Lactose oleate as new biocompatible surfactant for pharmaceutical applications.

Sugar fatty acid esters are an interesting class of non-ionic, biocompatible and biodegradable sugar-based surfactants, recently emerged as a valid alternative to the traditional commonly employed (e.g. polysorbates and polyethylene glycol derivatives). By varying the polar head (carbohydrate moiety) and the hydrophobic tail (fatty acid), surfactants with different physico-chemical characteristics can be easily prepared. While many research papers have focused on sucrose derivatives, relatively few studies have been carried out on lactose-based surfactants. In this work, we present the synthesis and the physico-chemical characterization of lactose oleate. The new derivative was obtained by enzymatic mono-esterification of lactose with oleic acid. Thermal, surface, and aggregation properties of the surfactant were studied in detail and the cytotoxicity profile was investigated by MTS and LDH assays on intestinal Caco-2 monolayers. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements on Caco-2 cells showed a transient and reversible effect on the tight junctions opening, which correlates with the increased permeability of 4 kDa fluorescein-labelled dextran (as model for macromolecular drugs) in a concentration dependent manner. Moreover, lactose oleate displayed a satisfactory antimicrobial activity over a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Overall, the obtained results are promising for a further development of lactose oleate as an intestinal absorption enhancer and/or an alternative biodegradable preservative for pharmaceutical and food applications.

Design Space Approach for Preservative System Optimization of an Anti-Aging Eye Fluid Emulsion.

The use of preservatives must be optimized in order to ensure the efficacy of an antimicrobial system as well as the product safety. Despite the wide variety of preservatives, the synergistic or antagonistic effects of their combinations are not well established and it is still an issue in the development of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. The purpose of this paper was to establish a space design using a simplex-centroid approach to achieve the lowest effective concentration of 3 preservatives (methylparaben, propylparaben, and imidazolidinyl urea) and EDTA for an emulsion cosmetic product. Twenty-two formulae of emulsion differing only by imidazolidinyl urea (A: 0.00 to 0.30% w/w), methylparaben (B: 0.00 to 0.20% w/w), propylparaben (C: 0.00 to 0.10% w/w) and EDTA (D: 0.00 to 0.10% w/w) concentrations were prepared. They were tested alone and in binary, ternary and quaternary combinations. Aliquots of these formulae were inoculated with several microorganisms. An electrochemical method was used to determine microbial burden immediately after inoculation and after 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 168 h. An optimization strategy was used to obtain the concentrations of preservatives and EDTA resulting in a most effective preservative system of all microorganisms simultaneously. The use of preservatives and EDTA in combination has the advantage of exhibiting a potential synergistic effect against a wider spectrum of microorganisms. Based on graphic and optimization strategies, we proposed a new formula containing a quaternary combination (A: 55%; B: 30%; C: 5% and D: 10% w/w), which complies with the specification of a conventional challenge test. A design space approach was successfully employed in the optimization of concentrations of preservatives and EDTA in an emulsion cosmetic product.

Incorporation of a synthetic mycobacterial monomycoloyl glycerol analogue stabilizes dimethyldioctadecylammonium liposomes and potentiates their adjuvant effect in vivo.

The combination of delivery systems such as cationic liposomes and immunopotentiating molecules is a promising approach for the rational design of vaccine adjuvants. In this study, a synthetic analogue of the mycobacterial lipid monomycoloyl glycerol (MMG), referred to as MMG-1, was synthesized and combined with the cationic surfactant dimethyldioctadecylammonium (DDA). The purpose of the study was to provide a thorough pharmaceutical characterization of the resulting DDA/MMG-1 binary system and to evaluate how incorporation of MMG-1 affected the adjuvant activity of DDA liposomes. Thermal analyses demonstrated that MMG-1 was incorporated into the DDA lipid bilayers, and cryo-transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed that liposomes were formed. The particles had a polydisperse size distribution and an average diameter of approximately 400 nm. Evaluation of the colloidal stability indicated that at least 18 mol% MMG-1 was required to stabilize the DDA liposomes as the average particle size remained constant during storage for 6 months. The improved colloidal stability is most likely caused by increased hydration of the lipid bilayer. This was demonstrated by studying Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers of DDA and MMG-1 which revealed an increased surface pressure in the presence of high concentrations of MMG-1 when the DDA/MMG-1 monolayers were fully compressed, indicating an increased interaction with water due to enhanced hydration of the lipid head groups. Finally, immunization of mice with the tuberculosis fusion antigen Ag85B-ESAT-6 and DDA/MMG-1 liposomes induced a strong cell-mediated immune response characterized by a mixed Th1/Th17 profile and secretion of IgG1 and IgG2c antibodies. The Th1/Th17-biased immunostimulatory effect was increased in an MMG-1 concentration-dependent manner with maximal observed effect at 31 mol% MMG-1. Thus, incorporation of 31 mol% MMG-1 into DDA liposomes results in an adjuvant system with favorable physical as well as immunological properties.

