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Jung Suk Kim,1,* Fakhar ud Din,2,* Sang Min Lee,1,* Dong Shik Kim,1 Mi Ran Woo,1 Seunghyun Cheon,1 Sang Hun Ji,1 Jong Oh Kim,3 Yu Seok Youn,4 Kyung Taek Oh,5 Soo-Jeong Lim,6 Sung Giu Jin,7 Han-Gon Choi1 1College of Pharmacy, Hanyang University, Ansan, South Korea; 2Department of Pharmacy, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan; 3College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Gyongsan, South Korea; 4School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea; 5College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea; 6Department of Bioscience and biotechnology, Sejong University, Seoul, South Korea; 7Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Dankook University, Cheonan, South Korea*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Sung Giu Jin; Han-Gon Choi Tel +82 41-550-3558; +82 31-400-5802Fax +82 41-559-7945; +82 31-400-5958Email sklover777@dankook.ac.kr; hangon@hanyang.ac.krBackground: The purpose of this study was to screen various drug delivery systems for improving the aqueous solubility and oral bioavailability of sildenafil. Three representative techniques, solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS), amorphous microspheres and crystalline microspheres, were compared.Methods: Both microspheres systems contained sildenafil:Labrasol:PVP at a weight ratio of 1:1:6. The amorphous microspheres were manufactured using ethanol, while crystalline microspheres were generated using distilled water. Liquid SNEDDS was composed of sildenafil:Labrasol:Transcutol HP:Captex 300 in the ratio of 1:70:15:15 (w:w:w:w). The solidification process in SNEDDS was performed using HDK N20 Pharma as a solid carrier.Results: The amorphous microspheres appeared spherical with significantly decreased particle size compared to the drug powder. The crystalline microspheres exhibited a rough surface with no major particle-size difference compared with sildenafil powder, indicating that the hydrophilic excipients adhered to the sildenafil crystal. Solid SNEDDS presented a smooth surface, assuming that the oily liquid was adsorbed to the porous solid carrier. According to the physicochemical evaluation, the crystalline state maintained in crystalline microspheres, whereas the crystal state changed to amorphous state in other formulations. Amorphous microspheres, crystalline microspheres and solid SNEDDS produced about 79, 55, 82-fold increased solubility, compared to drug powder. Moreover, the prepared formulations provided a higher dissolution rate (%) and plasma concentration than did the drug powder (performance order; solid SNEDDS ≥ amorphous microspheres ≥ crystalline microspheres > drug powder). Among the formulations, solid SNEDDS demonstrated the highest improvement in oral bioavailability (AUC; 1508.78 ± 343.95 h·ng/mL).Conclusion: Therefore, solid SNEDDS could be recommended as an oral dosage form for enhancing the oral bioavailability of sildenafil.Keywords: sildenafil, amorphous microspheres, crystalline microspheres, solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system, aqueous microenvironment, oral bioavailability

Background: This study investigated potential biological control activities, involving the promotion of growth and antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum and Phytophthora drechsleri. Methods and Results: Among the microorganisms isolated from an Astragalus cultivation area and from Korean kimchi, three species were selected. These included A11, which displayed excellent pathogen mycelial suppression ability in dual culture tests. It was identified as Bacillus sp. on the basis of 16s rRNA sequencing. Growth promoting ability was tested by dispensing the three selected strains in pots, to be cultured for 4 weeks. The strain A11 increased the fresh plant weight by 50.8% and increased the fresh root weight by 36.6% compared to untreated samples. The respective increases of the other strain were 18.4% and 35.6% by strain, A10, and 28.0% and 31.1% by strain B2-087. In terms of pathogen control, when the A11, A10, and B2-087 were alternatively tested for 4 weeks against F. oxysporum or P. drechsleri, the A11 control rate was 74.1% compared to the group that received no treatment. Meanwhile, the others had shown control rates between 70.4% and 18.5%. Conclusions: The three selected strains induced the growth of A. membranaceus Bunge, which suppressed the development of root rot and wilt disease.

The purpose of the present study was to develop hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD)-based solid dispersed granules as a superior system to solid dispersion. The solid dispersed granules and solid dispersion were compared in terms of powder property improvement, solubility increment and oral bioavailability enhancement of poorly water-soluble dexibuprofen. Solid dispersion (drug/HP-β-CD/Tween80 = 1:7:0.1, weight ratio) and solid dispersed granules (drug/HP-β-CD/Tween80/Microcrystalline cellulose = 1:7:0.1:4) were fabricated using a spray-dryer and fluid bed granulator, respectively. The HP-β-CD-based solid dispersed granules significantly improved solubility, dissolution profile and oral bioavailability of dexibuprofen compared to pure drug powder. Moreover, the solid dispersed granules maximised the oral bioavailability of dexibuprofen to the same extent as the solid dispersion. However, considerable improvements of powder and tablet properties were observed in solid dispersed granules as compared with solid dispersion. Therefore, HP-β-CD-based solid dispersed granules would be a prospective alternative to solid dispersion.

Infliximab (IFX), a TNF-α blocking chimeric monoclonal antibody, induces clinical response and mucosal healing in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, systemic administration of this agent causes unwanted side effects. Oral delivery of antibody therapeutics might be an effective treatment strategy for IBD compared to intravenous administration. We developed a colon-specific drug delivery system for the oral administration of IFX using ternary nanocomposite carriers. Nanocomposite carriers consisting of liposomes, aminoclay-coated liposomes (AC-L), Eudragit S100 AC-L (EAC-L) or those carrying IFX (IFX-L, AC-IFX-L, and EAC-IFX-L) were orally administered to mice with dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. We evaluated the effects of nanocomposite carriers on lymphocytes and monocytes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of IBD patients. We studied the therapeutic effects of the nanocomposites themselves and nanocomposites with IFX at target sites in vivo and in vitro . All three carriers had a high encapsulation efficiency, narrow size distribution, and minimal systemic exposure. There was a higher interaction between nanocomposite carriers and monocytes compared to lymphocytes in the PBMC of IBD patients. Orally administered nanocomposite carriers targeted to inflamed colitis minimized systemic exposure. All IFX delivery formulations with nanocomposite carriers had a significantly less colitis-induced body weight loss, colon shortening and histomorphological score, compared to the DSS-treated group. AC-IFX-L and EAC-IFX-L groups showed significantly higher improvement of the disease activity index, compared to the DSS-treated group. In addition, AC-IFX-L and EAC-IFX-L alleviated pro-inflammatory cytokine expressions ( Tnfa , Il1b , and Il17 ). We present orally administered antibody delivery systems which improved efficacy in murine colitis while reducing systemic exposure. These oral delivery systems suggest a promising therapeutic approach for treating IBD.

