INDIRECT PARASYMPATHOMIMETIC ACTIVITY OF THE CLASS III ANTIARRHYTHMIC SUBSTANCE / -SOTALOLIN VITRO: REVERSIBLE INHIBITION OF CHOLINESTERASE ISOENZYMES FROM BLOOD AND THE HUMAN CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

Inhibitory effects of the class III antiarrhythmic compound / -sotalol on acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) isoenzymes of both erythrocytes and the human caudate nucleus and on serum cholinesterase (ChE; EC 3.1.1.8) were studiedin vitrousing a spectrophotometric kinetic assay with acetylthiocholine (ASCh) as substrate. Sotalol concentrations in the assays varied from 0.32 to 3.2m . All isoenzymes studied were inhibited by / -sotalol in a reversible and concentration-dependent manner. Double reciprocal plots of the reaction velocity against varying ASCh concentrations revealed that / -sotalol reduced substrate affinity (apparent Michaelis constant, KM, increased) of serum ChE, but did not change the enzyme's maximal rate of ASCh hydrolysis (V_max). Thus, / -sotalol inhibition of serum ChE was of the competitive type (rate constant for reversible competitive inhibition: K_i=0.51m ). In contrast, / sotalol reduced the maximal reaction velocity of the AChE isoenzyme from the central nervous system (caudate nucleus), but had no influence on substrate affinity of the enzyme (K_Mwith ASCh unchanged) indicating purely non-competitive inhibition kinetics (rate constant of reversible non-competitive inhibition: K_i′=0.44m ). / -sotalol inhibition of erythrocyte AChE was of mixed competitive/non-competitive type (K_i=0.31m , K_i′=0.49m ). Non-competitive / -sotalol inhibition of caudate nucleus AChE and the non-competitive component of erythrocyte AChE inhibition cannot be overcome by increased concentrations of the cholinergic transmitter acetylcholine (ACh). Peak / -sotalol plasma levels as described in the literature for both humans (15μ ) and experimental animals (dogs: 18μ ; rats: 260μ ) as well as maximal myocardial concentrations of the substance (dogs: 46μ ; rats: 478μ ) are in the range of about 2% to 100% of the sotalol inhibition rate constants determined in the present paper for cholinesterase isoenzymesin vitro. Thus, / -sotalol inhibition of ACh hydrolysisin vivomay contribute to both the well known antiarrhythmic potential and proarrhythmic side effects of the compound.     

Reintoxication: the release of fat-stored Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) into blood is enhanced by food deprivation or ACTH exposure

Background and purpose:

Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis, accumulates in adipose tissue where it is stored for long periods of time. Here we investigated whether conditions that promote lipolysis can liberate THC from adipocytes to yield increased blood levels of THC.

Experimental approach:

In vitro studies involved freshly isolated rat adipocytes that were incubated with THC before exposure to the lipolytic agent adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). A complementary in vivo approach examined the effects of both food deprivation and ACTH on blood levels of THC in rats that had been repeatedly injected with THC (10 mg·kg⁻¹) for 10 consecutive days. Lipolysis promoted by ACTH or food deprivation was indexed by measurement of glycerol levels.

Key results:

ACTH increased THC levels in the medium of THC-pretreated adipocytes in vitro. ACTH also enhanced THC release from adipocytes in vitro when taken from rats repeatedly pretreated with THC in vivo. Finally, in vivo ACTH exposure and 24 h food deprivation both enhanced the levels of THC and its metabolite, (-)-11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) in the blood of rats that had been pre-exposed to repeated THC injections.

Conclusions and implications:

The present study shows that lipolysis enhances the release of THC from fat stores back into blood. This suggests the likelihood of ‘reintoxication’ whereby food deprivation or stress may raise blood THC levels in animals chronically exposed to the drug. Further research will need to confirm whether this can lead to functional effects, such as impaired cognitive function or ‘flashbacks’.     

