Dexamethasone-containing biodegradable superparamagnetic microparticles for intra-articular administration: Physicochemical and magnetic properties, in vitro and in vivo drug release

Compared with traditional drug solutions or suspensions, polymeric microparticles represent a valuable means to achieve controlled and prolonged drug delivery into joints, but still suffer from the drawback of limited retention duration in the articular cavity. In this study, our aim was to prepare and characterize magnetic biodegradable microparticles containing dexamethasone acetate (DXM) for intra-articular administration. The superparamagnetic properties, which result from the encapsulation of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), allow for microparticle retention with an external magnetic field, thus possibly reducing their clearance from the joint. Two molecular weights of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) were used, 12 and 19 kDa. The prepared batches were similar in size (around 10 μm), inner morphology, surface morphology, charge (neutral) and superparamagnetic behaviour. The SPION distribution in the microparticles assessed by TEM indicates a homogeneous distribution and the absence of aggregation, an important factor for preserving superparamagnetic properties. DXM release profiles were shown to be quite similar in vitro (ca. 6 days) and in vivo, using a mouse dorsal air pouch model (ca. 5 days).     

Physico-chemical characterisation of PLGA nanoparticles after freeze-drying and storage

Nanoparticles represent promising carriers for controlled drug delivery. Particle size and size distribution of the particles are important parameters for the in vivo behaviour after intravenous injection and have to be characterised precisely. In the present study, the influence of lyophilisation on the storage stability of poly(d,l lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles, formulated with several cryoprotective agents, was evaluated. Nanoparticles were prepared by a high pressure solvent evaporation method and freeze-dried in the presence of 1%, 2%, and 3% (m/v) sucrose, trehalose, and mannitol, respectively. Additionally, to all samples containing 3% of the excipients, l-arginine hydrochloride was added in concentrations of 2.1% or 8.4% (m/V). Dynamic light scattering (DLS), analytical ultracentrifugation and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used for particle characterisation before and after freeze-drying and subsequent reconstitution. In addition, glass transition temperatures were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the residual moisture of the lyophilisates was analysed by Karl Fischer titration. It was demonstrated that 1% sucrose or 2% trehalose were suitable to maintain particle integrity after reconstitution of lyophilised PLGA nanoparticles. The storage stability study over 3 months showed notable changes in mean particle size, size distribution, and residual moisture content, depending on the composition of the formulation.     

Towards More Realistic In Vitro Release Measurement Techniques for Biodegradable Microparticles

Purpose  To better understand the importance of the environmental conditions for drug release from biodegradable microparticles allowing for the development of more appropriate in vitro release measurement techniques. Methods  Propranolol HCl diffusion in various agarose gels was characterized by NMR and UV analysis. Fick’s law was used to theoretically predict the mass transport kinetics. Drug release from PLGA-based microparticles in such agarose gels was compared to that measured in agitated bulk fluids (“standard” method). Results  NMR analysis revealed that the drug diffusivity was almost independent of the hydrogel concentration, despite of the significant differences in the systems’ mechanical properties. This is due to the small size of the drug molecules/ions with respect to the hydrogel mesh size. Interestingly, the theoretically predicted drug concentration-distance-profiles could be confirmed by independent experiments. Most important from a practical point of view, significant differences in the release rates from the same batch of PLGA-based microparticles into a well agitated bulk fluid versus a semi-solid agarose gel were observed. Conclusion  Great care must be taken when defining the in vitro conditions for drug release measurements from biodegradable microparticles. The obtained new insight can help facilitating the development of more appropriate in vitro release testing procedures.     