Background Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and Omega-3 fatty acid (Omega-3) are promising therapeutic molecules for treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Purpose Based on the IBD therapeutic potential of nanoparticles, we herein sought to develop Omega-3-incorporated PC nanoparticles (liposomes) as an orally administrable vehicle for treating IBD. Methods Liposomes prepared with or without Omega-3 incorporation were compared in terms of colloidal stability and anitiinflammatory effects. Results The incorporation of free Omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic acid) into liposomes induced time-dependent membrane fusion, resulting in particle size increase from nm to μm during storage. In contrast, krill oil incorporation into liposomes (KO liposomes) did not induce the fusion and the particle size maintained

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a neurotropic and lymphotropic alpha herpesvirus that causes varicella and herpes zoster (HZ). At a primary infection, VZV causes varicella in young children. Reactivation of latent VZV in sensory ganglia causes painful HZ in elderly people, occasionally leading to a serious complication, postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). A live attenuated VZV vaccine, the first vaccine licensed for the prevention of HZ and PHN is not very effective, while a recombinant subunit vaccine provides higher and longer protection against HZ. In the present study, we developed a new adjuvant system CIA09A, which is composed of cationic liposomes, the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist de-O-acylated lipooligosaccharide, and Quillaja saponin fraction QS-21. We then determined its adjuvant activity for recombinant VZV glycoprotein E (gE) in mice. Co-lyophilization of the liposomal adjuvant formulation with gE did not abolish the immune-stimulating activity. In fact, the CIA09A-adjuvanted gE vaccine was highly effective in eliciting both humoral and cellular immune responses to the recombinant gE protein and VZV in a VZV-primed mouse model. Furthermore, the frequency of gE-specific polyfunctional CD4+ T cells expressing interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-2 was significantly increased in mice immunized with the adjuvanted vaccine. These data indicate that co-lyophilization of protein antigens with CIA09A enables development of a liposome-adjuvanted vaccine in a single vial to induce strong cell-mediated immunity required for vaccine efficacy. Thus, the CIA09A-adjuvanted gE vaccine warrants further development as a new prophylactic vaccine against HZ.

Indocyanine green (ICG) is a clinically approved near-infrared dye that has shown promise as a photosensitizer for the phototherapy of cancer. However, its chemical instability in an aqueous solution has limited its clinical application. Encapsulating ICG in liposomes, phosphatidylcholine nanoparticles (PC-NP), has shown partial effectiveness in stabilizing it. Prompted by our recent finding that the zein-phosphatidylcholine hybrid nanoparticles (Z/PC-NP) provide an advanced drug carrier compared to PC-NP, we herein investigated the potential of Z/PC-NP as an improved ICG formulation. Dynamic light scattering analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy studies showed that ICG was encapsulated in Z/PC-NP without hampering the high colloidal stability of the Z/PC-NP. During storage, the Z/PC-NP almost completely inhibited the ICG aggregation, whereas the PC-NP did so partially. The Z/PC-NP also more effectively blocked the ICG degradation compared to the PC-NP. The phototoxicity of ICG encapsulated in Z/PC-NP on cancer cells was twofold higher than that in the PC-NP. The ICG encapsulated in Z/PC-NP, but not in PC-NP, maintained its photocytotoxicity after four-day storage. These findings highlight the promising potential of Z/PC-NP as an ICG formulation that provides a higher stabilization effect than PC-NP.

Liposome, phosphatidylcholine nanoparticle (PC-NP), is an attractive colloidal carrier of hydrophobic drugs but its clinical development is often limited by low drug-loading capacity and the physical instability. Zein is a water-insoluble amphiphilic protein obtained from the corn. We herein investigated a possibility to develop zein-phosphatidylcholine hybrid nanoparticle (Z/PC-NP) as an advanced hydrophobic drug carrier. By employing the conventional liposome preparation method with the addition of zein, Z/PC-NP were produced. The extent of zein incorporation in PC-NP was affected by PC composition. DSC demonstrated the lowered phase transition temperature of PC by zein and FTIR showed the appearance of weakened but clear amide bonds of zein as well as increased levels of heterogeneous hydrogen bonding of Z/PC-NP compared to PC-NP. DLS, TEM and cryo-TEM studies suggested Z/PC-NP to be spherical nanoparticles composed of a zein core and a zein-PC hybrid shell. Z/PC-NP exhibited a higher loading capacity for hydrophobic model drugs (paclitaxel, docetaxel, celecoxib and curcumin), than did the zein nanoparticle and PC-NP, while exhibiting an intermediate drug release rate. The serum stability and the storage stability of Z/PC-NP were greater than those of PC-NP. Zein functioned as a cryoprotectant of PC-NP during freeze-drying. Z/PC-NP may provide a promising nanoparticle carrier of hydrophobic drugs.

