角膜上皮细胞培养模型及其在眼部药物研究中的应用进展

 眼部药物吸收主要是通过角膜途径进行,而且角膜上皮为眼部用药的主要吸收屏障。由于动物实验存在较多缺陷,且随着细胞培养技术的不断发展,可以采用细胞培养技术建立角膜上皮细胞培养模型,模拟眼部屏障功能。本文综述了已建立的角膜上皮细胞培养模型,主要包括原代角膜上皮细胞培养模型和永生化角膜上皮细胞培养模型,并对角膜上皮细胞培养模型在眼用药物研究方面的进展进行介绍,包括角膜毒性研究、药物角膜渗透性研究及眼用药物吸收机制研究等。     

Passive oral drug absorption can be predicted more reliably by experimental than computational models—Fact or myth

This study assessed the prediction power of experimental and computational models that are widely used to predict human passive intestinal absorption. The models evaluated included two cell lines, three artificial membrane models, in vivo rat experiments, and seven previously described computational quantitative structure property relationship models based on human absorption values. The data sets used in the assessment of the models were carefully chosen from the literature, and different models were compared using the same compounds to ensure objective results. Three of the computational models were found to be significantly more reliable in predicting human passive intestinal absorption than the artificial membrane models that have been developed for the prediction of passive intestinal absorption. Two of these computational models were found to be as reliable as the Caco-2 and the 2/4/A1 cell lines and, furthermore, one of the models was able to predict the absorption of a set of 65 drugs nearly as well as absorption studies in rats. The unexpectedly good prediction power of the simple computational models with high throughput makes them ideal tools in the early screening of drug candidates, whereas laborious cell culture models and animal studies can be useful in the later phases when detailed information about the transport mechanisms is needed.     

In vitro cell culture models to study the corneal drug absorption

INTRODUCTION: Many diseases of the anterior eye segment are treated using topically applied ophthalmic drugs. For these drugs, the cornea is the main barrier to reaching the interior of the eye. In vitro studies regarding transcorneal drug absorption are commonly performed using excised corneas from experimental animals. Due to several disadvantages and limitations of these animal experiments, establishing corneal cell culture models has been attempted as an alternative. AREAS COVERED: This review summarizes the development of in vitro models based on corneal cell cultures for permeation studies during the last 20 years, starting with simple epithelial models and moving toward complex organotypical 3D corneal equivalents. EXPERT OPINION: Current human 3D corneal cell culture models have the potential to replace excised animal corneas in drug absorption studies. However, for widespread use, the contemporary validation of existent systems is required.     

Cell-based in vitro models for predicting drug permeability

INTRODUCTION: In vitro cell models have been used to predict drug permeation in early stages of drug development, since they represent an easy and reproducible method, allowing the tracking of drug absorption rate and mechanism, with an advantageous cost-benefit ratio. Such cell-based models are mainly composed of immortalized cells with an intrinsic ability to grow in a monolayer when seeded in permeable supports, maintaining their physiologic characteristics regarding epithelium cell physiology and functionality. AREAS COVERED: This review summarizes the most important intestinal, pulmonary, nasal, vaginal, rectal, ocular and skin cell-based in vitro models for predicting the permeability of drugs. Moreover, the similitude between in vitro cell models and in vivo conditions are discussed, providing evidence that each model may provisionally resemble different drug absorption route. EXPERT OPINION: Despite the widespread use of in vitro cell models for drug permeability and absorption evaluation purposes, a detailed study on the properties of these models and their in vitro-in vivo correlation compared with human data are required to further use in order to consider a future drug discovery optimization and clinical development.     

Substrate- and species-dependent inhibition of P-glycoprotein-mediated transport: implications for predicting in vivo drug interactions

P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-based drug interactions are a major concern in the clinic and in preclinical drug development, especially with respect to the intestinal absorption of drugs and distribution of drugs across the blood-brain barrier. Thus, there is significant interest in developing in vitro (e.g., cell culture) and in vivo models (e.g., rodents) to predict such interactions. In order to generate accurate predictions from these models, however, an understanding of the magnitude of substrate- and species-dependent differences in P-gp inhibition is required. We have used a sensitive flow cytometry assay to measure the ability of various drugs to inhibit the initial rate of accumulation of two fluorescent drug analogs (probe substrates), 4,4-difluoro-5,7-dimethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s -indacene (BODIPY)-verapamil and BODIPY-prazosin, into Lewis lung carcinoma-porcine kidney 1 (LLC-PK1) cells expressing human or rat P-gp. The inhibition of P-gp-mediated efflux of these two fluorescent substrates by several drugs, including quinidine and itraconazole, was found to be substrate- and/or species-dependent. These data suggest that to provide accurate prediction of clinically significant P-gp drug interactions, multiple P-gp substrates will need to be used in both in vitro and in vivo (including human) drug interaction studies. In addition, extrapolation of P-gp-based drug interaction in rodents to humans must be conducted with caution.     

