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This study introduces a convenient and ultra-sensitive method of detection and quantification of the antiviral drug, tenofovir (TFV), by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Novel spatially resolved instrumentation for spectral acquisition and subsequent statistical analysis for hot spot selection was developed for convenient quantification of TFV in an aqueous matrix. Methods of statistical analysis include the use of partial least squares (PLS) regression vector analysis and spectral ranking by quality indices computed using CHAOS theory. Hydroxylamine-reduced Ag colloidal nanoparticles evaporated to dryness on an aluminum well-plate were used as the SERS substrate. To our knowledge, quantification of TFV down to 25 ng/mL by SERS, comprising clinically relevant concentrations, has not been previously reported. Furthermore, in this work we propose a novel method of quantification of aqueous TFV standards by SERS using statistical treatment of data by PLS and CHAOS theory. Based on these data, we propose future studies to develop a method of TFV detection and quantification in biological samples, beneficial to clinicians for rapid assessment of drug adherence during the treatment and prevention of viral diseases.

The activity of nucleoside and nucleotide analogs as antiviral agents requires phosphorylation by endogenous enzymes. Phosphate-substituted analogs have low bioavailability due to the presence of ionizable negatively-charged groups. To circumvent these limitations, several prodrug approaches have been proposed. Herein, we hypothesized that the conjugation or combination of the lipophilic amide bond with nucleotide-based tenofovir (TFV) (1) could improve the anti-HIV activity. During the current study, the hydroxyl group of phosphonates in TFV was conjugated with the amino group of L-alanine, L-leucine, L-valine, and glycine amino acids and other long fatty ester hydrocarbon chains to synthesize 43 derivatives. Several classes of derivatives were synthesized. The synthesized compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, IR, UV, and mass spectrometry. In addition, several of the synthesized compounds were evaluated as racemic mixtures for anti-HIV activity in vitro in a single round infection assay using TZM-bl cells at 100 ng/mL. TFV (1) was used as a positive control and inhibited HIV infection by 35%. Among all the evaluated compounds, the disubstituted heptanolyl ester alanine phosphonamidate with naphthol oleate (69), pentanolyl ester alanine phosphonamidate with phenol oleate (62), and butanolyl ester alanine phosphonamidate with naphthol oleate (87) ester conjugates of TFV were more potent than parent drug TFV with 79.0%, 76.5%, 71.5% inhibition, respectively, at 100 ng/mL. Furthermore, two fatty acyl amide conjugates of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) were synthesized and evaluated for comparative studies with TAF and TFV conjugates. Tetradecanoyl TAF conjugate 95 inhibited HIV infection by 99.6% at 100 ng/mL and showed comparable activity to TAF (97–99% inhibition) at 10–100 ng/mL but was more potent than TAF when compared at molar concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in combination with emtricitabine (FTC) is the backbone for both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment and pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) worldwide. Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) with FTC is increasingly used in HIV treatment and was recently approved for PrEP among men‐who‐have‐sex‐with‐men. TDF and TAF are both metabolized into tenofovir (TFV). Antiretrovirals in plasma are taken up into hair over time, with hair levels providing a long‐term measure of adherence. Here, we report a simple, robust, highly sensitive, and validated high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)‐based analytical method for analyzing TFV and FTC from individuals on either TDF/FTC or TAF/FTC in small hair samples. TFV/FTC are extracted from ~5 mg hair and separated on a column using a gradient elution. The lower quantification limits are 0.00200 (TFV) and 0.0200 (FTC) ng/mg hair; the assay is linear up to 0.400 (TFV) and 4.00 (FTC) ng/mg hair. The intra‐day and inter‐day coefficients of variance (CVs) are 5.39–12.6% and 6.40–13.5% for TFV and 0.571–2.45% and 2.45–5.16% for FTC. TFV concentrations from participants on TDF/FTC‐based regimens with undetectable plasma HIV RNA were 0.0525 ± 0.0295 ng/mg, whereas those from individuals on TAF/FTC‐based regimens were 0.0426 ± 0.0246 ng/mg. Despite the dose of TFV in TDF being 10 times that of TAF, hair concentrations of TFV were not significantly different for those on TDF versus TAF regimens. Pharmacological enhancers (ritonavir and cobicistat) did not boost TFV concentrations in hair. In summary, we developed and