Strain S12-2-1T was isolated from a soil sample collected in the Gyeongsangnam-do province of the Republic of Korea. The isolate is a Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, short, rod-shaped bacterium, and its colonies are red to pink in colour. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene identified strain S12-2-1T as a member of the genus Hymenobacter in the family Cytophagaceae , with high levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Hymenobacter arizonensis OR362-8T (97.7 %), Hymenobacter sedentarius DG5BT (97.4 %) and Hymenobacter humi DG31AT (97.2 %). The isolate was positive for catalase and oxidase, but negative for acid production from glucose. The growth of strain S12-2-1T was supported at 4–30 °C, pH 7–10 and in the presence of 0–0.5 % NaCl. Strain S12-2-1T contained menaquinone-7 as the predominant respiratory quinone, sym-homospermidine as the major polyamine and iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c) as the major fatty acids. Phosphatidylethanolamine was the major polar lipid. The genomic DNA G+C content was 58.7 mol%. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data supported the assignment of the isolate to the genus Hymenobacter . However, strain S12-2-1T exhibited a relatively low level of DNA–DNA relatedness with H. humi (31.7 %), H. arizonensis (24.4 %) and H. sedentarius (21.3 %). Based on its phenotypic and genotypic properties, along with its phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain S12-2-1T should be considered a novel species in the genus Hymenobacter , for which the name Hymenobacter pedocola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S12-2-1T (=KCTC 52730T=JCM 32198T).

The purpose of this study was to use hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) as a novel carrier in solid SNEDDS and solid dispersions to enhance the solubility and oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble dexibuprofen. The novel dexibuprofen-loaded solid SNEDDS was composed of dexibuprofen, corn oil, polysorbate 80, Cremophor® EL, and HP-β-CD at a weight ratio of 45/35/50/15/100. This solid SNEDDS spontaneously formed a nano-emulsion with a size of approximately 120 nm. Unlike the conventional solid SNEDDS prepared with colloidal silica as a carrier, this dexibuprofen-loaded solid SNEDDS exhibited a spherical structure. Similar to the dexibuprofen-loaded solid dispersion prepared with HP-β-CD, the transformation of the crystalline drug to an amorphous state with no molecular interactions were observed in the solid SNEDDS. Compared to the solid dispersion and dexibuprofen powder, solid SNEDDS significantly enhanced drug solubility and AUC. Therefore, HP-β-CD is a novel potential carrier in SNEDDS for improving the oral bioavailability of dexibuprofen.

// Honsoul Kim 1, 2 , Eun-Ji Jang 3 , Sang Kyum Kim 4 , Woo Jin Hyung 5 , Dong Kyu Choi 6 , Soo-Jeong Lim 3 , Joon Seok Lim 1, 2 1 Department of Radiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea 2 Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea 3 Department of Integrative Bioscience and Bioengineering, Sejong University, Seoul, Republic of Korea 4 Department of Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea 5 Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea 6 New Drug Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk, Medical Innovation Foundation, Daegu, Republic of Korea Correspondence to: Joon Seok Lim, email: jslim1@yuhs.ac Soo-Jeong Lim, email: sjlim@sejong.ac.kr Keywords: sentinel lymph node, computed tomography (CT), iodine-docetaxel emulsion, lymph node metastasis, locoregional chemotherapy Received: November 08, 2016 Accepted: February 06, 2017 Published: February 24, 2017 ABSTRACT Purpose: A sentinel lymph node (SLN) tracer can gain multi-functionality by combining it with additional components. We developed a SLN tracer consisting of iodine and docetaxel and applied it as a theragnostic nanoparticle to simultaneously perform SLN computed tomography (CT) lymphography and locoregional chemotherapy of the draining lymphatic system. Results: Docetaxel could be loaded in iodine emulsions at a drug-to-surfactant weight ratio as high as that in the drug formulation Taxotere ® . The particle size and drug concentration were stable during storage for up to 3 months in optimized nanoemulsions. Popliteal LN enhancement on CT was observed in all healthy rabbits (n=3) and VX2 tumor-implanted rabbits (n=6) 12 hours after injection. The rate of SLN metastasis was significantly lower in the treatment group (29.4%, 5/17) than in the non-treatment group (70.6%, 12/17) (P=0.038). Material and Methods: We prepared a nanoemulsion carrying both iodine and docetaxel in a single structure by optimizing the composition of surfactants surrounding the inner iodized oil core. CT was performed 12 hours after subcutaneous injection of the emulsion in healthy rabbits (n=3) and VX2 tumor-implanted rabbits (n=6) for SLN imaging. Next, we tested the effect of treatment by histopathologically assessing the popliteal LN metastasis rate in VX2 tumor-implanted rabbits 7 days after subcutaneous injection of the emulsion (treatment group, n=17) and comparing it with that of non-treatment group rabbits (n=17). Conclusions: We developed an iodine-docetaxel emulsion and demonstrated that it can be applied to simultaneously achieve CT SLN imaging and local chemotherapy against nodal metastasis.

Electrostatic complexation of adenovirus (Ad) with cationic lipids or polymers has been shown to be an effective means for overcoming the limitations of adenoviral vectors and enhancing gene-transfer efficacy. However, such complexation causes cytotoxicity, limiting the use of this strategy. The present study explored the potential of 3-aminopropyl functionalized magnesium phyllosilicate (aminoclay) as a cationic vehicle for improving Ad-mediated gene transfer without inducing cytotoxicity. Aminoclay complexation produced a dose-dependent increase in Ad-mediated transgene expression in both Ad infection-sensitive and -refractory cells, thereby greatly lowering the Ad dose required for transgene expression. Unlike the case for cationic lipids (Lipofectamine) or polymers (Polybrene), the enhancement effect of aminoclay was not accompanied by significant cytotoxicity regardless of cell lines and it was not observed for nonviral plasmid vectors. Physical characterization studies revealed that nanobiohybrid complexes formed between aminoclay and Ad particles through electrostatic interactions, creating aggregates of Ad particles whose surface was shielded with aminoclay nanosheet oligomers. It appears that aminoclay complexation changes the surface charge of Ad particles from a negative to a highly positive value and thus increases Ad binding to cellular membranes, thereby providing an additional cellular entry mechanism, namely caveolae-dependent endocytosis. Aminoclay-Ad nanobiohybrids may serve as a next-generation efficient, versatile and biocompatible gene-delivery carrier. Statement of Significance Electrostatic complexation of adenovirus with cationic materials has been shown to be an effective means for enhancing gene-transfer efficacy in vitro. However, such complexation causes cytotoxicity, limiting the use of this strategy. The present study explored the potential of a synthesized organoclay 3-aminopropyl functionalized magnesium phyllosilicate (aminoclay) as a cationic vehicle for improving Ad-mediated gene transfer. Our data indicate that nanobiohybrid complexes form between aminoclay and Ad particles through electrostatic interactions, thereby greatly enhancing Ad-mediated gene transfer. Unlike the case for either cationic lipids or cationic polymers, the enhancement effect of aminoclay was not accompanied by significant cytotoxicity regardless of cell lines. Our findings in this work highlight that aminoclay-Ad nanobiohybrids may serve as a next-generation efficient and biocompatible gene-delivery carrier.