Prevalidation of a human cornea construct as an alternative to animal corneas for in vitro drug absorption studies

The use of ophthalmic drugs has increased consistently over the past few decades. Currently, most research is conducted using in vivo and ex vivo animal experiments; however, they have many disadvantages, including ethical concerns, high costs, the questionable extension of animal results to humans, and poor standardization. Although several cell culture-based cornea models have been developed, none have been validated and accepted for general use. In this study, a standardized, three-dimensional model of the human cornea (Hemicornea, HC) based on immortalized human corneal cells and cultivated in serum-free conditions was developed for drug absorption studies and prevalidated using compounds with a wide range of molecular characteristics (sodium fluorescein, rhodamine B, fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextran, aciclovir, bimatoprost, dexamethasone, and timolol maleate). The HC model was independently cultured in three different laboratories, and the intralaboratory and interlaboratory reproducibility was analyzed and compared with the rabbit cornea. This analysis showed that the HC has a barrier in the same range as excised animal corneas, although with a higher reproducibility and lower variability. Because of the demonstrated transferability, the HC represents a promising in vitro alternative to the use of ex vivo tissue and offers a well-defined and standardized system for drug absorption studies.     

Cell culture models of the human cornea - a comparative evaluation of their usefulness to determine ocular drug absorption in-vitro

Cell culture models of the cornea are continually developed to replace the isolated animal cornea for transcorneal drug absorption studies. The aim of this study was to determine and compare epithelial tightness and permeability of currently available corneal cell culture models to avoid interlaboratory variability and to assess their usefulness for in-vitro permeation studies. Pure epithelial cell culture models (CEPI, SIRC and HCE-T cell lines), primary cultures of human corneal epithelium (HCEpiC) and the two commercially available models (RHC and Epiocular), as well as organotypic human cornea constructs (HCC, HCC-HCE-T), were investigated and data were compared with those obtained from the excised bovine cornea. Barrier properties were assessed by measurements of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and permeability of three passively absorbed substances (mannitol, testosterone and timolol maleate) with different physico-chemical properties. TEER experiments revealed weak barrier functions for all of the investigated epithelial models (相似文献   

Human cornea construct HCC-an alternative for in vitro permeation studies? A comparison with human donor corneas.

Transcorneal in vitro permeation studies of ophthalmic drugs are normally performed with either excised animal corneas or latterly corneal cell culture models. A good correlation between these models and excised animal corneas regarding permeation behaviour of drugs has already been shown. However, comparisons between corneal in vitro models containing human cells and excised human corneas do not exist yet. Therefore in the present study the transcorneal permeation of six different model drugs (pilocarpine hydrochloride, befunolol hydrochloride, hydrocortisone, diclofenac sodium, clindamycin hydrochloride and timolol maleate) across our previously described three-dimensional organotypic human cornea construct (HCC) was tested using Franz diffusion cells and compared with permeation data obtained from human donor corneas. The HCC showed a similar permeation behaviour compared with human donor cornea for all substances. The permeabilities (permeation coefficients P) of the human cornea equivalent versus the human donor cornea were the same in the case of diclofenac, clindamycin, timolol, but marginally decreased for hydrocortisone and slightly increased for pilocarpine and befunolol. These small differences of permeation coefficients were expressed as factors and only varied from 0.8 to 1.4. The results indicate that the HCC may be an alternative for in vitro permeation studies and appropriate for predicting drug absorption into the human eye.     

Permeability Characteristics of Calu-3 Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells: In Vitro - In Vivo Correlation to Predict Lung Absorption in Rats

The goal of this study was to evaluate the permeability characteristics of Calu-3, human bronchial epithelial cells to passive and actively transported drugs and to correlate the data with other in vitro models and rat lung absorption in vivo. Air-interface cultured Calu-3 cells grown on collagen-coated permeable filter supports formed "tight" polarized and well differentiated cell monolayers with apical microvilli and tight-junctional complexes. Within 8-10 days, cell monolayers developed transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER)>1000 ohm cm 2 and potential difference about 11-16 mV. Solute permeability was dependent on lipophilicity, and inversely related to molecular size. Calu-3 cells actively transported amino acids, nucleosides and dipeptide analogs, but not organic anions, organic cations or efflux pump substrates. The permeability characteristics of Calu-3 cells correlated well with primary cultured rabbit tracheal epithelial cells in vitro (r 2 =0.91), and the rate of drug absorption from the rat lung in vivo (r 2 =0.94). The absorption predicted from the regression equation correlated well with observed values. In conclusion, in vitro - in vivo correlation studies indicate that the Calu-3 cell culture model is a potentially useful model to predict absorption of inhalation delivery drug candidates.     