京尼平苷体内外微透析回收率的研究

目的 探究京尼平苷在自制线性微透析探针上的体内外回收率与灌流速度、药物浓度、透析膜长之间的关系。方法 采用HPLC测定微透析样品浓度,考察不同灌流速度、不同药物浓度和不同透析膜长对体外正向和体外反向回收率、体内反向回收率的影响。结果 自制探针性质稳定;探针回收率与京尼平苷的药物浓度无关,与灌流速度成反比,随透析膜长增加而增加;体外的正向与反向探针回收率有显著性差异（P<0.01）,而体内反向回收率低于体外反向回收率,与体外正向回收率无显著性差异;新探针体内回收率大于使用过1次的探针体内回收率（P<0.05）。结论 在京尼平苷的皮肤药动学研究中,宜采用体内反向回收率或体外正向回收率作为药物的探针回收率来校正。     

Design and in vivo evaluation of an indapamide transdermal patch

The aim of the present study was to develop and evaluate a novel drug-in-adhesive transdermal patch system for indapamide. Initial in vitro experiments were conducted to optimize formulation parameters prior to transdermal delivery in rats. The effects of the type of adhesive and the content of permeation enhancers on indapamide transport across excised rat skin were evaluated. The results indicated that DURO-TAK^® adhesive 87-2852 is a suitable and compatible polymer for the development of transdermal drug delivery systems for indapamide. The final formulation contained 4% N-dodecylazepan-2-one, 6% l-menthol and 3% isopropyl myristate. For in vivo studies patch systems were administered transdermally to rats while orally administered indapamide in suspension was used as a control. The PK parameters, such as the maximum blood concentration (C_max), time to reach the peak blood concentration (T_max), mean residence time (MRT), area under the curve (AUC_0–t) and terminal elimination half-life (T_1/2) were significantly (p < 0.05) different following transdermal administration compared with oral administration. In contrast to oral delivery, a sustained activity was observed over a period of 48 h after transdermal administration. This sustained activity was due to the controlled release of drug into the systemic circulation following transdermal administration.     

Estimation of Agitation Intensity in the GI Tract in Humans and Dogs Based on in Vitro/in Vivo Correlation

In this study, we assessed the hydrodynamic flow around a dosage form in the GI tract in humans by comparing the characteristics of in vitro and in vivo release of two different types of controlled release acetaminophen (paracetamol) tablets, A and B. The former tablet showed an agitation speed-dependent release at a high speed range (50–100 rpm), whereas the latter showed this characteristic at a low speed range (10–50 rpm). The mean release amount-time profiles of tablets A and B in humans showed biphasic characteristics, and the first phase of the absorption profiles of A and B was close to their in vitro profiles at a paddle speed of 10 rpm. The in vivo profiles were also superimposable on in vitro dissolution curves obtained by the flow-through cell method at a flow rate of 1 mL/min (velocity 0.89 cm/min) or less. These results indicate that the hydrodynamic flow around the dosage forms in the human GI tract could be extremely low. The in vivo release rate of these tablets in dogs was greater than in humans, and was estimated to be equivalent to the release rate determined by the paddle method at 100 rpm. This indicates that a higher agitation intensity in the GI tract in dogs than in humans may be one cause of the discrepancies between humans and dogs in drug absorption studies.     

Diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) reduces serum prolactin, thyrotropin, luteinizing hormone, and growth hormone and increases adrenocorticotropin and corticosterone in rats: involvement of dopaminergic and somatostatinergic as well as cholinergic pathways.

Cholinergic mechanisms have been implicated in the regulation of anterior pituitary hormone secretion. The present study was designed to determine the effect of a single injection of an organophosphate acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP), on anterior pituitary function in male rats. DFP increased serum ACTH (2.7-fold) and corticosterone (9.1-fold), while suppressing TSH, PRL, LH, and GH by up to 95%. The earliest response was at 1 hr, with a duration of at least 18 hr for TSH and LH. Responses were similar in adrenalectomized animals. After DFP, responses to hypothalamic releasing factors were normal for TSH, GH, and ACTH, but significantly blunted for PRL and LH. TSH suppression was partially prevented by combined therapy with a nicotinic (mecamylamine) and a muscarinic (atropine) antagonist. TSH suppression was partially reversed by immunoneutralization with somatostatin antibody, and PRL suppression was completely prevented by a dopamine antagonist (haloperidol). Atropine alone prevented the effects on corticosterone. TSH pituitary content and TSH-beta mRNA were reduced by 37 and 22%, respectively, by DFP. In contrast, PRL mRNA was unchanged but PRL content was increased 3-fold. We conclude that cholinesterase inhibition evokes a multiplicity of effects on anterior pituitary function. There is a hierarchy of responses, with corticosterone being the most and TSH the least sensitive. There is evidence for inhibition at both the hypothalamic and pituitary levels, involving both nicotinic and muscarinic receptors. Although cholinesterase inhibition is the proximate event, other neurotransmitter pathways involved in TSH and PRL suppression are somatostatin and dopamine, respectively.     