Studies have shown that insertion of oleic acid into lipid bilayers can modulate the membrane properties of liposomes so as to improve their function as drug carriers. Considering that 2-hydroxyoleic acid (2OHOA), a potential antitumor agent currently undergoing clinical trials, is a derivative of oleic acid, we explored the possibility of developing 2OHOA-inserted liposomes as a multifunctional carrier of antitumor drugs in the present study. The insertion of 2OHOA into lipid bilayers was confirmed by surface charge determination and differential scanning calorimetry. 2OHOA insertion greatly decreased the order of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine packing, produced a nanosized (

This study aimed to develop a new colon-targeted drug delivery system via the preparation of ternary nanocomposite carriers based on organic polymer, aminoclay and lipid vesicles. Budesonide (Bud), an anti-inflammatory drug was chosen as a model drug and encapsulated into three different formulations: liposome (Bud-Lip), aminoclay-coated liposome (AC-Bud-Lip), and Eudragit® S100-aminoclay double coated liposome (EAC-Bud-Lip). The formation of the aminoclay-lipid vesicle nanocomposite was confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray spectrum, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. All formulations were produced with a high encapsulation efficiency in a narrow size distribution. Drug release from EAC-Bud-Lip was approximately 10% for 2-h incubation at pH 1.2, implying the minimal drug release in acidic gastric condition. At pH 7.4, EAC-Bud-Lip underwent significant size reduction and exhibited drug release profiles similar to that from AC-Bud-Lip, implying the pH-dependent removal of the outer coating layer. Compared to free Bud solution, EAC-Bud-Lip achieved a higher drug uptake in Caco-2 cells and exhibited a stronger inhibition of TNF-α and IL-6 secretion in LPS-stimulated Raw264.7 cells. Furthermore, a bio-distribution study in mice demonstrated that Eudragit® S100-aminoclay dual coating led to a higher colonic distribution with a longer residence time, which correlated well with the delayed systemic drug exposure in rats. Taken together, the present study suggests that the ternary nanocomposite carrier consisting of Eudragit® S100, aminoclay, and lipid vesicle might be useful as an effective colon-targeted drug delivery system.

The main objective of this study was to compare the powder property, dissolution and bioavailability of 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-3-acetyl-rac-glycerol (PLAG)-loaded self-emulsifying granule system (SEGS) and solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS). Various SEGS formulations were prepared, and the effect of surfactant and binder on the drug solubility in them, leading to selecting sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). The SEGS and SNEDDS were prepared with PLAG/SLS/HPMC/calcium silicate/microcrystalline cellulose at the weight ratio of 1:0.25:0.1:0.5:3 employing the fluid bed granulation and spray-drying technique, respectively. Their powder properties were compared in terms of flow ability, emulsion droplet size, scanning electron microscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, the solubility, dissolution, and oral bioavailability in rats of the SEGS were assessed in comparison with the SNEDDS. The SEGS and SNEDDS enhanced the solubility of the drug approximately 36- and 32-fold as compared with the drug alone, but they had no differences. The crystalline drug may exist in both the calcium silicate and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) in the SEGS, but only in the calcium silicate in the SNEDDS. The SEGS had considerably improved the flow ability (Hausner ratio, 1.23 vs. 1.07, Carr index, 19.8 vs. 43.5%) and drug dissolution as compared with the SNEDDS. The SEGS and SNEDDS with double peak profiles, unlike the single peak of drug alone, showed a significantly higher plasma concentration and area under the curve (AUC), as compared with drug alone. Although they were not significantly different, the SEGS gave higher AUC than did the SNEDDS, suggesting its enhanced oral bioavailability of PLAG. Thus, the SEGS could be used as a powerful oral dosage form to improve the flow ability and oral bioavailability of PLAG, an oily drug.

Indocyanine green (ICG) has been used clinically and noticed as a promising candidate for the topical melanoma photodynamic therapy (PDT). Despite its high potentials in topical PDT, the use of ICG has been hampered by the instability in aqueous solution. In the present study, chitosan-coated liposomes were adopted as a formulation strategy which could stabilize and enhance skin permeation of ICG. Chitosan-coating was verified by the significantly increased liposomal size and reversed zeta potential from negative to positive value by positive chitosan coating. Chitosan-coating liposomes protected ICG from degradation while uncoated liposomes did not. Moreover, they significantly increased cellular uptake and photocytotoxicity of ICG in B16-F10 melanoma cells in a chitosan-dependent manner. The skin permeation of ICG was also drastically improved by chitosan-coated liposomes. These findings emphasize the promising potential of ICG-loaded chitosan-coated liposomes for topical PDT of melanoma.