再造组织工程化平滑肌组织的实验研究

目的采用组织工程技术,将培养扩增的膀胱平滑肌细胞与国产可降解的聚合聚乙交酯丙交酯（PLGA）支架材料复合构建并植入裸鼠体内进行培育,探讨再造组织工程化平滑肌组织的可行性。方法从幼兔取膀胱,机械分离与酶消化获取培养平滑肌细胞,传代扩增平滑肌细胞后将其接种到国产PLGA支架材料的表面作为实验组,未接种细胞的单纯支架材料作为对照组。分别将它们植入到裸鼠体内进行培育。经裸鼠体内培育4周、8周后取材并进行大体观察、组织学及免疫组织化学检测。结果实验组标本经HE和Masson染色显示在材料表面形成数层平滑肌细胞层,经抗平滑肌α-肌动蛋白免疫组织化学染色呈棕黄色阳性。随着培育时间的延长,支架材料降解明显,而平滑肌细胞层进一步增殖形成平滑肌组织。对照组经HE染色材料表面见有少量成纤维细胞沉积,Masson染色示兰色,经抗平滑肌α-肌动蛋白免疫组织化学染色为阴性。结论采用国产PLGA聚合物为支架材料可再造出组织工程化平滑肌组织,为多种含平滑肌组织空腔脏器的组织工程研究奠定基础。     

PLGA/O-CMC载药纳米微粒的体外降解及释药行为研究

本研究以聚乳酸-乙醇酸共聚物（PLGA）和自行制备的O-羧甲基壳聚糖（O-CMC）为原料，以5-氟尿嘧啶（5-FU）为抗癌药物模型，采用自身设计的改良复乳法制备了载药纳米微粒。微粒平均粒径为98.5nm，粒径分布指数为0.192，粒子表面∈电位为61．48eV，载药率高达18.9％。然后用SEM动态监测载药纳米粒子降解过程中表面形貌的变化，并连续追踪粒子降解过程中的质量损失和降解介质的pH变化。载药纳米粒子在PBS中的释药行为研究表明，（1）前12h的释药动力学符合Huguchi方程，具有一级释放特性；（2）在20d内的释药动力学符合零级释放特性。细胞凋亡实验结果表明载药纳米粒子对TJ905脑胶质瘤细胞增殖有明显的抑制作用。     

多肽、蛋白质药物的聚乳酸及其共聚物微球研究进展

综述了以可生物降解的合成高分子材料-聚乳酸及其共聚物为载体的多肽，蛋白质药物微球的制备方法和影响因素。讨论了蛋白质在制备和释放过程中的稳定性。     

复合三联抗结核药聚乳酸-羟基乙酸缓释微球的制备及体外释药特性

目的 :制备复合异烟肼(H)、利福平(R)、吡嗪酰胺(Z)的聚乳酸-羟基乙酸(HRZ/PLGA)缓释微球,观察其理化性质和体外缓释特性。方法:以PLGA(450mg)为载体,避光条件下称取H(40mg)、R(60mg)、Z(125mg),采用复乳-溶剂挥发法制备HRZ/PLGA缓释微球,应用扫描电镜观察微球的形态特征;应用高效液相色谱法(HPLC)测定其载药量、包封率;采用溶出法、HPLC于3h、6h、12h、1d、2d、3d、6d、9d、12d、15d、20d、25d、30d、40d、50d测定H、R、Z三种药物的浓度,观察其是否均大于10倍最低抑菌浓度(MIC),计算其日均释药率、累计释药率。结果:HRZ/PLGA微球在电镜下观察呈圆球形,平均粒径为10.3±4.7μm;H、R、Z三种药物的载药量分别为(18.02±0.36)%、(22.46±0.24)%、(21.68±0.37)%,包封率分别为(54.79±1.13)%、(72.35±0.39)%、(67.21±0.68)%;体外缓释试验显示微球缓释前12d左右,三种药物的累计缓释度均超过了50%,日均释药率分别为5.05%、4.89%、6.86%;第12天后三药的缓释基本趋于稳定,日均释药率分别为0.17%、0.26%、0.16%;三种药物缓释到50d时均大于10倍MIC。结论:HRZ/PLGA微球具有优良的载药及药物缓释效果,是一种理想的复合抗结核药物缓释系统。     

