for 48 h, and the rate was delayed by the addition of lecithin or oleic acid in the formulations. The physical stability experiment indicated that the SLNs were stable for 2 months under room temperature. Moreover, the cellular cytotoxicity of VB against MCF-7 cells could be improved by the entrapment of SLNs.

To improve the patient's compliance and the physical stability of liquid emulsion, a novel dry emulsion being able to reform the original O/W-emulsion by reconstitution in artificial gastric fluid is presented. Dry emulsions were prepared by spreading liquid O/W-emulsions on a flat glass, dried at the oven maintained at 40 °C and then triturated to powders with suitable particle size. When the dry emulsions were immersed into gastric fluid, stable emulsions were formed in 5 min. Here a sole excipient, high polymer, was applied as both solid carrier and unique emulsifier, and Zedoary turmeric oil (ZTO) was used as a model drug. In this study the effects of different kinds of high polymers on the liquid emulsion and on the dispersibility of the dry emulsions were investigated. Eudragit E100 exhibited the best emulsifying ability and the dry emulsion prepared with it shows the quickest release property. And the mean emulsion droplet sizes of the original emulsions and the reconstruction emulsions were

The antitumor effect of paclitaxel-loaded PEGylated immunoliposome (PILs) was investigated in breast cancer cell lines and the xenograft model.Herceptin was conjugated to paclitaxel-loaded PEGylated liposomes (PLs). In vitro cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of PILs were determined in breast cancer cell lines while in vivo antitumor efficacy was evaluated in the xenograft nude mouse model.The PILs formulation was able to significantly increase the HER2 mediated cellular uptake of paclitaxel compared to the PLs in cell lines overexpressing HER2 (BT-474 and SK-BR-3 cells). However, in the MDA-MB-231 cells, which express low levels of HER2, the difference between the PILs and PLs formulation was not significant. The biological activity of Herceptin was maintained throughout the conjugation process as exhibited by the antitumor dose-response curves determined for Herceptin itself, for the thiolated Herceptin alone and subsequently for the immunoliposome-coupled Herceptin. In BT-474 and SK-BR-3 cells, the cytotoxicity of the PILs was more potent than that of Taxol. Moreover, in in vivo studies, PILs showed significantly higher tumor tissue distribution of paclitaxel in the BT-474 xenograft model and more superior antitumor efficacy compared to Taxol and PLs. However, in the MDA-MB-231 xenograft model, PILs and PLs showed similar tumor tissue distribution as well as antitumor activity.These results suggest that HER2-mediated endocytosis is involved in the PILs formulation. The ability of the PILs formulation to efficiently and specifically deliver paclitaxel to the HER2-overexpressing cancer cells implies that it is a promising strategy for tumor-specific therapy for HER2-overexpressing breast cancers.

10-Hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) is insoluble in both water and physiological acceptable organic solvents and tends to change into its carboxylate form, which shows minimal anticancer activity and several unpredictable side effects. The goal of this study is to exploit an appropriate delivery system for HCPT to improve the stability of its lactone form. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles entrapping HCPT were prepared by reformative emulsion-heat stabilization technique. During this process, HCPT transformed from lactone to carboxylate and finally back to lactone form successfully. A simple reversed-phased HPLC method was developed to analyze both lactone and carboxylate forms of HCPT synchronously. Mean particle size and the ratio of lactone and carboxylate forms of HCPT were evaluated to investigate the effects of the formulations and preparation conditions. It was indicated the percentage of lactone form of HCPT in resultant BSA nanoparticles could be improved over 95% through adjusting the concentration of NaOH solution and the stirring time after high-speed emulsification. This drug delivery system was also characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and light microscopy. The investigations on drug loading, in vitro release and body distribution in rats after intravenous (i.v.) administration were also carried out. It was found that the obtained nanoparticles showed spherical shape with the mean particle size of around 600 nm, and drug loading content, encapsulation efficiency and yield achieved 2.21%, 57.5% and 90.5% with the optimal preparation conditions, respectively. The in vitro release behavior exhibited a sustaining release manner and was affected by the trypsin in medium. HCPT could release more than 90% within 20 h in the medium of pH 7.4 PBS containing 750 U/ml trypsin, but only 25% within 40 h in the pure pH 7.4 PBS. The results of body distribution study in rats showed the liver targeting potential of HCPT-BSA nanoparticles that 59.6%, 52.9% and 55.3% of the examined amount of lactone HCPT accumulated in livers at 1, 4 and 24h after injection, respectively. These results suggest that the HCPT-BSA nanoparticles seem to be a stable delivery system for poorly soluble HCPT or its derivatives.