Permeability characteristics of calu-3 human bronchial epithelial cells: in vitro-in vivo correlation to predict lung absorption in rats

The goal of this study was to evaluate the permeability characteristics of Calu-3, human bronchial epithelial cells to passive and actively transported drugs and to correlate the data with other in vitro models and rat lung absorption in vivo. Air-interface cultured Calu-3 cells grown on collagen-coated permeable filter supports formed "tight" polarized and well differentiated cell monolayers with apical microvilli and tight-junctional complexes. Within 8-10 days, cell monolayers developed trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) > 1000 ohm cm2 and potential difference about 11-16 mV. Solute permeability was dependent on lipophilicity, and inversely related to molecular size. Calu-3 cells actively transported amino acids, nucleosides and dipeptide analogs, but not organic anions, organic cations or efflux pump substrates. The permeability characteristics of Calu-3 cells correlated well with primary cultured rabbit tracheal epithelial cells in vitro (r2 = 0.91), and the rate of drug absorption from the rat lung in vivo (r2 = 0.94). The absorption predicted from the regression equation correlated well with observed values. In conclusion, in vitro-in vivo correlation studies indicate that the Calu-3 cell culture model is a potentially useful model to predict absorption of inhalation delivery drug candidates.     

Enhancement of ocular drug penetration

Although new drugs have recently been developed within the field of ophthalmology, the eye's various defense mechanisms make it difficult to achieve an effective concentration of these drugs within the eye. Drugs administered systemically have poor access to the inside of the eye because of the blood-aqueous and blood-retinal barriers. And although topical instillation of drugs is very popular in ophthalmology, topically applied drugs are rapidly eliminated from the precorneal area. In addition, the cornea, considered a major pathway for ocular penetration of topically applied drugs, is an effective barrier to drug penetration, since the corneal epithelium has annular tight junctions (zonula occludens), which completely surround and effectively seal the superficial epithelial cells. Various drug-delivery systems have been developed to increase the topical bioavailability of ophthalmic drugs by enhancement of the ocular drug penetration. The first approach is to modify the physicochemical property of drugs by chemical and pharmaceutical means. An optimum promoiety can be covalently bound to a drug molecule to obtain a prodrug that can chemically or enzymatically be converted to the active parent drug, either within the cornea or after the corneal penetration. Along these same lines, the transient formation of a lipophilic ion pair by ionic bonding is also useful for improving ocular drug penetration. The second approach is to modify the integrity of the corneal epithelium transiently by coadministration of an amphiphilic substance or by chelating agents that act as drug-penetration enhancers. The third approach modifies the integrity of the corneal epithelium transiently by physical techniques including iontophoresis and phonophoresis. This paper reviews the absorption behavior and ocular membranes penetration of topically applied drugs, and the various approaches for enhancement of ocular drug penetration in the eye.     

Three-dimensional skin models as tools for transdermal drug delivery: challenges and limitations

INTRODUCTION: Transdermal drug delivery has several known advantages over the oral route and hypodermic injections. The number of drugs that can be taken up transdermally is, however, limited owing to the innate barrier function of the skin. New transdermal drug candidates need to be tested extensively before being used on humans. In this regard, in vitro permeation methods are highly important to predict in vivo permeation of drugs. AREAS COVERED: This review illustrates how different types of reconstructed skin models are being used as alternatives to human and pig skin for in vitro permeation testing of drugs. Insights into how various factors (including the physicochemical nature of molecules and formulations) or skin properties might affect the permeability of drugs in reconstructed skin models are provided. Also, opportunities and pitfalls of reconstructed skin models are highlighted. EXPERT OPINION: Many studies have revealed that the permeability of reconstructed skin models is much higher compared with human excised skin. This is in accordance with the incomplete barrier found in these models. Nevertheless, the reconstructed skin models available today are useful tools for estimating the rank order of percutaneous absorption of a series of compounds with different physicochemical properties. A major challenge in the further development of reconstructed skin models for drug delivery studies is to obtain a barrier function similar to in vivo skin. Whether this goal will be achieved in the near future is uncertain and will be, in the authors' opinion, a very difficult task.     

