Anti-Candida activity and in vitro toxicity screening of antifungals complexed with ß-cyclodextrin.

The emergence of resistant fungal species and the toxicity of currently available antifungal drugs are relevant issues that require special consideration. Cyclodextrins inclusion complexes could optimize the antimicrobial activity of such drugs and create a controlled release system with few side effects. This study aimed to assess the in vitro toxicity and antifungal effectiveness of nystatin (Nys) and chlorhexidine (Chx) complexed or not with ß-cyclodextrin (ßCD). First, a drug toxicity screening was performed through the Artemia salina bioassay. Then, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against Candida albicans were determined with the broth microdilution test. After MICs determination, the cytotoxicity of the drugs was evaluated through the methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium (MTT) and neutral red (NR) assays and through cell morphology analysis. The PROBIT analysis was used to determine the median lethal concentration (LC50), and the cell viability values were submitted to one-way analysis of variance(ANOVA)/Tukey (α = 0.05). Overall, the ßCD-complexed antifungals were less toxic against A. salina than their raw forms, suggesting that inclusion complexes can reduce the toxicity of drugs. The MICs obtained were as follows: Nys 0.5 mg/L; Nys:ßCD 4 mg/L; Chx 4 mg/L; and Chx:ßCD 8 mg/L. Chx showed significant cytotoxicity (MTT: 12.9 ± 9.6%; NR: 10.6 ± 12.5%) and promoted important morphological changes. Cells exposed to the other drugs showed viability above 70% with no cellular damage. These results suggest that antifungals complexed with ßCD might be a biocompatible option for the treatment of Candida-related infections.

Comparison of liposomal and 2-hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin-lidocaine on cell viability and inflammatory response in human keratinocytes and gingival fibroblasts.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to observe the effect multilamellar liposomes (MLV) and 2-hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HP-ß-CD) in the in-vitro effects of lidocaine in cell viability, pro-inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandin E2 release of both human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and gingival fibroblasts (HGF) cells. METHODS: HaCaT and HGF cells were exposed to lidocaine 100-1 µm in plain, MLV and HP-ß-CD formulations for 6 h or 24 h. The formulation effects in cell viability were measured by XTT assay and by fluorescent labelling. Cytokines (IL-8, IL-6 and TNF-α) and PGE2 release were quantified by ELISA. KEY FINDINGS: MLV and HP-ß-CD formulations did not affect the HaCaT viability, which was significantly decreased by plain lidocaine after 24 h of exposure. Both drug carriers increased all cytokines released by HGF after 24-h exposure, and none of the carriers was able to reduce the PGE2 release induced by lidocaine. CONCLUSION: The effect of drug carrier in the lidocaine effects was dependent on the cell type, concentration and time of exposure. MLV and HP-ß-CD showed benefits in improving cell viability; however, both of them showed a tendency to increase cytokine release when compared to the plain solution.

Intestinal uptake and toxicity evaluation of acetazolamide and its multicomponent complexes with hidroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin in rats.

Large oral doses of ACZ lower the intraocular pressure (IOP), but usually lead to a multitude of systemic side effects, including gastrointestinal upset. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of ACZ on the histological structure of rat duodenal mucosa and to assess a possible protective role of the complex formation of ACZ with HP-ß-CD, either separately or in combination with a third compound, on the gut epithelial layer by histological and ultrastructural examinations of sections of rat duodenum exposed to ACZ or its formulations. In addition, the transport process of ACZ and its binary or ternary complexes across the duodenal mucosa by means of the single-pass intestinal perfusion (SPIP) method in rats was evaluated. Evidence was found that ACZ alters intestinal permeability and induces damage to the rat small intestine. In contrast, ACZ-induced intestinal injury may be abrogated by ACZ complexation. In addition, the complexation of ACZ with HP-ß-CD, alone or in combination with a third compound, facilitated significant levels of ACZ uptake across the rat duodenal segment. Ternary complexes of ACZ with HP-ß-CD in combination with TEA (triethanolamine) or calcium ions were found to provide an excellent approach that enabled an increased apparent permeability of ACZ across the duodenal epithelium, with a concomitant ability to preserve the integrity of the gut epithelium from ACZ-induced injury. These results could be useful for the design and development of novel ACZ formulations that can reduce GI toxicity, while still maintaining their essential therapeutic efficacies.