An improved PEGylated liposomal formulation of paclitaxel has been developed with the purpose of improving the solubility of paclitaxel as well as the physicochemical stability of liposome in comparison to the current Taxol formulation. The use of 3% (v/v) Tween 80 in the hydration media was able to increase the solubility of drug. The addition of sucrose as a lyoprotectant in the freeze-drying process increased the stability of the liposome particles. There was no significant difference in the entrapment efficiency of paclitaxel between the conventional non-PEGylated liposomes and our PEGylated liposomes. Cytotoxicity in human breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3) of our paclitaxel formulation was less potent compared to Taxol after 24h incubation, but was equipotent after 72 h due to the slower release of drug from the liposome. Our PEGylated liposomes increased the biological half-life of paclitaxel from 5.05 (+/-1.52)h to 17.8 (+/-2.35)h compared to the conventional liposomes in rats. Biodistribution studies in breast cancer xenografted nude mouse model showed that our liposomes significantly decreased the uptake in reticuloendothelial system (RES)-containing organs (liver, spleen and lung) while increasing the uptake in tumor tissues after injection compared to Taxol or the conventional liposomal formulation. Moreover, the PEGylated liposome showed greater tumor growth inhibition effect in in vivo studies. Therefore, our PEGylated liposomal formulation of paclitaxel could serve as a better alternative for the passive targeting of human breast tumors.

The aim of the present work was to investigate the preparation of PLGA nanoparticles (PNP) and PLGA-Hp55 nanoparticles (PHNP) as potential drug carriers for oral insulin delivery. The nanoparticles were prepared by a modified emulsion solvent diffusion method in water, and their physicochemical characteristics, drug release in vitro and hypoglycemic effects in diabetic rats were evaluated. The particle sizes of the PNP and PHNP were 150+/-17 and 169+/-16 nm, respectively, and the drug recoveries of the nanoparticles were 50.30+/-3.1 and 65.41+/-2.3%, respectively. The initial release of insulin from the nanoparticles in simulated gastric fluid over 1 h was 50.46+/-6.31 and 19.77+/-3.15%, respectively. The relative bioavailability of PNP and PHNP compared with subcutaneous (s.c.) injection (1 IU/kg) in diabetic rats was 3.68+/-0.29 and 6.27+/-0.42%, respectively. The results show that the use of insulin-loaded PHNP is an effective method of reducing serum glucose levels.

Solid dispersions (SDs) of nitrendipine (NTD), a poorly water-soluble drug, were prepared with the Hypulcon pulse combustion dryer system, and the physicochemical properties of particles were investigated and compared with those of particles prepared with a spray dryer. The SD particles prepared with Hypulcon using Aerosil and Tween 80 as carriers showed improved properties over those prepared with a conventional spray dryer, such as smaller particle size, tighter particle size distribution, and no agglomeration. Powder X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry evaluation showed that the drug in the NTD-Aerosil SD prepared with 5% (v/v) Tween 80 solution was dispersed in an amorphous state. Fourier transformation IR spectroscopy indicated the presence of hydrogen bonds between NTD and Aerosil. Aerosil had greater ability to improve the dissolution of NTD than Sylysia and other polymers. The highest drug supersaturation concentration was maintained continuously during the dissolution test of the NTD-Aerosil SD prepared with 5% (v/v) Tween 80 solution using Hypulcon. The good hydrophilicity and dispersibility of Aerosil, solubilization of Tween 80, and actions of shock waves and ultrasonic waves might account for the amorphization of NTD and improved dissolution rate of SDs. Pulse combustion drying with low drying costs and high thermal efficiency is a promising method for the preparation of SD particles with improved properties without using organic solvent.