Comparison of MeHg-induced toxicogenomic responses across in vivo and in vitro models used in developmental toxicology

Toxicogenomic evaluations may improve toxicity prediction of in vitro-based developmental models, such as whole embryo culture (WEC) and embryonic stem cells (ESC), by providing a robust mechanistic marker which can be linked with responses associated with developmental toxicity in vivo. While promising in theory, toxicogenomic comparisons between in vivo and in vitro models are complex due to inherent differences in model characteristics and experimental design. Determining factors which influence these global comparisons are critical in the identification of reliable mechanistic-based markers of developmental toxicity. In this study, we compared available toxicogenomic data assessing the impact of the known teratogen, methylmercury (MeHg) across a diverse set of in vitro and in vivo models to investigate the impact of experimental variables (i.e. model, dose, time) on our comparative assessments. We evaluated common and unique aspects at both the functional (Gene Ontology) and gene level of MeHg-induced response. At the functional level, we observed stronger similarity in MeHg-response between mouse embryos exposed in utero (2 studies), ESC, and WEC as compared to liver, brain and mouse embryonic fibroblast MeHg studies. These findings were strongly correlated to the presence of a MeHg-induced developmentally related gene signature. In addition, we identified specific MeHg-induced gene expression alterations associated with developmental signaling and heart development across WEC, ESC and in vivo systems. However, the significance of overlap between studies was highly dependent on traditional experimental variables (i.e. dose, time). In summary, we identify promising examples of unique gene expression responses which show in vitro–in vivo similarities supporting the relevance of in vitro developmental models for predicting in vivo developmental toxicity.     

The Effects of Hexetidine (Oraldene™) on the Adherence of Candida Albicans to Human Buccal Epithelial Cells In Vitro and Ex Vivo and on In Vitro Morphogenesis

Purpose. This study reports the effects of hexetidine (Oraldene) on two virulence attributes of Candida albicans, namely,in vitro and ex vivoadherence of yeast cells to buccal epithelial cells (EEC) and in vitro morphogenesis. Methods. The effects of hexetidine treatment of either yeast cells (stationary and exponential phases) or BEC on Candidal adherence, in terms of viable and non-viable adherent yeast cells, were evaluated using an acridine orange stain in conjunction with fluorescence microscopy. Ex vivoanti-adherence effects were determined by rinsing BEC in vivo with hexetidine (0.1%), removal of BEC after defined periods and inclusion in the adherence assay. The effects of hexetidine on morphogenesis were evaluated using light microscopy. Yeast cell viability following exposure to a range of concentration of hexetidine (0.005-0.1 % v/v) for defined periods was determined following serial dilution and enumeration on solid media. Results. Treatment of stationary and exponential phase yeast cells or BEC with hexetidine (0.1%) for a range of times (10–300 s) or, alternatively, with a range of concentrations of hexetidine (0.005–0.1 %) for a fixed time (30s) significantly decreased the resultant Candidal/ epithelial adhesion. No correlations were observed between reduced adherence and either time of treatment or hexetidine concentration. In vivotreatment of BEC with hexetidine (0.1%) for 30s resulted in prolonged and significant reductions in the ex vivo adherence of both viable and non-viable yeast cells for periods of up to (and including) four hours post-rinsing. Treatment of C. albicans blastospores with hexetidine (0.05, 0.1% v/v) for 10s and 30s totally inhibited Candida morphogenesis, whereas treatment with lower antiseptic concentrations significantly reduced the extent of Candida morphogenesis and the rate of hyphal development. The effects of hexetidine on yeast cell viability were both concentration and time-dependent. Conclusions. The reduced adherence of C. albicans to BEC and the modification or inhibition of morphogenesis following exposure to hexetidine suggests a clinical role for hexetidine in the prophylaxis of both superficial candidosis and the systemic complications resulting from invasion of sub-epithelial tissue.     