The present study aimed to discover a new potent BCRP inhibitor overcoming multidrug resistance. Effects of LW6 on the functional activity and gene expression of two major efflux transporters, BCRP and P-gp, were evaluated by using MDCKII cells overexpressing each transporter (MDCKII-BCRP and MDCKII-MDR1). Its effects on the cytotoxicity and pharmacokinetics of co-administered anticancer drugs were also evaluated in transfected cells and rats, respectively. In MDCKII-BCRP cells overexpressing BCRP, LW6 enhanced significantly (p

Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid produced by the intestinal microflora and it not only induces apoptosis but also inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells. Recently, it has been reported that butyrate may cause resistance in colon cancer cells. Therefore, we investigated the effects of increased resistance to butyrate in HCT116 colon cancer cells. We established HCT116 cells resistant to butyrate (HCT116/BR) by treating HCT116 parental cells (HCT116/PT) with increasing concentrations of butyrate to a maximum of 1.6 mM for 3 months. The butyrate concentrations that inhibited cell growth by 50% (IC50) were 0.508 and 5.50 mM in HCT116/PT and HCT116/BR cells. The values after treatment with paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), doxorubicin and trichostatin A (TSA) were 2.42, 2.36, 4.31 and 11.3-fold higher, respectively, in HCT116/BR cells compared with HCT116/PT cells. The protein expression of drug efflux pumps, such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp), breast cancer-resistant protein (BCRP) and the multidrug resistance associated protein 1 (MRP1), did not differ between HCT116/PT and HCT116/BR cells. The expression level of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL protein was increased while those of pro-apoptotic Bax and Bim proteins were reduced in HCT116/BR cells. There were no significant differences in cell motility and invasion. This study suggests that exposure of colon cancer cells to butyrate results in development of resistance to butyrate, which may play a role in the acquisition of chemoresistance in colon cancer.

Preclinical and early clinical studies of the adenovirus-based vectors for gene therapy have shown considerable promise for the future. Use of adenoviral vectors in gene therapy is, however, limited by the lack of adenoviral receptors on targeted cell types, induction of neutralizing antibodies, short blood circulation half-life of adenovirus (Ad), hepatotoxicity and low selective accumulation in the target disease site. Researchers have shown that chemical modification of the Ad surface may be an effective means to overcome the current limitations of Ad-mediated gene transfer. In comparison, a small number of studies have addressed these issues by developing cationic lipid-based nanoparticles as an Ad-complexing formulation. Findings from these studies indicate that Ad complexation with cationic lipid-based nanoparticles is an effective and simple means to overcome the lack of receptors in target cells in vitro and to reduce the immunogenicity and hepatotoxicity of Ad vectors in vivo. In contrast, findings about the effect of cationic nanoparticle complexation in increasing the Ad accumulation in the target site in vivo are not consistent among studies. A definitive conclusion cannot be drawn at the current state due to the limited number of studies but the reasons for the discrepancy may include the differences in the lipid composition and the structure of cationic lipid-based nanoparticles. This review gives a comprehensive overview of current status in the development of cationic lipid-based nanoparticles as a vehicle to overcome the challenges of adenoviral vectors.

YJC-10592, a new chemokine receptor 2 (CCR-2) antagonist, was newly synthesized for the treatment of asthma and atopic dermatitis. To evaluate the pharmacokinetic characteristics of YJC-10592, a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the determination of YJC-10592 in rat plasma, urine, and tissue homogenates, using YJC-10450 as an internal standard. The mobile phase was a gradient of acetate buffer (50 mM, pH 3.0) in acetonitrile at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Chromatograms were monitored by an ultraviolet detector at 230 nm. The retention times for YJC-10592 and the internal standard were 8.0 and 6.3 min, respectively, and the lower limits of quantification (LLOQ) for YJC-10592 in rat plasma and urine were 0.05 and 0.2 μg/mL, respectively. The intra- and inter-assay precisions (coefficients of variation, CVs) were generally low (below 11.4 %) for rat plasma and urine samples. The accuracies (relative errors) ranged from 94.2 to 108 %. No interferences from endogenous substances were found. YJC-10592 was stable in rat whole blood but unstable in the liver homogenate. An initial pharmacokinetic study was performed in Sprague–Dawley rats and demonstrated that YJC-10592 has a half-life of 86.8 min and wide tissue distribution. In summary, this HPLC method can be applied to future preclinical and clinical evaluation of YJC-10592.

YJC-10592, a novel chemokine receptor 2 (CCR-2) antagonist, was developed for treating asthma and atopic dermatitis. We studied the pharmacokinetic characteristics of YJC-10592 after intravenous (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) and oral (100 and 200 mg/kg) administration of the drug to rats. Tissue distribution of YJC-10592 was also evaluated after intravenous administration of YJC-10592, 10 mg/kg, to rats. The pharmacokinetics of YJC-10592 was dose-dependent from 20 mg/kg after intravenous administration to rats. The values of the area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC) of YJC-10592 were dose-dependent from 20 mg/kg and the time-averaged total body (CL) and nonrenal (CLNR) clearances of YJC-10592 were significantly lower at dose of 20 mg/kg, suggesting that saturable metabolism may be involved. The absolute bioavailability (F) of YJC-10592 was generally low (

Solid-phase total syntheses of highly methylated cyclic azacoibamide A and its O-desmethyl analogue were achieved. Two ester linkages of natural coibamide A were replaced by amide bonds to improve its pharmacokinetic properties. The synthetic strategy consists of the key on-resin macrocyclization, N,N-dimethylation, and final solution phase O-methylation reactions. Compared to the naturally occurring coibamide A, azacoibamide A and its O-desmethyl analogue displayed low micromolar activities against tested cancer cell lines.

A polyphasic taxonomic study was performed on a novel strain designated as S7-3-11T, which was isolated from soil of the Gyeongsangnam-do province in Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain S7-3-11T belongs to the genus Hymenobacter and is most closely related to Hymenobacter ruber PB156T (97.9%), Hymenobacter daeguensis 16F3Y-2T (97.8%), Hymenobacter glaciei VUG-A130T (97.7%), Hymenobacter soli PB17T (97.5%), Hymenobacter terrae DG7AT (97.5%), and Hymenobacter antarcticus VUG-A42aaT (97.3%). However, DNA–DNA hybridization results showed less than 50% relatedness with respect to the type strains of the six most closely related species. The DNA G + C content of strain S7-3-11T was 60.2 mol%. MK-7 was identified as the predominant respiratory quinone, and summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c/C16:1 ω6c; 21.5%), C15:0 iso (16.8%), C15:0 anteiso (16.2%), and C15:1 iso G (10.8%) were the major fatty acids. Phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminolipid, and an unidentified aminophospholipid were detected as major polar lipids. On the basis of the polyphasic evidence presented, strain S7-3-11T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Hymenobacter, for which the name Hymenobacter segetis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S7-3-11T (= KCTC 52732T = JCM 32197T).