To preliminarily develop a surfactant-free, polymeric solid dispersion (PSD) of paclitaxel suitable for oral administration.A co-solvent quench method was applied to screen the proper polymer matrix of the PSD which were prepared in a liquid system using a quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method (QESDM). Three dissolution experiments and two in vivo tests in rats were used to explain the differences among the formulations.The theoretical solubility ratio of amorphous/crystalline PTX was 92.6 (37 °C). Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) was chosen as the polymer carrier of the PSD and a porous silicon dioxide [called white carbon black (WCB)] was selectable to be used to further adjust the dissolution rate. The absolute oral bioavailability (AOB, 20 mg/kg) of the three formulas [HPMCAS/paclitaxel/WCB = 4/1/0 (F1), 8/1/0 (F2) and 4/1/4 (F3), w/w/w] were 11.8, 13.6 and 25.6%, respectively. The AOB of F3 is nearly seven times higher than that (3.8%) of paclitaxel material (a control). The advantage of higher HPMCAS/paclitaxel ratio of F2 in a dissolution test was not reflected in the first in vivo test due to the relatively higher dose of polymer which could not be effectively dissolved under the limitation of intestinal environment. This was deduced from the dissolution tests and was finally validated when the oral dose of PTX (and thus polymer) was reduced. The relevant AOBs (10 mg/kg) were 10.4, 20.8 and 19.6%, respectively.The PSD is a promising formulation strategy and the QESDM is a practical preparation method to implement such formulation design.

Microspheres of roxithromycin with Eudragit S100 and silica were prepared by the emulsion solvent diffusion method to mask the bitter taste of the antibiotic. The effect of different polymers and drug-polymer ratios on the taste masking and the characteristics of the microspheres were investigated. It was found that Eudragit S100 was the best for masking the unpleasant taste of roxithromycin among the six kinds of polymers investigated. The results of DSC, X-ray diffraction and IR showed that there were several combinations of roxithromycin and Eudragit S100. The influence of other formulation factors, i.e. dichloromethane-acetone ratios and silica-polymer ratios on the properties of the microspheres were also examined. In conclusion, the results of the present study will be helpful for the preparation of oral forms of roxithromycin with an acceptable taste.

The solid particles or polymers were often solely used to stabilizing emulsions, as an interesting alternative to classical used emulsifiers. However, a united use of them and the relation between them at stabilizing emulsions were little reported. Our previous study showed that the preparation of microspheres containing zedoary turmeric oil (ZTO, as an oily drug), Aerosil200 particles and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS). ZTO emulsions were produced when the microspheres were immersed into aqueous media and disaggregated under gentle agitation, and were stabilized by Aerosil200 particles and HPMCAS. Nevertheless, more work needs to be carried out to explain the factor affecting emulsification efficiency of microspheres, which will facilitate the design of the microsphere formulation. Thus, in this study, we dealt with a system consisting of Aerosil, HPMCAS, ZTO and water. To predict the best ratio of Aerosil/polymer and thus obtain the best satisfying ZTO emulsions, the bonding studies were carried out with Aerosil and HPMCAS. A series of emulsions was prepared and the stability and droplet size of resultant emulsions were investigated. The results indicated two kinds of HPMCAS (HPMCAS-LG and -HG) showed the different affinity for Aerosil200, which resulted in the unlike capability to stabilize emulsions when at the same Aerosil/polymer ratio. The stability and droplet size of emulsions increased on increasing the ratio Aerosil to polymer, and the best ratio was predictable from the Langumuir-fit of the adsorption isotherms. Appropriate hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity with Aerosil particles were very important to stabilizing the ZTO emulsions.

Chitosan-thioglycolic acid conjugates were synthesized and their characteristics, including the thiol group content and bioadhesive properties, were evaluated. Chitosan-thioglycolic acid conjugate microspheres (C-TGACMs), containing erythropoietin (rEPO) as a model drug, with or without an enteric coating were prepared, and the entrapment efficiency, the drug release behavior in vitro and the antianaemic effect of rEPO were investigated. It was found that the chitosan-thioglycolic acid conjugate with a 5.56% (w/w) thiol group content exhibited better bioadhesion. Also, the C-TGACMs, with or without an enteric coating, had a good spherical shape and release profiles consisted of a quick-release phase and a stable sustained-release phase. The entrapment efficiencies of C-TGACMs, with and without an enteric coating, were 84.3 and 85.7%, respectively. When rEPO loaded enteric-coated C-TGACMs were given orally to rats, they produced an excellent antianaemic effect, which was evaluated by the Smear and Sysmex methods.