口服缓释制剂体内外相关性评价方法研究进展

《药物评价研究》杂志是由中国药学会和天津药物研究院共同主办的国家级期刊,双月刊,国内外公开发行。办刊宗旨:报道药物评价工作实践,推动药物评价方法研究,开展药物评价标准或技术探讨,促进药物评价与研究水平的提高,为广大药物研究人员提供交流平台。内容与栏目:针对药物及其制剂的评价规范以及药学评价、安全性评价、药效学评价、药物代谢动力学评价、临床评价、     

Spray-Dried Amorphous Solid Dispersions of Simvastatin,a Low T<Subscript>g</Subscript> Drug: <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Vitro</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in Vivo</Emphasis> Evaluations

Purpose To obtain free flowing, stable, amorphous solid dispersions (SDs) of simvastatin (SIM), a drug with relatively lower glass transition temperature (T_g) by spray drying technique, and to perform comparative in vivo study in rats, which could justify the improvement in rate and extent of in vitro drug release.Methods Dichloromethane suspensions of SIM either alone or in combination with PVP (1:1 or 1:2 parts by weight) were spray dried with proposed quantity of Aerosil 200 (1:1, 1:1:1, 1:2:2 parts by weight of SIM, Aerosil 200 and PVP, respectively). SDs were characterized initially in comparison with pure drug and corresponding physical mixtures in same ratios by drug content, saturation solubility, SEM, DSC, XRPD, IR, and in vitro drug release. SD 1:2:2 was further subjected to accelerated stability testing and checked for in vitro drug release and presence of crystallinity using DSC and XRPD. In addition, improvement in rate and extent of in vitro drug release from SD 1:2:2 was justified by in vivo study in rats.Results Combination of SD and surface adsorption techniques has been attempted to overcome the limitations of spray drying technique for amorphization of low T_g drugs. Based on powder characteristics, drug content, saturation solubility, and feasibility of processing into tablets; SD 1:2:2 was selected as the optimized formulation. During initial characterization, SEM, DSC, and XRPD analyses confirmed the presence of amorphous form in SD 1:2:2. IR spectroscopy revealed possibility of hydrogen bonding interaction between SIM and PVP in SDs. Also, there was dramatical improvement in rate and extent of in vitro drug release of SD 1:2:2. Insignificant decrease in dissolution was observed with no evidence of crystallinity during accelerated stability studies of SD 1:2:2. Moreover in vivo study in rats also justified the improvement in therapeutic efficacy of SD 1:2:2 over pure SIM.Conclusions Thus, present study demonstrates high potential of spray drying technique for obtaining stable amorphous SDs of low T_g drugs.     

Correlation of in Vitro Release Rate and in Vivo Absorption Characteristics of Four Chlorpheniramine Maleate Extended-Release Formulations

An in vitro/in vivo correlation was established for four formulations of chlorpheniramine maleate (histamine, H₁-blocker) extended-release tablets exhibiting different in vitro release rate characteristics. In vitro release rate data were obtained for 12 individual tablets of each formulation using the USP Apparatus 2, paddle stirrer at 50 rpm in 1000 ml of distilled water at 37.0 ± 0.5°C. Inspection of the individual and mean release rate data indicated that the in vitro release rate of chlorpheniramine maleate was consistent with the intended design of the four extended-release formulations. The in vivo bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of these formulations were evaluated in 24 healthy subjects under fasting conditions. Wagner Nelson analyses of the in vivo data revealed extended release absorption profiles for all four formulations. Linear regression analyses of the mean percentage of dose absorbed versus the mean in vitro release resulted in a statistically significant correlation (r ² > 0.98, P < 0.001) for each formulation. Qualitative rank-order correlations were observed among all combinations of in vitro and in vivo parameters. These data support a Level A correlation between the in vitro release rate profiles and the in vivo absorption for chlorpheniramine maleate determined under fasting conditions.     