Indocyanine green (ICG) is a near-infrared optical dye approved by the Food and Drug Administration. ICG has been investigated as a simultaneous color and fluorescence-imaging tracer for the intraoperative identification of sentinel lymph nodes, but its use has recently expanded to include application as a photosensitizer for the local photodynamic/thermal treatment of identified lymph node metastases. The current study was designed to develop an ICG-loaded nanoemulsion as an effective agent for both the diagnosis and treatment of lymph node metastases. Incorporating the cationic lipid stearylamine (SA) together with ICG in the shell of nanoemulsions did not affect the loaded ICG concentration, but changed the surface charge of nanoemulsions from a negative to a positive value and improved the physical stability of nanoemulsions. Loading ICG into SA-incorporated nanoemulsions more effectively blocked the aggregation and degradation of ICG compared to loading in SA-free nanoemulsions. SA incorporation also enhanced tumor cell uptake of ICG-loaded nanoemulsions, resulting in greater cell killing upon light irradiation. After subcutaneous injection into the footpad of mice, SA-incorporated nanoemulsions increased the concentration of ICG accumulated in popliteal lymph nodes to a greater extent than SA-free nanoemulsions without affecting the kinetics of lymph node uptake of nanoemulsions. These multiple beneficial effects of incorporating SA in nanoemulsions are likely attributable to the electrostatic interaction between anionic ICG and cationic SA, as well as the change in the nanoemulsion surface charge from negative to positive. Our findings indicate that SA-incorporated nanoemulsions are promising ICG carriers for combined diagnosis and treatment of lymph node metastases.

The solid-phase total synthesis of the proposed structure of cyclic depsipeptide coibamide A and its derivative O-desmethyl coibamide A is reported. In this study, we demonstrate the solid-phase synthetic strategy and final solution-phase O-methylation for highly N-methylated cyclic depsipeptides. On-resin macrocyclization, N,N-dimethylation and solution-phase O-methylation were the key steps of these syntheses. The mass of synthetic coibamide A is consistent with that of the natural product according to liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LCMS) analysis but significant differences are observed upon 1H and 13C NMR analysis. The 2D NMR analysis and modeling studies of the synthetic compound compared with the isolated natural compound revealed that either they are conformationally different or the stereochemistry of the natural product was incorrectly assigned.

To validate the usefulness of a newly developed tracer for preoperative gastric sentinel lymph node (LN) (SLN) mapping and intraoperative navigation after a single preoperative submucosal injection in rat and beagle models.This study was approved by the Experimental Animal Ethical Committee of Yonsei University College of Medicine according to the eighth edition of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals published in 2011. An emulsion was developed that contained indocyanine green in iodized oil, which can be visualized with both computed tomography (CT) and near-infrared (NIR) optical imaging and has the property of delayed washout. This emulsion was injected into the footpad of rats (n = 6) and the gastric submucosa of beagles (n = 8). CT lymphography was performed. The degree of enhancement of popliteal LNs was measured in rats, and the enhancing LNs were identified and the degree of enhancement of the enhancing LNs was measured in beagles. Next, NIR imaging was performed in beagles during open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery to identify LNs containing the fluorescent signals of indocyanine green. The enhanced LNs detected with CT lymphography and NIR imaging were matched to see if they corresponded.Preoperative CT lymphography facilitated SLN mapping, and 26 SLNs were identified in eight beagles. NIR imaging enabled high-spatial-resolution visualization of both SLNs and the intervening lymphatic vessels and was useful for intraoperative SLN navigation.SLN mapping with fluorescent iodized oil emulsion is effective and feasible for both CT and NIR imaging.

In a previous report, 3-aminopropyl functionalized magnesium phyllosilicate (aminoclay) improved adenovirus transduction efficiency by shielding the negative surface charges of adenovirus particles. The present study analyzed the physicochemical characterization of the electrostatic complex of adenoviruses with aminoclay and explored whether it could be utilized for enhancing tumor suppressive activity in the bladder. As a result of aminoclay-adenovirus nanobiohybridization, its transduction was enhanced in a dose-dependent manner, increasing transgene expression in bladder cancer cells and in in vivo animal models. Physicochemical studies demonstrated that positively charged aminoclay led to the neutralization of negative surface charges of adenoviruses, protection of adenoviruses from neutralizing antibodies and lowered transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). As expected from the physicochemical properties, the aminoclay enabled tumor-targeting adenoviruses to be more potent in killing bladder cancer cells and suppressing tumor growth in orthotopic bladder tumors, suggesting that aminoclay would be an efficient, versatile and biocompatible delivery carrier for intravesical instillation of adenoviruses.

Adjuvants are essential vaccine components used to enhance, accelerate, and/or prolong adaptive immunity against specific vaccine antigens. In this study, we compared the adjuvanticity of two adjuvant formulations containing de-O-acylated lipooligosaccharide (dLOS), a toll-like receptor 4 agonist, on the Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine in mice. Mice were immunized once or twice at a two-week interval with inactivated JE vaccine in the absence or presence of adjuvant. We found that both the alum- and the liposome-based formulation induced significantly faster and higher serum IgG antibody responses as compared with the non-adjuvanted vaccine after either one or two immunizations. The antibody titers of the mouse immune sera correlated with 50% plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT50) antibody titers. In addition, the dLOS/liposome formulation was more effective in inducing a Th1-type immune response than the dLOS/alum formulation, as suggested by a strong antigen-specific interferon (IFN)-γ response. Based on these results, we suggest that both alum- and liposome-based adjuvant formulations containing dLOS may be used for the development of JE vaccines with improved immunogenicity.

