Photocatalytic N-Alkylation of NH-Diaryl Sulfondiimines via Anti-Markovnikov Hydroamination with Styrenes.

Sulfondiimines, which are isoelectronic with sulfones and sulfoximines, represent a neglected yet intriguing pharmacophore in the discovery program. Herein, we present a facile and mild photocatalytic anti-Markovnikov hydroamination of styrenes for the construction of N-alkylated sulfondiimines with primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl substituents. A sulfondiimine-derived analogue of the marketed drug Vioxx was synthesized using this method as the key step.

Gypenoside L Inhibits Proliferation of Liver and Esophageal Cancer Cells by Inducing Senescence.

Senescence is an irreversible state of cell cycle arrest that can be triggered by multiple stimuli, such as oxygen reactive species and DNA damage. Growing evidence has proven that senescence is a tumor-suppressive approach in cancer treatment. Therefore, developing novel agents that modulate senescence may be an alternative strategy against cancer. In our study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of gypenoside L (Gyp-L), a saponin isolated from Gynostemma pentaphyllum, on cancer cell growth. We found that Gyp-L increased the SA-ß-galactosidase activity, promoted the production of senescence-associated secretory cytokines, and inhibited cell proliferation of human liver and esophageal cancer cells. Moreover, Gyp-L caused cell cycle arrest at S phase, and activated senescence-related cell cycle inhibitor proteins (p21 and p27) and their upstream regulators. In addition, Gyp-L activated p38 and ERK MAPK pathways and NF-κB pathway to induce senescence. Consistently, adding chemical inhibitors efficiently counteracted the Gyp-L-mediated senescence, growth inhibition, and cell cycle arrest in cancer cells. Furthermore, treatment with Gyp-L, enhanced the cytotoxicity of clinic therapeutic drugs, including 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin, on cancer cells. Overall, these results indicate that Gyp-L inhibits proliferation of cancer cells by inducing senescence and renders cancer cells more sensitive to chemotherapy.

Preparation, characterization and biodistribution of the lactone form of 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT)-loaded bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles.

10-Hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) is insoluble in both water and physiological acceptable organic solvents and tends to change into its carboxylate form, which shows minimal anticancer activity and several unpredictable side effects. The goal of this study is to exploit an appropriate delivery system for HCPT to improve the stability of its lactone form. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles entrapping HCPT were prepared by reformative emulsion-heat stabilization technique. During this process, HCPT transformed from lactone to carboxylate and finally back to lactone form successfully. A simple reversed-phased HPLC method was developed to analyze both lactone and carboxylate forms of HCPT synchronously. Mean particle size and the ratio of lactone and carboxylate forms of HCPT were evaluated to investigate the effects of the formulations and preparation conditions. It was indicated the percentage of lactone form of HCPT in resultant BSA nanoparticles could be improved over 95% through adjusting the concentration of NaOH solution and the stirring time after high-speed emulsification. This drug delivery system was also characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and light microscopy. The investigations on drug loading, in vitro release and body distribution in rats after intravenous (i.v.) administration were also carried out. It was found that the obtained nanoparticles showed spherical shape with the mean particle size of around 600 nm, and drug loading content, encapsulation efficiency and yield achieved 2.21%, 57.5% and 90.5% with the optimal preparation conditions, respectively. The in vitro release behavior exhibited a sustaining release manner and was affected by the trypsin in medium. HCPT could release more than 90% within 20 h in the medium of pH 7.4 PBS containing 750 U/ml trypsin, but only 25% within 40 h in the pure pH 7.4 PBS. The results of body distribution study in rats showed the liver targeting potential of HCPT-BSA nanoparticles that 59.6%, 52.9% and 55.3% of the examined amount of lactone HCPT accumulated in livers at 1, 4 and 24h after injection, respectively. These results suggest that the HCPT-BSA nanoparticles seem to be a stable delivery system for poorly soluble HCPT or its derivatives.

Preparation of insulin loaded PLGA-Hp55 nanoparticles for oral delivery.

The aim of the present work was to investigate the preparation of PLGA nanoparticles (PNP) and PLGA-Hp55 nanoparticles (PHNP) as potential drug carriers for oral insulin delivery. The nanoparticles were prepared by a modified emulsion solvent diffusion method in water, and their physicochemical characteristics, drug release in vitro and hypoglycemic effects in diabetic rats were evaluated. The particle sizes of the PNP and PHNP were 150+/-17 and 169+/-16 nm, respectively, and the drug recoveries of the nanoparticles were 50.30+/-3.1 and 65.41+/-2.3%, respectively. The initial release of insulin from the nanoparticles in simulated gastric fluid over 1 h was 50.46+/-6.31 and 19.77+/-3.15%, respectively. The relative bioavailability of PNP and PHNP compared with subcutaneous (s.c.) injection (1 IU/kg) in diabetic rats was 3.68+/-0.29 and 6.27+/-0.42%, respectively. The results show that the use of insulin-loaded PHNP is an effective method of reducing serum glucose levels.