Effects of pantothenic acid supplementation on adrenal steroid secretion from male rats

The effects of pantothenic acid-supplementation on the adrenal secretion of corticosterone and progesterone in male rats were investigated using an in vitro cell culture system. Male rats at 21 d of age were given 0.03% pantothenic acid in their drinking water for 9 weeks. After 9 weeks of treatment, the animals were decapitated, and adrenal cells were cultured in the absence or presence of rat adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH; 10(-15) to 10(-10) M) and/or ovine prolactin (oPRL; 10(-9) to 10(-7) M) for 4 h. Adrenal cells in pantothenic acid-treated rats exhibited higher basal levels of corticosterone and progesterone than control rats. The response of ACTH and/or PRL on corticosterone and progesterone release was higher in the pantothenic acid-treated rats than in the control rats. In addition, PRL increased the stimulatory effect of ACTH-induced corticosterone secretion in both normal and pantothenic acid-treated rats. These results clearly demonstrated that pantothenic acid supplementation stimulates the ability of adrenal cells in male rats to secrete corticosterone and progesterone. Additionally, these results also showed that pantothenic acid supplementation induced adrenal hyperresponsiveness to ACTH stimulation, and PRL further stimulated adrenal sensitivity to ACTH.     

牛樟芝水提取物抗过敏作用及其机制研究

目的 研究牛樟芝水提物的抗过敏作用并初步探讨其作用机制。方法 采用大鼠被动皮肤过敏模型、小鼠迟发型超敏模型、小鼠全身皮肤瘙痒模型、小鼠腹腔毛细血管通透性模型,观察牛樟芝水提物在体抗过敏作用。采用体外培养的RBL-2H3肥大细胞,观察牛樟芝水提物对细胞增殖及凋亡的影响,初步探讨其抗过敏反应的作用机制。结果 体内试验中,牛樟芝水提物显著降低大鼠被动皮肤过敏反应,明显降低小鼠耳肿胀度、胸腺指数及脾指数,提高右旋糖酐所致皮肤瘙痒阈值,减少小鼠瘙痒次数,抑制组胺所致血管通透性上升;体外试验中,其剂量相关性的抑制RBL-2H3细胞增殖,促进细胞凋亡。结论 牛樟芝水提取物有一定的抗过敏作用,其机制与促进RBL-2H3细胞凋亡有关。     

In Vivo and in Vitro Analysis of Skin Penetration Enhancement Based on a Two-Layer Diffusion Model with Polar and Nonpolar Routes in the Stratum Corneum

In vitro and in vivo skin penetration of three drugs with different lipophilicities and the enhancing effects of l-geranylazacycloheptan-2-one (GACH) were studied in rats. In vivo drug absorption profiles obtained by deconvolution of urinary excretion profiles were compared to the corresponding in vitro data obtained with a diffusion experiment. In vivo skin penetration of lipophilic butylparaben was considerably greater than that observed in vitro, while hydrophilic mannitol and acyclovir showed low penetration in both systems without GACH pretreatment. On the other hand, GACH enhanced mannitol and acyclovir penetration, especially in the in vivo system. Analysis of absorption profiles, using a two-layer skin model with polar and nonpolar routes in the stratum corneum, suggested that the diffusion length of a viable layer (viable epidermis and dermis) was shorter in vivo than in vitro and the effective area of the polar route in the stratum corneum was larger in vitro without GACH pretreatment. GACH increased the partitioning of acyclovir into the nonpolar route to the same extent in both systems. In addition, GACH increased the effective area of the polar route in vivo, probably because of enhanced water permeability; however, this effect was smaller in vitro since the stratum corneum was already hydrated even without GACH pretreatment.     

