Surface-coated PLA nanoparticles loaded with temozolomide for improved brain deposition and potential treatment of gliomas: development, characterization and in vivo studies.

Hydrophobicity of PLA nanoparticles makes them a good substrate for macrophageal and reticulo-endothelial system uptake. Long-circulating properties can be imparted to these particles by coating them with hydrophilic stabilizers. Surface-modified PLA nanoparticles loaded with anti-cancer agent temozolomide were fabricated by solvent evaporation method and coated with surface modifiers. Selection of the surface modifier was based upon uptake of nanoparticles by K9 cells (liver cells). The particles were prepared and characterized for various physicochemical properties using transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, powder X-ray diffraction and in vitro dissolution studies. In vitro BBB permeation studies were performed using the co-culture model developed by using Madin-Darby canine kidney and C6 glioma cells as endothelial and glial cells, respectively. In vitro C6 glioma cell cytotoxicity, cellular proliferation, cellular migration and cellular uptake studies due to developed nanoparticles was assessed. In vivo studies such as pharmacokinetics, qualitative and quantitative biodistribution studies were performed for the developed nanoparticles. Drug-loaded nanoparticles with entrapment efficiency of 50% were developed. PEG-1000 and polysorbate-80 coated nanoparticles were least taken up by the liver cells. Characterization of the nanoparticles revealed formation of spherical shape nanoparticles, with no drug and excipient interaction. In vivo pharmacokinetics of developed nanoparticles depicted enhancement of half-life, area under the curve and mean residence time of the drug. Qualitative and quantitative biodistribution studies confirmed enhanced permeation of the drug into the brain upon loading into nanoparticles with less deposition in the highly perfused organs like lung, liver, spleen, heart and kidney.

Evaluation of anti-metastatic potential of Cisplatin polymeric nanocarriers on B16F10 melanoma cells.

Nanoparticles are being increasingly used in the field of cancer treatment due to their unique properties and advantages. The aim of the present research work was to prepare and characterize a polymeric albumin nanosystem for Cisplatin and evaluate its in-vitro efficacy against B16F10 melanoma. The developed nanoparticles were almost spherical in shape with a particle size in the range of 150-300 nm, low polydispersity values and about 80% drug entrapment efficiency. Albumin nanocarriers sustained the release of Cisplatin for more than 48 h, suggesting the reduction in dosing schedule for this drug. The results from in-vitro cell line studies indicated the dose dependent cytotoxic potential of drug loaded albumin nanoparticles, their potential to inhibit cell proliferation and induce morphological changes. In addition, these nanoparticles exhibited superiority to Cisplatin in hampering the cell migration. Developed nanoparticles caused cell cycle arrest along with time and concentration dependent cellular uptake in B16F10 cell line. These results signify that the prepared Cisplatin albumin nanoparticles could serve as a promising approach for B16F10 melanoma treatment.

Double-salting out assisted liquid-liquid extraction (SALLE) HPLC method for estimation of temozolomide from biological samples.

The role of temozolomide (TMZ) in treatment of high grade gliomas, melanomas and other malignancies is being defined by the current clinical developmental trials. Temozolomide belongs to the group of alkylating agents and is prescribed to patients suffering from most aggressive forms of brain tumors. The estimation techniques for temozolomide from the extracted plasma or biological samples includes high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-UV), micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MKEC) and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectroscopy (LC-MS). These methods suffer from disadvantages like low resolution, low sensitivity, low recovery or cost involvement. An analytical method possessing capacity to estimate low quantities of TMZ in plasma samples with high extraction efficiency (%) and high resolution with cost effectiveness needs to be developed. Cost effective, robust and low plasma component interfering HPLC method using salting out liquid-liquid extraction (SALLE) technique was developed and validated for estimation of drug from plasma samples. The extraction efficiency (%) with conventional LLE technique with methanol, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane and acetonitrile was found to be 5.99±2.45, 45.39±4.56, 46.04±1.14 and 46.23±3.67 respectively. Extraction efficiency (%) improved with SALLE where sodium chloride was used as an electrolyte and was found to be 6.80±5.56, 52.01±3.13, 62.69±2.11 and 69.20±1.18 with methanol, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane and acetonitrile as organic solvent. Upon utilization of two salts for extraction (double salting liquid-liquid extraction) the extraction efficiency (%) was further improved and was twice of LLE. It was found that double salting liquid-liquid extraction technique yielded extraction efficiency (%) of 11.71±5.66, 55.62±3.44, 77.28±2.89 and 87.75±0.89. Hence a method based on double SALLE was developed for quantification of TMZ demonstrating linearity in the range of 0.47-20 µg/ml. The LOQ and LOD for the developed method were 0.4 µg/ml and 0.1 µg/ml, respectively. Thus, plasma non-interfering SALLE-HPLC method that is precise, robust, accurate, specific and cost effective for estimation of temozolomide from plasma samples was developed and validated.

Unraveling the cytotoxic potential of Temozolomide loaded into PLGA nanoparticles.

BACKGROUND: Nanotechnology has received great attention since a decade for the treatment of different varieties of cancer. However, there is a limited data available on the cytotoxic potential of Temozolomide (TMZ) formulations. In the current research work, an attempt has been made to understand the anti-metastatic effect of the drug after loading into PLGA nanoparticles against C6 glioma cells.Nanoparticles were prepared using solvent diffusion method and were characterized for size and morphology. Diffusion of the drug from the nanoparticles was studied by dialysis method. The designed nanoparticles were also assessed for cellular uptake using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. RESULTS: PLGA nanoparticles caused a sustained release of the drug and showed a higher cellular uptake. The drug formulations also affected the cellular proliferation and motility. CONCLUSION: PLGA coated nanoparticles prolong the activity of the loaded drug while retaining the anti-metastatic activity.

Studies on stabilization mechanism and stealth effect of poloxamer 188 onto PLGA nanoparticles.

In nanoparticulate engineering for drug delivery systems, poloxamers tri block copolymers are employed as adsorbing molecules to modify the aggregation state and impart stability to products. The aim was to prepare nanoparticles using poloxamer188 as stabiliser and investigate the mechanism of stabilisation of the prepared particles. Nanoparticles were prepared by solvent diffusion method with poloxamer 188 as stabiliser. Hydrodynamic thickness and zeta potential of the prepared nanoparticles were determined by photon correlation spectroscopy. To study the extent of adsorption of poloxamer onto the prepared nanoparticles, adsorption isotherms were constructed. The adsorbed amount of poloxamer 188 onto the particles was determined by depletion method. Macrophageal uptake study was performed to assess the uptake of the prepared nanoparticles using RAW 264.7 cell lines. Nanoparticles were prepared with slight increase in particle size and in absolute value of zeta potential compared to uncoated particles suggesting that this effect was due to adsorption of poloxamer 188. TEM studies and surface area analysis supported the results obtained from particle size analysis indicating preparation of particles with a thin layer of adsorbed poloxamer 188. Adsorption kinetics modeling suggested that at low concentrations (0.001-0.010 g/L), Langmuir monolayer equation fits quite well and at higher concentrations (above 0.010 g/L) multilayer adsorption of poloxamer 188 onto the prepared particles occurred. Thus the nanoparticles had multilayer of poloxamer 188 adsorbed onto the non uniform surface of PLGA. Results of macrophageal uptake and liver cell study exhibits adsorbed concentration dependent bypass of RES uptake of nanoparticles. Hence, results substantiate the application of adsorption isotherms for designing nanoparticles possessing potential to exhibit prolonged circulation when administered in vivo.