Solid dispersions (SD) of nitrendipine (NTD), a poorly water-soluble drug, were prepared using the melt-mixing method with hydrophilic silica particles (Aerosil and Sylysia) with different particle size and specific surface areas as carriers. Powder X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry evaluation showed that NTD in the SDs treated with the melt-mixing method was dispersed in the amorphous state. FT-IR spectroscopy obtained with the SDs indicated the presence of hydrogen bonding between the secondary amine groups of NTD and silanol groups of silica particles. The dissolution property of NTD in the SDs was remarkably improved regardless of the grade of silica. At the end of the dissolution test (60 min) the concentrations of NTD for the SDs with Aerosil 200 and Sylysia 350 were 8.88 and 10.09 microg/ml, corresponding to 28 and 31 times that of the original NTD crystals, respectively. The specific surface area and the adsorbed water amount of the SDs were also significantly improved. The rapid dissolution rate from the SDs was attributed to the amorphization of drug, improved specific surface area and wettability than the original drug crystals. In the stability test, powder X-ray diffraction pattern indicated that amorphous NTD in the SD with Aerosil 200 was stable for at least 1 month under the humid conditions (40 degrees C/75% RH).

The purpose of this investigation is to obtain a suitable vehicle for Z-ligustilide in the volatile oil of Radix Angelicae Sinensis and Ligusticum Chuanxiong in which it is stable enough for the application in pharmaceutics, to investigate its degradation laws, and to predict its shelf-life at 25 degrees C. Factors including temperature, light, pH value, co-solvents and antioxidants can all influence the stability of Z-ligustilide, thereinto antioxidants could markedly improve its stability in aqueous solution by almost 35%. The suitable vehicle for Z-ligustilide contains 1.5% tween-80, 0.3% Vitamin C, and 20% propylene glycol (PG). Furthermore, the degradation rates of Z-ligustilide were found to conform to a rate equation following Weibull probability distribution within a range of degradation ratio, and the equation could be expressed as follow: ln ln (1/1-alpha) = ln k + m ln t. Where alpha is degradation ratio; t is time; m and k are constants relating to the degradation rate. The degradation rate will get greater as the increasing of parameter k. According to the degradation law obtained from the equation, the drug shelf-life (10% of active ingredient degraded, T90) in this vehicle was predicted to be more than 1.77 years at 25 degrees C through Arrehenius equation and accelerating experiments. The present investigation was undertaken to propose a kinetic treatment that may be applicable to any type of degradation of the active ingredient of pharmaceutical formulation, and also could provide a good foundation for the new drug development of Z-ligustilide, especially for injection formulation.

A series of poly(ethyl acrylate (EA)/methyl methacrylate (MMA)/2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)) lattices were synthesized to prepare short-term delayed-release microcapsules by employing the Wurster coating process. Latex with a HEMA molar fraction exceeding 60% could not be synthesized as an aqueous suspension due to latex particle precipitation. The effects of monomer composition on the particle size of latex and the water-uptake and glass transition temperature (T(g)) of cast films were investigated. Lattices whose T(g) ranged from 40 to 80 degrees C were used to prepare the microcapsules. Most of the lattices exhibited excellent process performance while coating particles that were smaller than 100 microm: the product yields were 85.1-90.6% and the mean particle sizes were 82-85 microm. However, since the lattices with high molar ratios of EA and HEMA were highly hydrophilic and strongly adhesive, the core particles in the coating were severely agglomerated. The microcapsules coated with lattices whose HEMA molar fractions were higher than 50% were unable to retard the release of carbazochrome sodium sulfonate, a water-soluble model drug, during the initial 0.5 min. Poly(EA/MMA/HEMA) with a molar ratio of 9:9:10 appeared to be suitable for the preparation of short-term delayed-release microcapsules by the Wurster coating process.