Evaluation of the genotoxic potential of single-wall carbon nanotubes by using a battery of in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity assays

The genotoxic potential of a high purity sample of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) was evaluated using a battery of in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity assays. These comprised a bacterial reverse mutation test (Ames test), an in vitro chromosomal aberration test, and an in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus test. The SWCNTs exerted no genotoxicity in Salmonella typhimurium TA97, TA98, TA100, and TA1535, or in Escherichia coli WP2 uvrA/pKM101, whether in the absence or presence of metabolic activation and at concentrations of 12.5–500 μg/plate. In the chromosomal aberration test, at 300–1000 μg/mL, the SWCNTs did not increase the number of structural or numerical chromosomal aberrations, whether the test was conducted with or without metabolic activation. In the in vivo bone marrow micronucleus test, doses of 60 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg SWCNTs did not affect the proportions of immature and total erythrocytes, nor did it increase the number of micronuclei in the immature erythrocytes of mice. The results of these studies show that the high purity and well-dispersed sample of SWCNTs are not genotoxic under the conditions of the in vitro bacterial reverse mutation assay, chromosomal aberration assay, or in vivo bone marrow micronucleus test, and thus appear not to pose a genotoxic risk to human health in vivo.     

Dosage Form Development, <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">in Vitro</Emphasis> Release Kinetics,and <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">in Vitro–in Vivo</Emphasis> Correlation for Leuprolide Released from an Implantable Multi-reservoir Array

Purpose Implanted multi-reservoir arrays improve dosing control relative to osmotic pumps or polymer depots. The limited reservoir volume requires concentrated formulations. This report describes the development of a stable solid phase formulation of leuprolide acetate for chronic in vivo delivery from a multi-reservoir microchip and examines the correlation between in vitro release kinetics and serum pharmacokinetics. Materials and Methods Concentrated formulations (>10% w/v) were prepared using small volume processing methods. Drug yield, release kinetics, and formulation stability were evaluated in vitro by HPLC. The correlation between in vitro and in vivo kinetic data was determined for a solid formulation by direct comparison of data sets and using absorption kinetics calculated from the Wagner–Nelson equation. Results High yield and the control of release kinetics by altering peptide formulation or reservoir geometry were demonstrated. Lyophilized leuprolide in a soluble solid matrix exhibited reproducible release kinetics and was stable (>95% leuprolide monomer) after 6 months at 37°C. A strong correlation was found between in vitro release kinetics and in vivo absorption by direct comparison of data sets and using the Wagner–Nelson absorption (slopes of 1.01 and 0.91; R² 0.99). Conclusions Reproducible releases of a stable solid leuprolide formulation from a multi-reservoir microchip were achieved in vitro. Chronic pulsatile release was subsequently performed in vivo. Comparison of in vitro and in vivo data reveals that pharmacokinetics were controlled by the rate of release from the device.     

Enhancing and sustaining the topical ocular delivery of fluconazole using chitosan solution and poloxamer/chitosan in situ forming gel

Fungal keratitis is a serious disease that can lead to loss of vision. Unfortunately, current therapeutic options often result in poor bioavailability of antifungal agents due to protective mechanisms of the eye. The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of a chitosan solution as well as an in situ gel-forming system comprised of poloxamer/chitosan as vehicles for enhanced corneal permeation and sustained release of fluconazole (FLU). For this, in vitro release and ex vivo corneal permeation experiments were carried out as a function of chitosan concentration from formulation containing the chitosan alone and combined with the thermosensitive polymer, poloxamer. Microdialysis was employed in a rabbit model to evaluate the in vivo performance of the formulations. The in vitro release studies showed the sustained release of FLU from the poloxamer/chitosan formulation. Ex vivo permeation studies across porcine cornea demonstrated that the formulations studied have a permeation-enhancing effect that is independent of chitosan concentration in the range from 0.5 to 1.5% w/w. The chitosan solutions alone showed the greatest ex vivo drug permeation; however, the poloxamer/chitosan formulation presented similar in vivo performance than the chitosan solution at 1.0%; both formulations showed sustained release and about 3.5-fold greater total amount of FLU permeated when compared to simple aqueous solutions of the drug. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that both the in situ gelling formulation evaluated and the chitosan solution are viable alternatives to enhance ocular bioavailability in the treatment of fungal keratitis.     