Biodegradable nanoparticles loaded with insulin-phospholipid complex for oral delivery: preparation, in vitro characterization and in vivo evaluation.

Biodegradable nanoparticles loaded with insulin-phospholipid complex were prepared by a novel reverse micelle-solvent evaporation method, in which soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC) was employed to improve the liposolubility of insulin, and biodegradable polymers as carrier materials to control drug release. Solubilization study, IR and X-ray diffraction analysis were employed to prove the complex formation. The effects of key parameters such as polymer/SPC weight ratio, organic phase and polymer type on the properties of the nanoparticles were investigated. Spherical particles of 200 nm mean diameter and a narrow size distribution were obtained under optimal conditions. The drug entrapment efficiency was up to 90%. The in vitro drug release was characterized by an initial burst and subsequent delayed release in both pH 6.8 and pH 1.2 dissolution mediums. The specific modality of drug release, i.e., free or SPC-combined, was investigated in the aid of ultracentrifugation and ultrafiltration methods. The influence of polymer type on the drug release was also discussed. The pharmacological effects of the nanoparticles made of PLGA 50/50 (Av.Mw 9500) were further evaluated to confirm their potential suitability for oral delivery. Intragastric administration of the 20 IU/kg nanoparticles reduced fasting plasma glucose levels to 57.4% within the first 8 h of administration and this continued for 12 h. PK/PD analysis indicated that 7.7% of oral bioavailability relative to subcutaneous injection was obtained.

Preparation and characterization of melittin-loaded poly (DL-lactic acid) or poly (DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres made by the double emulsion method.

The water soluble peptide, melittin, isolated from bee venom and composed of twenty-six amino acids, was encapsulated in poly (DL-lactic acid, PLA) and poly (DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid, PLGA) microspheres prepared by a multiple emulsion [(W1/O)W2] solvent evaporation method. The aim of this work was to develop a controlled release injection that would deliver the melittin over a period of about one month. The influence of various preparation parameters, such as the type of polymer, its concentration, stabilizer PVA concentration, volume of internal water phase and level of drug loading on the characteristics of the microspheres and drug release was investigated. It was found that the microspheres of about 5 microm in size can be produced in high encapsulation (up to 90%), and the melittin content in the microspheres was up to 10% (w/w). The drug release profiles in vitro exhibited a significant burst release, followed by a lag phase of little or no release and then a phase of constant melittin release. The type of polymer used was a critical factor in controlling the release of melittin from the microspheres. In this study, the rate of peptide release from the microspheres correlated well with the rate of polymer degradation. Moreover, melittin was released completely during the study period of 30 days, which agreed well with the polymer degradation rate.

In vivo evaluation of two novel controlled-release nitrendipine formulations.

The objective of this work is to assess two novel controlled-release nitrendipine formulations, i.e., sustained-release nitrendipine microspheres having solid dispersion structure and a novel pH-dependent gradient-release delivery system for nitrendipine in healthy male volunteers, which were prepared by current authors. Domestic commercial nitrendipine tablets and Baypress nitrendipine tablets were employed as reference formulations. In a randomized, single-dose, fasting-state, crossover study design with a 1-week washout period, each subject received a 40-mg nitrendipine formulation. Plasma samples were collected over a 25-hour period after oral administration and were analyzed by a validated method using high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using a noncompartmental analysis. The results provided evidence that the time to maximum plasma concentration of two novel controlled-release nitrendipine formulations were statistically significant prolonged in comparison with that of Baypress nitrendipine tablets. The relative bioavailabilities of test formulations were intensively improved compared with the domestic nitrendipine tablets, while the ratio is in a range of 80-120% in comparison with Baypress nitrendipine tablets. It is concluded that the two types of controlled-release systems are feasible for improving the dissolution rate of nitrendipine and obtaining a long-acting in vivo as well.

[Evaluation of in vitro/in vivo correlation for three kinds of self-designed sustained-release nitrendipine formulations using deconvolution method].

AIM: To evaluate the in vitro/in vivo correlation for three kinds of self-designed sustained-release nitrendipine formulations using deconvolution method. METHODS: The characteristics of in vivo release were calculated by deconvolution method using the data of plasma concentration of three kinds of self-designed sustained-release nitrendipine formulations in healthy dogs, in which the in vivo results of nitrendipine solution after oral administrated to dogs were used as weight function. It was the compared with characteristics of in vitro release to assess the in vitro/in vivo correlations. RESULTS: The good correlations of in vitro/in vivo were shown in three kinds of self-designed sustained-release nitrendipine formulations using deconvolution method. CONCLUSION: The deconvolution method exhibited advantage in evaluation of in vitro/in vivo correlation for self-designed sustained-release nitrendipine formulations.