Biodegradable nanocomposite microparticles as drug delivering injectable cell scaffolds

Injectable cell scaffolds play a dual role in tissue engineering by supporting cellular functions and delivering bioactive molecules. The present study aimed at developing biodegradable nanocomposite microparticles with sustained drug delivery properties thus potentially being suitable for autologous stem cell therapy. Semi-crystalline poly(l-lactide/dl-lactide) (PLDL70) and poly(l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA85) were used to prepare nanoparticles by the double emulsion method. Uniform and spherical nanoparticles were obtained at an average size of 270-300 nm. The thrombin receptor activator peptide-6 (TRAP-6) was successfully loaded in PLDL70 and PLGA85 nanoparticles. During the 30 days' release, PLDL70 nanoparticles showed sustainable release with only 30% TRAP-6 released within the first 15 days, while almost 80% TRAP-6 was released from PLGA85 nanoparticles during the same time interval. The release mechanism was found to depend on the crystallinity and composition of the nanoparticles. Subsequently, mPEG-PLGA nanocomposite microparticles containing PLDL70 nanoparticles were produced by the ultrasonic atomization method and evaluated to successfully preserve the intrinsic particulate properties and the sustainable release profile, which was identical to that of the nanoparticles. Good cell adhesion of the human fibroblasts onto the nanocomposite microparticles was observed, indicating the desired cell biocompatibility. The presented results thus demonstrate the development of nanocomposite microparticles tailored for sustainable drug release for application as injectable cell scaffolds.     

曲安奈德PLGA微球对兔上腭部创面瘢痕形成影响的实验研究

目的:探讨曲安奈德PLGA微球对创面瘢痕愈合中瘢痕生成的抑制作用,研究局部应用曲安奈德的最佳给药途径。方法:3组共24只兔的上腭部创面模型,分别应用曲安奈德PLGA微球以及曲安奈德悬浊液,在瘢痕形成不同时间后切取瘢痕标本进行HE、VG染色及酶组织化学染色并电镜观察其组织形态学改变来分析曲安奈德不同给药途径的差异。结果:三组兔上腭创面愈合时间不同,表面颜色、质地不一样。电镜、常规染色以及免疫组织化学染色皆说明曲安奈德PLGA微球有明显的瘢痕抑制作用,且效果高于曲安奈德悬浊液。结论:曲安奈德PLGA微球能抑制瘢痕的增殖过程,使瘢痕组织纤维化过程明显减轻。合并手术一次性给药治疗瘢痕有很好的临床价值。     

P LGA／P CL混纺技术改良P LGA电纺膜收缩性能的初步研究

目的：利用聚乳酸－聚乙醇酸共聚物／聚己内酯（ PLGA ／ PCL）混纺技术在不影响纯PLGA静电纺丝膜生物相容性的前提下改良其遇水收缩的缺陷,以使其操作性能更接近临床实际应用。方法：将不同重量比的PLGA ／ PCL（10∶0、7∶3、6∶4、5∶5及0∶10）混合,利用静电纺丝技术制得电纺膜,表征比较纺丝直径及收缩性。在相同条件下在膜上培养成骨细胞,比较不同电纺膜的细胞相容性,并在扫描电镜下观察不同电纺膜表面形貌及细胞粘附形态。结果：随PCL比例增加,纺丝直径有所增加,但在扫描电镜下不同电纺膜表面形貌及细胞粘附形态并无明显差异;加入PCL后混纺膜的细胞相容性较纯PLGA略有下降,但仍比纯PCL高,且不同比例的PLGA／PCL（7∶3、6∶4、5∶5）混合电纺膜细胞相容性无统计学差异;纯PLGA膜呈现极大的收缩比率,随PCL的添加收缩比率明显下降,且不同的添加比例组间无明显差异。结论：在PLGA中添加一定比例的PCL可以有效改善纯PLGA膜的收缩性能,且PCL的加入对PLGA良好的生物相容性影响较小。