Cyclodextrin-functionalized polyethylene and polypropylene as biocompatible materials for diclofenac delivery.

Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) were surface functionalized with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) with the aim of providing PE and PP with the capability of behaving as drug delivery systems. Functionalization was carried out according to a two-step procedure: (i) glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was grafted by means of gamma radiation and (ii) the epoxy groups of GMA reacted with the hydroxyl groups of CDs forming ether bonds. For a fix radiation dose and GMA concentration, grafting yield (ranging from 1 to 100 micromol GMA cm(-2)) depended on the time during which the preirradiated PE and PP films and slabs were immersed in the GMA solution. CD grafting (from 0.013 to 0.734 micromol cm(-2)) was confirmed by infrared analysis, DSC and the organic compound approach (using 3-methylbenzoic acid as a probe). Functionalization with CDs rendered as highly cytocompatible materials as the starting ones, did not cause relevant changes in the water contact angle and the friction coefficient of PE and PP, but remarkably improved their capability to uptake diclofenac through formation of inclusion complexes with the CDs. Furthermore, the functionalized materials released the drug for 1 h, which could be useful for management of initial pain, inflammation at the insertion site as well as adhesion of certain microorganisms if these materials are used as medicated medical devices.

Inclusion complex of S(-) bupivacaine and 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin: study of morphology and cytotoxicity

Local anesthetics (LA) belong to a class of pharmacological compounds that attenuate or eliminate pain by binding to the sodium channel of excitable membranes, blocking the influx of sodium ions and the propagation of the nerve impulse. S (-) bupivacaine (S(-)bvc) is a local anesthetic of amino-amide type, widely used in surgery and obstetrics for sustained peripheraland central nerve blockade. This article focuses on the characterization of an inclusion complex of S(-) bvc in2-hydroxypropyl- beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta -CD). Differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy andX-Ray diffraction analysis showed structural changes inthe complex. In preliminary toxicity studies, the cellviability tests revealed that the inclusion complex decreased the toxic effect (p smaller that 0.001) produced by S(-) bvc.These results suggest that the S(-) bvc:HP- beta-CD inclusion complex represents a promising agent for the treatment of regional pain.

Physico-chemical characterization of benzocaine-beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes.

Local anesthetics are able to induce pain relief by binding to the sodium channel of excitable membranes, blocking the influx of sodium ions and the propagation of the nervous impulse. Benzocaine (BZC) is a local anesthetic whose low water-solubility limits its application to topical formulations. The present work focuses on the characterization of inclusion complexes of BZC in beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD). Differential scanning calorimetry and electron microscopy gave evidences of the formation and the morphology of the complex. Fluorescence spectroscopy showed a BZC/beta-CD 1:1 stoichiometry. Phase-solubility diagrams allowed the determination of the association constants between BZC and beta-CD (549 M(-1)) and revealed that a three-fold increase in BZC solubility can be reached upon complexation with beta-CD. The details of BZC/beta-CD molecular interaction were analyzed by 1H 2D NMR allowing the proposition of an inclusion model for BZC into beta-CD where the aromatic ring of the anesthetic is located near the head of the beta-CD cavity. Moreover, in preliminary toxicity studies, the complex seems to be less toxic than BZC alone, since it induced a decrease in the in vitro oxidation of human hemoglobin. These results suggest that the BZC/beta-CD complex represents an effective novel formulation to enhance BZC solubility in water, turning it promising for use outside its traditional application, i.e., in infiltrative anesthesia.