Safety studies conducted on high-purity trans-resveratrol in experimental animals

trans-Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound found in a variety of foods, but predominantly in grapes. Safety studies were conducted on high-purity trans-resveratrol (Resvida™), including skin and eye irritation, dermal sensitization, subchronic and reproductive toxicity, genotoxicity, and absorption, metabolism and excretion. Resvida™ was non-irritating to skin and eyes and non-sensitizing. It was non-mutagenic in a bacterial reverse mutation assay in Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli, but exhibited clastogenic activity in a chromosomal aberration test in human lymphocytes. However, in an in vivo bone marrow micronucleus test in rats, Resvida™ was non-genotoxic. In a 28-day study, Resvida™ caused no adverse effects in rats at 50, 150 and 500 mg/kg bw/day. Similarly, in a 90-day study, Resvida™ did not cause any adverse effects in rats at up to 700 mg/kg bw/day; the highest dose tested. Resvida™ did not induce any adverse reproductive effects in an embryo–fetal toxicity study in rats at a dose of 750 mg/kg bw/day. Also, in vitro and in vivo absorption, metabolism, and excretion studies in Caco-2 cells, rat primary hepatocytes and male and female rats (in vivo) show that Resvida™ is readily absorbed, metabolized and excreted. These studies provide evidence that Resvida™ is well tolerated and non-toxic.     

<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">In Vitro</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">In Vivo</Emphasis> Drug Release from a Novel <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">In Situ</Emphasis> Forming Drug Delivery System

Purpose The objective of this work was to investigate the influence of various preparation and formulation parameters on the in vitro and in vivo release of bupivacaine hydrochloride from an injectable in situ forming microparticle system (ISM). Methods The in vitro drug release of ISM was investigated as a function of various formulation and process parameters and was compared to the drug release from in situ forming implants and conventional microparticles. In vivo studies were carried out in male Sprague–Dawley rats. Results Upon contact with an aqueous medium, the internal polymer phase of the ISM system solidified and formed microparticles. The initial drug release from ISM systems was reduced with decreasing polymer phase/external oil phase ratio. An advantage of the ISM system compared to in situ implant systems was the significantly reduced burst effect, resulting in drug release profiles comparable to microparticles prepared by conventional methods. The in vivo drug release studies were in good agreement with the in vitro drug release. With the ISM system, the analgesic effect of the bupivacaine hydrochloride was prolonged when compared to the injection of a drug solution or drug-polymer solution. Conclusions ISM are an attractive alternative for parenteral drug delivery systems.     

Excipient Interaction with Cetylpyridinium Chloride Activity in Tablet Based Lozenges

Purpose. The purpose of the investigation was to determine the effect of tablet excipients on the activity of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and the relative interaction between excipients and CPC. Methods. An analytical assay was developed to evaluate the interaction between CPC and the excipients. In vivo activity was investigated using six volunteers by determining the reduction in colony forming units recoverable from the oropharynx after sucking each proprietary lozenge separately on different days. In vitro determinations investigated the relative antimicrobial activity of aqueous solutions of the lozenges and, the effect of pH and tablet base excipients on that activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Candida albicans. Results. Both in vivo and in vitro results showed that the tablet based lozenges had markedly reduced antimicrobial activities compared with previous results with a candy based lozenge (in vivo and in vitro) or the same concentration of aqueous CPC (in vitro}. Magnesium stearate suspensions in CPC 250 µg/ml indicated that magnesium stearate adsorbed CPC and at 0.4% lozenge weight and above significantly reduced the antimicrobial activity of CPC 250 µg/ml. Conclusions. The reduced activity of CPC in tablet based lozenges resulted from a decreased availability of CPC in solution due to an adsorption of CPC on magnesium stearate. To avoid this reduction in activity tablet based lozenges containing CPC 250 µg/ml, or similar concentrations, plus magnesium stearate should contain not more than 0.3% w/w lozenge weight of the lubricant.