validated a sensitive analytical method to analyze TFV and FTC in hair and found that hair concentrations of TFV were essentially equivalent among those on TDF and TAF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activity of nucleoside and nucleotide analogs as antiviral agents requires phosphorylation by endogenous enzymes. Phosphate-substituted analogs have low bioavailability due to the presence of ionizable negatively-charged groups. To circumvent these limitations, several prodrug approaches have been proposed. Herein, we hypothesized that the conjugation or combination of the lipophilic amide bond with nucleotide-based tenofovir (TFV) (1) could improve the anti-HIV activity. During the current study, the hydroxyl group of phosphonates in TFV was conjugated with the amino group of L-alanine, L-leucine, L-valine, and glycine amino acids and other long fatty ester hydrocarbon chains to synthesize 43 derivatives. Several classes of derivatives were synthesized. The synthesized compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, IR, UV, and mass spectrometry. In addition, several of the synthesized compounds were evaluated as racemic mixtures for anti-HIV activity in vitro in a single round infection assay using TZM-bl cells at 100 ng/mL. TFV (1) was used as a positive control and inhibited HIV infection by 35%. Among all the evaluated compounds, the disubstituted heptanolyl ester alanine phosphonamidate with naphthol oleate (69), pentanolyl ester alanine phosphonamidate with phenol oleate (62), and butanolyl ester alanine phosphonamidate with naphthol oleate (87) ester conjugates of TFV were more potent than parent drug TFV with 79.0%, 76.5%, 71.5% inhibition, respectively, at 100 ng/mL. Furthermore, two fatty acyl amide conjugates of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) were synthesized and evaluated for comparative studies with TAF and TFV conjugates. Tetradecanoyl TAF conjugate 95 inhibited HIV infection by 99.6% at 100 ng/mL and showed comparable activity to TAF (97–99% inhibition) at 10–100 ng/mL but was more potent than TAF when compared at molar concentration.

Sexually transmitted infections affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1 and −2) and herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) remain incurable, urging the development of new prevention strategies. While current prophylactic technologies are dependent on strict user adherence to achieve efficacy, there is a dearth of delivery vehicles that provide discreet and convenient administration, combined with prolonged-delivery of active agents. To address these needs, we created electrospun fibers (EFs) comprised of FDA-approved polymers, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and poly(DL-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL), to provide sustained-release and in vitro protection against HIV-1 and HSV-2. PLGA and PLCL EFs, incorporating the antiretroviral, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), exhibited sustained-release for up to 4 weeks, and provided complete in vitro protection against HSV-2 and HIV-1 for 24 h and 1 wk, respectively, based on the doses tested. In vitro cell culture and EpiVaginal tissue tests confirmed the safety of fibers in vaginal and cervical cells, highlighting the potential of PLGA and PLCL EFs as multipurpose next-generation drug delivery vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] LC–MS/MS method for simultaneous estimation of TFV, 3TC and NVP. [•] Low detection limits of 2ng/mL for TFV and 10ng/mL for 3TC and NVP. [•] Method utilizes highly selective SPE technique with a sample volume of 0.2mL. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An LC/MS/MS assay we published for tenofovir (TFV) plasma levels is a useful tool for monitoring the pharmacotherapy of HIV-positive individuals [T. Delahunty, L. Bushman, C.V. Fletcher, J. Chromatogr. B 830 (2006) 6–12]. A new combination therapy consisting of the TFV pro-drug (300mg) and another reverse transcriptase inhibitor, emtricitabine (FTC, 200mg) has become available in a convenient once-daily dosage form (Truvada). This widely used medication has prompted us to develop and validate a convenient assay to determine simultaneously TFV and FTC plasma concentrations. In view of their chemical similarity to the analytes, stable isotope internal standards (IS) were chosen. These consisted of TFV labeled uniformly with 13C in the adenine moiety (Iso-TFV) and FTC labeled with 13C and 15N in the cytosine moiety (Iso-FTC). Trifluoroacetic acid was added to the patient''s EDTA plasma (containing the IS) to produce a de-proteinated extract after high speed centrifugation. The extracts were directly injected into the mobile phase (3% acetonitrile/1% acetic acid, aq.) stream flowing at 200μL/min. A Synergi Polar-RP, 2.0mm×150mm, reversed-phase analytical column was used to