A sensitive and selective method using liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection was developed for the quantification of bilobalide and ginkgolides in canine plasma. The analytes were extracted with diethyl ether-dichloromethane-isopropanol (6:3:1, v/v) after spiking the samples with daidzein (internal standard). The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of the method was 2.5 µg L−1 for ginkgolide B and 10.0 µg L−1 for bilabolide, ginkgolide A and ginkgolide C. The accuracy of the method was within 15% of the actual values over a wide range of plasma concentrations. The intra-day and inter-day precision was better than 15% (R.S.D.). Finally, the LC-ESI-MS method was successfully applied to study the pharmacokinetics of ginkgolides and bilabolide after administration of Ginkgo biloba extracts to dogs.

A validated new, simple and highly sensitive reversed-phase HPLC method is developed for studying the pharmacokinetics of germacrone after intravenous administration of zedoary turmeric oil (ZTO) oil-in-water microemulsion. The method did not require a complex and expensive equipment. A high extraction recovery (>80%) of germacrone was obtained. Linear calibration curves obtained with the peak-area ratio (y) of germacrone to internal standard (tanshinoneIIA) versus drug concentration (x) were found to be linear between 8.08 and 808 ng/ml. The limit of quantitation was 8.08 ng/ml. The monitored compounds were completely separated from others in ZTO and from endogenous species in plasma by HPLC. Pharmacokinetic investigations were performed on 18 male rabbits after intravenous administration of ZTO microemulsion via the ear vein at germacrone doses of 3.2, 6.4 and 9.6 mg/kg. The plasma concentration-time data fit to a two-compartment intravenous model with a weight of 1/C(2) (C: germacrone concentration in plasma). Germacrone exhibited linear pharmacokinetics after intravenous administration of ZTO microemulsion to rabbits over the germacrone dose range 3.2-9.6 mg/ml.

A validated HPLC method was developed for the quantification of scutellarin in rat plasma using a liquid-liquid extraction and an ultraviolet detection. Chromatographic separation of scutellarin in plasma was performed on a C18 column, with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-water (23:77, v/v), adjusted to pH 2.5 with 1M phosphoric acid, and rutin was used as an internal standard. The calibration curve was linear over the range 0.1-100 microg/ml in rat plasma. The average extraction recoveries were 85.9+/-8.9, 71.0+/-4.6, 72.7+/-1.2% (n=3) at concentrations of 0.1, 2, 100 microg/ml, respectively, and the within-day and between-day precisions were less than 15%. After intravenous administration to rats over the doses range of 10-40 mg/kg, the plasma concentration-time curve of scutellarin was best conformed to three-compartment open model. The AUC of scutellarin was proportional to dose, and the systemic clearance (Cl), elimination half-life (t1/2beta) and apparent volume of distribution (Vc) were not significantly different among the three doses, suggestive of the linear pharmacokinetics characteristic of scutellarin after intravenous administration.

To enhance in vivo absorption of zedoary turmeric oil (ZTO) and develop new formulations of a water-insoluble oily drug, novel ZTO microspheres with self-emulsifying ability, called self-emulsifying microspheres here, were prepared in a liquid system by the quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method. The microspheres containing hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS-LG), Talc and Aerosil 200 formed the stable surfactant-free emulsion when exposed to the pH 6.8 phosphate buffer, and were significantly different from the conventional self-emulsifying systems (SES), defined as isotropic mixtures of oil, surfactant and drug. Micromeritic properties, the efficiency of emulsification and the drug-release rate of the resultant microspheres were investigated. The bioavailability of the microspheres to the conventional self-emulsifying formulation for oral administration was evaluated in 12 healthy rabbits. A HPLC method was employed to determine the plasma concentration of Germacrone, an indexical component found in ZTO. The release rates of ZTO and Germacrone from the microspheres were enhanced significantly with increasing amounts of dispersing agents, and the efficiency of self-emulsification greatly depended on the HPMCAS-LG/Aerosil 200 ratio. The emulsion droplets released from the microspheres were much smaller than that of the conventional SES. The microsphere bioavailability (F) to the conventional SES for oral administration was 157.7%. Our method greatly improved the bioavailability of the water-insoluble oily drug from the self-emulsifying microspheres over the conventional SES and it is useful for the oily drug to form solid preparations.