Accurate screening for synthetic preservatives in beverage using high performance liquid chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

In this study, liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC/TOF-MS) is applied to qualitation and quantitation of 18 synthetic preservatives in beverage. The identification by HPLC/TOF-MS is accomplished with the accurate mass (the subsequent generated empirical formula) of the protonated molecules [M+H]+ or the deprotonated molecules [M-H]-, along with the accurate mass of their main fragment ions. In order to obtain sufficient sensitivity for quantitation purposes (using the protonated or deprotonated molecule) and additional qualitative mass spectrum information provided by the fragments ions, segment program of fragmentor voltages is designed in positive and negative ion mode, respectively. Accurate mass measurements are highly useful in the complex sample analyses since they allow us to achieve a high degree of specificity, often needed when other interferents are present in the matrix. The mass accuracy typically obtained is routinely better than 3 ppm. The 18 compounds behave linearly in the 0.005-5.0mg.kg(-1) concentration range, with correlation coefficient >0.996. The recoveries at the tested concentrations of 1.0mg.kg(-1)-100mg.kg(-1) are 81-106%, with coefficients of variation <7.5%. Limits of detection (LODs) range from 0.0005 to 0.05 mg.kg(-1), which are far below the required maximum residue level (MRL) for these preservatives in foodstuff. The method is suitable for routine quantitative and qualitative analyses of synthetic preservatives in foodstuff.

Stability of protease-rich periplaneta Americana allergen extract during storage: formulating preservatives to enhance shelf life.

Allergenic proteins in extracts degrade rapidly and lose potency on storage. Hence, formulation of optimum conditions is required to enhance shelf life of extracts for proper allergy diagnosis and immunotherapy. In the present study, allergenic potency of P. americana proteins was evaluated after storage with epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA), sucrose, glycerol, pepstatin A, and aprotinin, individually for 1, 3, 6, and 12 months at 4, 25, and 37 degrees C. P. americana extract stored with EACA and sucrose individually retained potency comparable to proteins in standard extract (freeze-dried extract, stored at-70 degrees C) upto 6 months at 4 degrees C. The extracts without preservatives or with glycerol, pepstatin A, aprotinin, or stored at 37/25 degrees C were severely degraded and lost potency by 3 months. A formulation containing a combination of EACA and sucrose enhanced the shelf life of P. americana proteins upto 12 months at 4 degrees C. Hence, EACA and sucrose together show better potential for stabilization of protease-rich extracts.

Synthesis and studies on antioxidants: ethoxyquin (EQ) and its derivatives.

In our study ethoxyquin (EQ) and its two complexes with flavonoids were obtained from ethoxyquin (1,2-dihydro-6-ethoxy-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline, EQ) and quercetin (EQ-Q, 1:1) or rutin (EQ-R, 1:1). Cytotoxicity of the tested compounds was studied using the trypan blue exclusion method and the properties of the studied compounds were also analyzed with the TUNEL method evaluating their ability to induce apoptosis. It was shown that EQ induced apoptosis in cultured human lymphocytes, especially at 0.25 and 0.5 mM concentrations. The same effects were also observed after the incubation of lymphocytes with EQ-Q and EQ-R, but the numbers of apoptotic cells observed were lower than for EQ.

[Synthesis of new mandelic acid derivatives with preservative action. Synthesis and acute toxicity study]. / Sinteza unor noi derivati ai acidului mandelic cu actiune conservanta. Sinteza si studiul toxicitatii acute.

Starting from the antiseptic action of DL mandelic acid, there were synthesized a series of esters of the mandelic acid, esters which could have preservative action. This study present the synthesis, structure validation and the acute toxicity study, for the new synthesized compounds. The esters were obtained by acylating 4-hydroxybenzoic acid propyl, ethyl, methyl esters and salicylic acid with the DL mandelic chloride (that was protected initially by the hydroxylic group). The structure of the synthesized compounds was confirmed by quantitative elemental analysis and RMN 1H spectral measurements. The acute toxicity was determined for two of the esters, who proved to had a preservative action (previously studied) and indicated that these esters have a small toxicity.