achieve the chromatographic separation. Detection of the analytes was achieved by ESI positive ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The precursor/product transitions (m/z) in the positive ion mode were 288/176 and 293/181 ions for TFV and Iso-TFV, respectively and the precursor/product transitions (m/z) were 248/130 and 251/133 ions for FTC and Iso-FTC, respectively. When the analyte/IS abundance ratios were plotted against the specified concentrations, the linearity of the concentration curves were in the range 10ng/mL to 1500ng/mL for both analytes (250μL plasma extracted), with a minimum quantifiable limit of 10ng/mL for both analytes. The inter- and intra-day accuracy and precision for both TFV and FTC were within±20% at the LLOQ and±15% at the other QC levels. We have expanded the method originally designed for the assay of TFV alone to incorporate the simultaneous determination of the latter and FTC using stable isotope IS. This assay has been successfully used for the periodic monitoring of 678 HIV-positive patients being treated with the combination therapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Tenofovir today exists in two pharmaceutical forms, such as Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and the newer Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). The two different salts are required in order to promote intestinal absorption of the active molecule (TFV). Once absorbed the distribution of TFV into compartments is driven by the salt to which the drug is conjugated; in case of TDF, following absorption most of TFV is cleared from its link with the salt and the drug is widely distributed into different tissues, while in case of TAF the reverse is true as TFV remains mostly associated to its alafenamide salt and its distribution is restricted to cells with high carboxyesterase and catepsin A activity, such as hepatocytes and lymphocytes. This generates higher plasma levels of TFV in case of TDF while in the case of TFV much higher intracellular concentrations in target cells are achieved. The main reason for TAF development was to reduce the impact of the drug on proximal renal function and this was actually obtained by the much lower plasma concentration of TFV. Numerous clinical trials consistently demonstrated the significant lesser impact of TAF vs TDF on both renal function and structural bone integrity., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest G.Di Perri has received research grants, fees for lectures and participation to advisory boards by Abbvie, MSD, ViiV, GS, Janssen, Pfizer, Astra Zeneca, Angelini., (Copyright © 2016 - 2021 InfezMed.)

The need for more versatile technologies to deliver antiviral agents to the female reproductive tract (FRT) has spurred the development of on-demand and sustained-release platforms. Electrospun fibers (EFs), in particular, have recently been applied to FRT delivery, resulting in an alternative dosage form with the potential to provide protection and therapeutic effect against a variety of infection types. However, a multitude of fabrication parameters, as well as the resulting complexities of solvent-drug, drug-polymer, and solvent-polymer interactions, are known to significantly impact the loading and release of incorporated agents. Numerous processing parameters, in addition to their combined interactions, can hinder the iterative development of fiber formulations to achieve optimal release for particular durations, doses, and polymer-drug types. The experimental effort to design and develop EFs could benefit from mathematical analysis and computational simulation that predictively evaluate combinations of parameters to meet product design needs. Here, existing modeling efforts are leveraged to develop a simulation platform that correlates and predicts the delivery of relevant small molecule antivirals from EFs that have been recently applied to target sexually transmitted infections (STIs). A pair of mathematical models is coupled to simulate the release of two structurally similar small molecule antiretroviral reverse transcriptase inhibitors, Tenofovir (TFV) and Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), from poly(lactic- co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) EFs, and to evaluate how changes in the system parameters affect the distribution of encapsulated agent in a three-compartment model of the vaginal epithelium. The results indicate that factors such as fiber diameter, mesh thickness, antiviral diffusivity, and fiber geometry can be simulated to create an accurate model that distinguishes the different release patterns of TFV and TDF from EFs, and that enables detailed evaluation of the associated pharmacokinetics. This simulation platform offers a basis with which to further study EF parameters and their effect on antiviral release and pharmacokinetics in the FRT.