Solid lipid nanoparticles for ocular drug delivery

Ocular drug delivery remains challenging because of the complex nature and structure of the eye. Conventional systems, such as eye drops and ointments, are inefficient, whereas systemic administration requires high doses resulting in significant toxicity. There is a need to develop novel drug delivery carriers capable of increasing ocular bioavailability and decreasing both local and systemic cytotoxicity. Nanotechnology is expected to revolutionize ocular drug delivery. Many nano-structured systems have been employed for ocular drug delivery and yielded some promising results. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) have been looked at as a potential drug carrier system since the 1990s. SLNs do not show biotoxicity as they are prepared from physiological lipids. SLNs are especially useful in ocular drug delivery as they can enhance the corneal absorption of drugs and improve the ocular bioavailability of both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs. SLNs have another advantage of allowing autoclave sterilization, a necessary step towards formulation of ocular preparations. This review outlines in detail the various production, characterization, sterilization, and stabilization techniques for SLNs. In-vitro and in-vivo methods to study the drug release profile of SLNs have been explained. Special attention has been given to the nature of lipids and surfactants commonly used for SLN production. A summary of previous studies involving the use of SLNs in ocular drug delivery is provided, along with a critical evaluation of SLNs as a potential ocular delivery system.     

Cell culture models of the ocular barriers.

The presence of tight barriers, which regulate the environment of ocular tissues in the anterior and posterior part of the eye, is essential for normal visual function. The development of strategies to overcome these barriers for the targeted ocular delivery of drugs, e.g. to the retina, remains a major challenge. During the last years numerous cell culture models of the ocular barriers (cornea, conjunctiva, blood-retinal barrier) have been established. They are considered to be promising tools for studying the drug transport into ocular tissues, and for numerous other purposes, such as the investigation of pathological ocular conditions, and the toxicological screening of compounds as alternative to in vivo toxicity tests. The further development of these in vitro models will require more detailed investigations of the barrier properties of both the cell culture models and the in vivo ocular barriers. It is the aim of this review to describe the current status in the development of cell culture models of the ocular barriers, and to discuss the applicability of these models in pharmaceutical research.     

Pharmacokinetic prediction of the ocular absorption of an instilled drug with ophthalmic viscous vehicle

We previously developed an in vivo pharmacokinetic model that accounts for the corneal diffusion in albino rabbits and predicts the concentration of beta-blockers in the anterior segments. The purpose of this study is to pharmacokinetically predict the ocular absorption and characterize the systemic absorption of instilled drug with ophthalmic viscous vehicle to assist in its design and evaluation. Tilisolol and carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt (CMC) were used as the model ophthalmic drug and viscous polymer, respectively. After instillation of tilisolol with CMC vehicle in rabbits, the disposition of the drug in tear fluid, aqueous humor, and plasma were determined by HPLC. The ocular and systemic absorption were analyzed by a mathematical model including a diffusion process and a two-compartment model with first-order absorption, respectively. CMC vehicle increased the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of tilisolol in the tear fluid and aqueous humor and slightly reduced the AUC in plasma. The concentrations of tilisolol in the aqueous humor after instillation with CMC vehicle were accurately predicted from the tear concentrations by using the in vivo ocular pharmacokinetic model. CMC vehicle improved the ocular delivery of tilisolol.     

Development of a serum-free human cornea construct for in vitro drug absorption studies: the influence of varying cultivation parameters on barrier characteristics

The increased use of ophthalmic products in recent years has led to an increased demand for in vitro and in vivo transcorneal drug absorption studies. Cell-culture models of the human cornea can avoid several of the disadvantages of widely used animal experimental models, including ethical concerns and poor standardisation. This study describes the development of a serum-free cultivated, three-dimensional human cornea model (Hemicornea, HC) for drug absorption experiments. The impact of varying cultivation conditions on the corneal barrier function was analysed and compared with excised rabbit and porcine corneas. The HC was cultivated on permeable polycarbonate filters using immortalised human keratocytes and a corneal epithelial cell line. The equivalence to native tissue was investigated through absorption studies using model substances with a wide range of molecular characteristics, including hydrophilic sodium fluorescein, lipophilic rhodamine B and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled macromolecule dextran. To study the intra-laboratory repeatability and construct cultivation, the permeation studies were performed independently by different researchers. The HC exhibited a permeation barrier in the same range as excised animal corneas, high reproducibility and a lower standard deviation. Therefore, the HC could be a promising in vitro alternative to ex vivo corneal tissues in preclinical permeation studies.     

