Pharmacokinetics and Bioequivalence Studies of Teriflunomide in Healthy Iranian Volunteers.

Multiple sclerosis, which is characterized by inflammation and neurodegeneration, is considered a chronic disease of the central nervous system. Given the lack of pharmacokinetic evaluation of teriflunomide in the Iranian context, the present 2-way crossover study aimed to assess the pharmacokinetic properties and bioequivalence of 2 teriflunomide formulations. To this end, 2 single-dose generic and branded teriflunomide formulations were orally administered to 14 healthy Iranian male volunteers. A washout period of 21 days was allowed between the treatments. The plasma samples containing teriflunomide were analyzed by a simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography method using standard ultraviolet detection. In addition, the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated for bioequivalence evaluation. The peak area ratio between the teriflunomide and the internal standard was the source of calibration curves, which were linear over the range of 20-40,000 ng/mL (R2 = 0.9994). The results indicated that the 2 formulations had similar pharmacokinetics. Further, the 90%CI of the mean ratios of the test versus the reference formulations of log-transformed area under the concentration-time curve over 72 hours (93% to 107%) and peak concentration (92% to 108%) were within the acceptable range of 80% to 125%. Based on the obtained results, the test formulation of teriflunomide could be similar to that of the reference formulation.

The effect of surface treatment on the brain delivery of curcumin nanosuspension: in vitro and in vivo studies.

Background: Curcumin, a bioactive component with multiple characteristics, has been shown to have many therapeutic effects. However, there are several limitations regarding the use of curcumin such as instability, low solubility, poor bioavailability, and rapid elimination. Different approaches have been used to solve these problems. Materials and methods: In this study, surface-modified nanosuspension (NS) is investigated as a novel brain delivery system. Two different methods were used for the preparation of nanosuspensions with two different stabilizers. The surface of the nanosuspensions was coated with D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1,000 succinate (TPGS) and Tween 80 using physical adsorption. Curcumin NSs were prepared using two different top-down techniques by high-pressure homogenizer and probe sonicator. A validated sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatography method using fluorescence detection was used for the determination and quantification of curcumin. Pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of curcumin NSs and solutions after intravenous administration in rats were studied. Results: Higher levels of curcumin in the brain were detected when Tween 80-coated NS was used compared with the curcumin solution and TPGS coated NS (TPGS-NS) (P-value<0.05). Absorption of ApoE and/or B by Tween 80-coated nanoparticles (NPs) from the blood were caused transferring of these NPs into the brain using receptor-mediated endocytosis. Distribution of TPGS-NS in the brain compared with the curcumin solution was higher (P-value<0.05). Higher levels of curcumin concentration in the liver, spleen, and lung were also observed with TPGS-NS. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the surface-coating of NSs by Tween 80 may be used to improve the biodistribution of curcumin in the brain.

Brain Delivery of Curcumin Using Solid Lipid Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Lipid Carriers: Preparation, Optimization, and Pharmacokinetic Evaluation.

Curcumin is a multitherapeutic agent with great therapeutic potential in central nervous system (CNS) diseases. In the current study, curcumin was encapsulated in solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) for the purpose of increasing brain accumulation. The preparation processes have been optimized using experimental design and multiobjective optimization methods. Entrapment efficiency of curcumin in SLNs and NLCs was found to be 82% ± 0.49 and 94% ± 0.74, respectively. The pharmacokinetic studies showed that the amount of curcumin available in the brain was significantly higher in curcumin-loaded NLCs (AUC0-t = 505.76 ng/g h) compared to free curcumin (AUC0-t = 0.00 ng/g h) and curcumin-loaded SLNs (AUC0-t = 116.31 ng/g h) ( P < 0.005), after intravenous (IV) administration of 4 mg/kg dose of curcumin in rat. The results of differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction showed that curcumin has been dispersed as amorphous in the nanocarriers. Scanning electron microscopy images confirmed the nanoscale size and spherical shape of the nanoparticles. The DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging study indicated that preparation processes do not have any significant effect on the antioxidant activity of curcumin. The results of this study are promising for the use of curcumin-loaded NLCs in more studies and using curcumin in the treatment of CNS diseases.

Glutathione conjugated polyethylenimine on the surface of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles as a theranostic agent for targeted and controlled curcumin delivery.

Theranostics with the ability to simultaneous monitoring of treatment progress and controlled delivery of therapeutic agents has become as an emerging therapeutic paradigm in cancer therapy. In this study, we have developed a novel surface functionalized iron oxide nanoparticle using polyethyleneimine and glutathione for targeted curcumin (CUR) delivery and acceptable pH sensitive character. The developed magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were physicochemically characterized by FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM and TEM. The MNPs was obtained in spherical shape with diameter of 50 nm. CUR was efficiently loaded into the MNPs and then in vitro release analyses were evaluated and showed that the prepared MNPs could release higher amount of CUR in acidic medium compared to neutral medium due to the pH sensitive property of the coated polymer. MTT assay confirmed the superior toxicity of CUR loaded MNPs compared to the control nanoparticles. Higher cellular uptake of the MNPs than negative control cells was demonstrated in SK-N-MC cell line. In vitro assessment of MRI properties showed that synthesized MNPs could be used as MRI imaging agent. Furthermore, according to hemolysis assay, the developed formulation exhibited suitable hemocompatibility. In vivo blood circulation analysis of the MNPs also exhibited enhanced serum bioavailability up to 2.5 fold for CUR loaded MNPs compared with free CUR.