The aim of this research was to compare three strategies for enhancing the solubility of poorly water-soluble revaprazan hydrochloride: solid dispersion, solid SNEDDS and inclusion compound. The influence of polymers, surfactants and oils on the drug solubility was assessed, and via the chosen carriers, the three types of formulations were prepared utilising spray drying technique. Their physicochemical properties, solubility, dissolution and pharmacokinetics in rats were performed compared with revaprazan powder. Among the liquid SNEDDS formulations assessed, the compositions of revaprazan, peceol, Tween 80 and Labrasol (10:15:55:30, weight ratio) provided the smallest emulsion size. Moreover, this liquid SNEDDS and dextran were suspended/dissolved in distilled water, and spray-dried, producing an optimal revaprazan-loaded solid SNEDDS. The appropriate solid dispersion and inclusion compound were composed of revaprazan, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and cremophor A25 (5:1.4:5.6) and drug and hydroxyl-β-cyclodextrin (2.5:8.77), respectively. The crystalline drug was converted to an amorphous state in all formulations. In the solid dispersion, the drug was attached to the hydrophilic carrier. The solid SNEDDS and inclusion compound contained aggregate microspheres and separate microspheres, respectively. All formulations significantly increased the drug solubility, dissolution, plasma concentration and AUC compared with revaprazan powder. These properties were ranked in the order solid dispersion ≥ solid SNEDDS > inclusion compound. Particularly, the solid dispersion improved about 9500-fold drug solubility and 10-fold oral bioavailability. Thus, the improved properties were considerably dependent upon these techniques, although all of the techniques employed similar mechanisms. Among the strategies checked, the solid dispersion system would be recommended as an oral revaprazan-loaded pharmaceutical product.

We evaluated the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) Sarcopenia Project’s recommended criteria for sarcopenia’s association with mortality among older Korean adults.

Trabecular bone score (TBS) has been shown to be significantly related to vertebral fractures. The study aimed to evaluate the associations between TBS and vertebral fractures according to BMD T-scores.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and has reported anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties as well as bone homeostasis through the modulation of gene transcription and non-genomic signaling cascades. The purpose of this review is to summarize the available research on pharmacokinetics of vitamin D analogues, especially 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3, the active form of vitamin D3] and the interactions between vitamin D and pharmaceutical drugs used in patients with cancer. Hypercalcemia was the most frequently reported side effect that occurred in high doses of 1,25(OH)2D3. The half-life of 25(OH)D3 and/or 1,25(OH)2D3 was found to be impacted by cimetidine; rosuvastatin; prednisone and possibly some chemotherapy drugs. No unusual adverse effects in cancer patients were identified through this review beyond what is expected from high dose 1,25(OH)2D3 supplementation such as the inconvenience of high dose vitamin D. The supplementation with 1,25(OH)2D3 during chemotherapy appears to have a low risk of interaction while sufficient evidence is still lacking. Further interactions with vitamin D3 and the development of new dosage forms for the therapy with high doses of vitamin D3 need to be evaluated.

Multilamellar vesicle (MLV)-type liposomes are promising carriers for hydrophobic drugs that need to be injected. In MLV preparation process, probe sonication step is often required to obtain liposomes fulfilling the mean particle size and polydispersity index (PI) requirements as an injectable lipid formulation. However, it is often limited by the risk of sample overheating. This study was undertaken to explore a possibility of using cell disruptor in the liposome preparation process as an alternative sonication method. Use of cell disruptor-type sonicator decreased the mean particle size and PI of liposomes much more effectively compared to conventional bath sonicators. The effectiveness of cell disruptor sonicator in decreasing the size and PI of liposomes was comparable to that of probe sonicator, particularly in the presence of a hydrophobic drug celecoxib. Sonication of liposomes by a cell disruptor sonicator produced celecoxib-loaded liposomes exhibiting 152 ± 9 nm mean particle size with a PI of 0.155, indicating a very homogenous and fine dispersion. Together with its proved efficacy in increasing the homogeneity, the advantage of cell disruptor sonicator includes the minimal exposure of liposome samples to heat, thereby providing an efficient method to prepare injectable liposomes at a laboratory scale.

This study was conducted for vulnerability assessment of regional forests in Jeollabuk-do. The purpose of this study was performing the vulnerability assessment, the preceded process, which was needed to maximize the effectiveness by preparing the proper adaptation for region to climate change policy. Therefore, weight of variables for vulnerability assessment, showing the specificity of the region, was calculated through the Delphi Survey, targeted the group of forestry practitioners in Jeollabuk-do. From the results of analysis on the weight of variables for vulnerability assessment according to the proxy variables in details, the most effective variable was climate exposure, and the second and the third were sensitivity and ability of adaptation respectively. In addition, from the results on the forest vulnerability assessment, vulnerability was predicted to decrease from 2000s to 2020s, but to increase from 2020s to 2050s, and to decrease again from 2050s to 2100s in most ranges of vulnerability of the forest in Jeollabuk-do. Hence, the period showing the highest vulnerability was 2050s. Therefore, if the local government policy of adaptation of climate change, based on the result of vulnerability assessment of forest in Jeollabuk-do with the weight considering the regional characteristics, was established, the policy to maximize the effect would be formulated, and the management of forest according to the climate change would be achieved appropriately.

Restricted drug entry to the brain that is closely associated with the existence of the blood brain barrier (BBB) has limited the accessibility of most potential active therapeutic compounds to the brain from the systemic circulation. Recently, evidences for the presence of direct nose-to-brain drug transport pathways have been accumulated by several studies and an intranasal drug administration route has gained attention as a promising way for providing direct access to the brain without the needs to cross to the BBB. Studies aiming for developing nanoparticles as an intranasal drug carrier have shown considerable promise in overcoming the challenges of intranasal drug delivery route. This review gives a comprehensive overview of works having investigated liposomes as a potential vehicle to deliver drugs to the brain through nose-to-brain route while considering the excellent biocompatibility and high potential of liposomes for clinical development. Herein, studies are reviewed with special emphasis on the impact of formulation factors, such as liposome composition and surface modification of liposomes with targeting moieties, in addition to intranasal environmental factors that may affect the extent/site of absorption of intranasally administered, liposome-encapsulated drugs.