Ocular Pharmacokinetic Modeling Using Corneal Absorption and Desorption Rates from in Vitro Permeation Experiments with Cultured Corneal Epithelial Cells

Purpose. To determine corneal absorption and desorption rate constants in a corneal epithelial cell culture model and to apply them to predict ocular pharmacokinetics after topical ocular drug application. Method. In vitro permeation experiments were performed with a mixture of six -blockers using an immortalized human corneal epithelial cell culture model. Disappearance of the compounds from the apical donor solution and their appearance in the basolateral receiver solution were determined and used to calculate the corneal absorption and desorption rate constants. An ocular pharmacokinetic simulation model was constructed for timolol with the Stella^® program using the absorption and desorption rate constants and previously published in vivo pharmacokinetic parameters. Results. The corneal absorption rates of -blockers increased significantly with the lipophilicity of the compounds. The pharmacokinetic simulation model gave a realistic mean residence time for timolol in the cornea (57 min) and the aqueous humor (90 min). The simulated timolol concentration in the aqueous humor was about 1.8 times higher than the previously published experimental values. Conclusions. The simulation model gave a reasonable estimate of the aqueous humor concentration profile of timolol. This was the first attempt to combine cell culture methods and pharmacokinetic modeling for prediction of ocular pharmacokinetics. The wider applicability of this approach remains to be seen.     

Ocular disposition, pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety of nanoparticle-formulated ophthalmic drugs

Ophthalmic drugs are delivered to ocular tissues predominantly via relatively simple formulations, such as topically dosed water-soluble drug solutions and water-insoluble drug suspensions in ointments. An ideal topical drug delivery system should possess certain desirable properties, such as good corneal and conjunctival penetration, prolonged precorneal residence time, easy instillation, non-irritative and comfortable to minimize lachrymation and reflex blinking, and appropriate rheological properties. In general, ocular efficacy is closely related to ocular drug bioavailability, which may be enhanced by increasing corneal drug penetration and prolonging precorneal drug residence time. To improve ocular bioavailability of topically dosed ophthalmic drugs, a variety of ocular drug delivery systems, such as hydrogels, microparticles, nanoparticles, microemulsions, liposomes and collagen shields, have been designed and investigated. These newer systems may, to some extent, control drug release and maintain therapeutic levels in ocular tissues over a prolonged period of time. This review focuses on the in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo studies of ophthalmic drugs formulated in nanoparticles published over the past two decades. The progress and development issues relating to ocular disposition, pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety of the nanoparticle-formulated ophthalmic drugs are specifically addressed. Information and discussions summarized in this review are helpful for pharmaceutical scientists to develop better ophthalmic therapeutics.     

Caco-2细胞模型在口服药物吸收研究中的应用

目的对Caco 2细胞模型在口服药物肠吸收研究中的应用作一综述。方法在引用了自1974~2004年的32篇文献的基础上,通过介绍并比较体外Caco 2模型和体内药物吸收转运的不同途径,讨论Caco 2单层细胞模型在预测不同类药物体内吸收中的作用。结果Caco 2细胞模型可以预测不同转运途径的药物体内吸收,尤其适用于被动转运药物,这一细胞模型在药物吸收机制、处方组成透膜性和黏膜毒性、药物吸收过程中的相互作用、药物的化学结构和体内转运关系、药物吸收限速因素、药物代谢稳定性及pH对药物吸收的影响等研究中均有较广泛的应用。结论Caco2细胞模型用于预测各种途径的药物吸收,在细胞水平上提供了大量与吸收相关的信息,是口服药物高通量筛选的良好工具。     

Modification of ocular permeability of peptide drugs by absorption promoters

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of absorption promoters on the ocular membrane permeability of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) as model peptides. The permeabilities of TRH and LHRH were measured using a two-chamber glass diffusion cell mounted with isolated ocular membranes of albino rabbits. Saponin, EDTA, benzalkonium chloride and paraben were used as absorption promoters. These promoters enhanced the permeability of hydrophilic molecules through the cornea and conjunctiva. The promoting effects of the absorption promoters on the conjunctival drug penetrations were not as strong as those on the corneal penetrations. The different responses of the corneal and conjunctival drug penetrations to these promoters may be useful in controlling the extent and pathway of the ocular and systemic absorptions of instilled drugs. The promotional effects of absorption promoters on the corneal drug penetration apparently increased with an increase in penetrant molecular weights, although those on the conjunctival drug penetrations did not depend on the molecular weights.