The purpose of this study was to compare the powder properties, solubility, dissolution and oral absorption of solvent-wetted (SWSD) and kneaded (KNSD) l-sulpiride-loaded solid dispersions. The SWSD and KNSD were prepared with silicon dioxide, sodium laurylsulfate and D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) using a spray dryer and high shear mixer, respectively. Their powder properties, solubility, dissolution and oral absorption were assessed compared to l-sulpiride powder. The drug in SWSD was in the amorphous state; however, in KNSD, it existed in the crystalline state. The SWSD with a drug/sodium laurylsulphate/TPGS/silicon dioxide ratio of 5/1/2/12 gave the higher drug solubility and dissolution compared to the KNSD with the same composition. The oral absorption of drug in the SWSD was 1.4 fold higher than the KNSD and 3.0 fold higher than the l-sulpiride powder (p

Soon-Seok Hong,1 Ju Yeon Choi,2 Jong Oh Kim,2 Mi-Kyung Lee,3 So Hee Kim,4 Soo-Jeong Lim1 1Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Sejong University, Seoul, 2College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 3College of Pharmacy, Woosuk University, Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, 4College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, Republic of Korea Abstract: Studies have highlighted the challenge of developing injectable liposomes as a paclitaxel (PTX) carrier, a challenge attributable to the limitations in liposomal stability caused by PTX loading. Poor stability of PTX-loaded liposomes is caused by PTX-triggered aggregation or fusion of liposomal membranes and is exacerbated in the presence of PEGylated lipid. In the present study, the effect of triglyceride incorporation on the stability of PTX-loaded/PEGylated liposomes was explored. Incorporation of a medium chain triglyceride Captex 300 into saturated phosphatidylcholine (PC)-based liposomes (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine [DMPC]:cholesterol [CHOL]:N-(Carbonyl-methoxypolyethyleneglycol 2000)-1, 2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-ethanolamine [PE-PEG]), produced a fine, homogeneous, and membrane-filterable PTX-loaded liposomes fulfilling the requirement of an injectable lipid formulation. Triglyceride incorporation also greatly inhibited the time-dependent leakage of PTX from saturated PC-based liposomes, which appears to be mediated by the inhibition of liposome fusion. In contrast, triglyceride incorporation induced the destabilization and PTX leakage of unsaturated PC-based liposomes, indicating the opposite effect of triglyceride depending on the fluidity status of PC constituting the liposomal membrane. PTX release profile and the in vitro and in vivo anticancer efficacy of triglyceride-incorporated DMPC:CHOL:PE-PEG liposomes were similar to Taxol® while the toxicity of liposomal PTX was significantly lower than that of Taxol. Taken together, triglyceride incorporation provided an injectable PTX formulation by functioning as a formulation stabilizer of PEGylated/saturated PC-based liposomes. Keywords: paclitaxel, triglyceride, PEGylation, liposome, stability, formulation

Tocopherol analogs are known to have pleiotropic effects due to its interaction with diverse intracellular targets. Previously we reported that low/subapoptotic dose of α-tocopheryl succinate (αTOS) inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production in lung epithelial cells, while high dose of αTOS induces the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and apoptosis. In our separate study, we demonstrated that α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (αTPGS), a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-conjugated derivative of αTOS, is a more potent ROS/apoptosis inducer compared with αTOS. The present study was prompted to examine whether PEG conjugation to αTOS also enforced its COX inhibitory activity. Of interest, we found that αTPGS failed to inhibit COX activity regardless of doses, suggesting that PEG conjugation to αTOS resulted in the loss of its COX inhibitory activity. Unexpectedly, αTPGS rather induced the COX-2 protein expression at higher/apoptotic doses. αTPGS-induced COX-2 expression was inhibited by antioxidant pretreatment. These data indicate that the COX-2 induction by αTPGS is mediated through increased ROS generation. Since the use of αTPGS as a surfactant component of dispersive drug delivery systems is frequently considered, caution should be taken when the drugs involved in COX signaling are loaded in αTPGS-included delivery systems.

Tributyrin, a triglyceride analogue of butyrate, can act as a prodrug of an anticancer agent butyrate after being cleaved by intracellular enzymes. We recently demonstrated that the emulsion containing tributyrin as an inner oil phase possesses a potent anticancer activity. Herein we sought to develop tributyrin emulsion as a carrier of celecoxib, a poorly-water soluble drug with anticancer activity. Combined treatment of human HCT116 colon cancer cells with free celecoxib plus tributyrin emulsion inhibited the cellular proliferation more effectively than that of each drug alone, suggesting the possibility of tributyrin emulsion as a potential celecoxib carrier. The mean droplet size of emulsions tended to increase as the tributyrin content in emulsion increases and the concentration of celecoxib loaded in emulsions was affected by tributyrin content and the initial amount of celecoxib, but not by the total amount of surfactant mixture. The concentration of celecoxib required to inhibit the growth of HCT116 and B16-F10 cancer cells by 50% was 2.6- and 3.1-fold lowered by loading celecoxib in tributyrin emulsions, compared with free celecoxib. These data suggest that the anticancer activity of celecoxib was enhanced by loading in tributyrin emulsions, probably due to the solubilization capacity and anticancer activity of tributyrin emulsion.

Blockade of the heregulin-mediated growth signaling is important to prevent the proliferation of colon cancer. We previously reported that butyrate is a potent inhibitor of the heregulin-stimulated proliferation of colon cancer cells. While clinical use of butyrate is limited due to its very short plasma half-life, using tributyrin (TB) as a prodrug of butyrate may be an alternative solution. In the present study, we investigated a possibility to use TB-incorporated emulsion as a potent inhibitor of colon cancer cell proliferation. When the growth of CaCo-2 and SNU-C4, two colon cancer cells, was stimulated by serum, TB emulsion exerted 2.8- and 5.7-fold higher inhibitory effect compared with free butyrate, based on the 50 % inhibitory concentration. When the growth of colon cancer cells was stimulated by heregulin, pretreatment with TB emulsion almost completely suppressed the heregulin-stimulated proliferation of cells at a concentration ineffective as butyrate. The more potent inhibition of heregulin-stimulated proliferation by TB emulsion was associated with more effective blockade of the activation of Akt and ERK1/2, which are important downstream molecules mediating hereuglin-stimulated proliferation of cancer cells. Taken together, TB emulsion is a potent agent that can inhibit the proliferation of colon cancer cells.