The Crown and the Scepter: Roles of the Protein Corona in Nanomedicine

Engineering nanomaterials are increasingly considered promising and powerful biomedical tools or devices for imaging, drug delivery, and cancer therapies, but few nanomaterials have been tested in clinical trials. This wide gap between bench discoveries and clinical application is mainly due to the limited understanding of the biological identity of nanomaterials. When they are exposed to the human body, nanoparticles inevitably interact with bodily fluids and thereby adsorb hundreds of biomolecules. A “biomolecular corona” forms on the surface of nanomaterials and confers a new biological identity for NPs, which determines the following biological events: cellular uptake, immune response, biodistribution, clearance, and toxicity. A deep and thorough understanding of the biological effects triggered by the protein corona in vivo will speed up their translation to the clinic. To date, nearly all studies have attempted to characterize the components of protein coronas depending on different physiochemical properties of NPs. Herein, recent advances are reviewed in order to better understand the impact of the biological effects of the nanoparticle–corona on nanomedicine applications. The recent development of the impact of protein corona formation on the pharmacokinetics of nanomedicines is also highlighted. Finally, the challenges and opportunities of nanomedicine toward future clinical applications are discussed.     

Co-delivery of gemcitabine and simvastatin through PLGA polymeric nanoparticles for the treatment of pancreatic cancer: in-vitro characterization,cellular uptake,and pharmacokinetic studies

Despite the ongoing extensive research, cancer therapeutics still remains an area with unmet needs which is hampered by shortfall in the development of newer medicines. The present study discusses a nano-based combinational approach for treating solid tumor. Dual-loaded nanoparticles encapsulating gemcitabine HCl (GM) and simvastatin (SV) were fabricated by double emulsion solvent evaporation method and optimized. Optimized nanoparticles showed a particle size of 258?±?2.4?nm, polydispersity index of 0.32?±?0.052, and zeta potential of ?12.5?mV. The size and the morphology of the particles wee further confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy, respectively of the particles. The entrapment efficiency of GM and SV in the nanoparticles was 38.5?±?4.5% and 72.2?±?5.6%, respectively. The in vitro release profile was studied for 60?h and showed Higuchi release pattern. The cell toxicity was done using MTT assay and lower IC₅₀ was obtained with the nanoparticles as compared to the pure drug. The bioavailability of GM and SV in PLGA nanoparticles was enhanced by 1.4-fold and 1.3-fold respectively, compared to drug solution. The results revealed that co-delivery of GM and SV could be used for its oral delivery for the effective treatment of pancreatic cancer.     

Degradable Bottlebrush Polypeptides and the Impact of their Architecture on Cell Uptake,Pharmacokinetics, and Biodistribution In Vivo

Bottlebrush polymers are highly promising as unimolecular nanomedicines due to their unique control over the critical parameters of size, shape and chemical function. However, since they are prepared from biopersistent carbon backbones, most known bottlebrush polymers are non-degradable and thus unsuitable for systemic therapeutic administration. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of novel poly(organo)phosphazene-g-poly(α-glutamate) (PPz-g-PGA) bottlebrush polymers with exceptional control over their structure and molecular dimensions (Dh ≈ 15–50 nm). These single macromolecules show outstanding aqueous solubility, ultra-high multivalency and biodegradability, making them ideal as nanomedicines. While well-established in polymer therapeutics, it has hitherto not been possible to prepare defined single macromolecules of PGA in these nanosized dimensions. A direct correlation was observed between the macromolecular dimensions of the bottlebrush polymers and their intracellular uptake in CT26 colon cancer cells. Furthermore, the bottlebrush macromolecular structure visibly enhanced the pharmacokinetics by reducing renal clearance and extending plasma half-lives. Real-time analysis of the biodistribution dynamics showed architecture-driven organ distribution and enhanced tumor accumulation. This work, therefore, introduces a robust, controlled synthesis route to bottlebrush polypeptides, overcoming limitations of current polymer-based nanomedicines and, in doing so, offers valuable insights into the influence of architecture on the in vivo performance of nanomedicines.     

Protein Engineering Strategies for Improved Pharmacokinetics

Protein therapeutics have gained momentum in recent years and become a pillar in treating many diseases and the only choice in several ailments. Protein therapeutics are highly specific, tunable, and less toxic than conventional small drug molecules. However, reaping the full benefits of therapeutic proteins in the clinics is often hindered by issues of immunogenicity and short half-life due essentially to fast renal clearance and enzymatic degradation. Advances in polymer chemistry and protein engineering allowed overcoming some of these limitations. Strategies to prolong the half-life of proteins rely on increasing their size and stability and/or fusing them to endogenous proteins (albumin, Fc fragment of antibody) to hijack physiological pathways involved in protein recycling. On the downside, these modifications might alter therapeutic proteins structure and function. Therefore, a compromise between half-life and activity is sought. This review covers half-life extension strategies using natural and synthetic polymers as well as fusion to other proteins and sheds light on genetic engineering strategies and chemical and enzymatic reactions to achieve this goal. Promising strategies and successful applications in the clinics are highlighted.     

诺氟沙星片在中国健康受试者空腹和餐后状态下生物等效性研究#br#

目的：采用随机、开放、两周期、自身交叉、单次给药试验设计比较浙江医药股份有限公司新昌制药厂生产的诺氟沙星片与原研产品BACCIDAL在中国健康人体中的生物利用度,并评价两种制剂的生物等效性。方法：分别在空腹和餐后条件下,健康受试者随机交叉单剂量口服诺氟沙星片受试制剂或参比制剂100 mg,采用液相色谱-质谱串联（LC-MS/MS）法测定受试者服药前后不同时间点血浆内药物浓度,采用WinNonlin 7.0软件计算主要药代动力学参数,并评价两种制剂的生物等效性。结果：空腹试验共有28例受试者入组并完成试验,诺氟沙星受试制剂与参比制剂的Cmax分别为（607.62±125.24）ng/mL和（552.01±134.11）ng/mL;AUC0-t分别为（2 551.66±509.08）ng·mL-1·h和（2 429.98±460.47）ng·mL-1·h;AUC0-∞分别为（2 675.40±523.04）ng·mL-1·h和（2 557.68±485.43）ng·mL-1·h;t1/2分别为（6.07±0.69）h和（6.18±0.92）h;两种制剂的Cmax、AUC0-t和AUC0-∞几何均值比的90%置信区间分别为101.45%～121.94%、98.96%～111.27%、98.82%～110.76%。餐后试验共有28例受试者入组并完成试验,诺氟沙星受试制剂与参比制剂的Cmax分别为：（256.54±58.87）ng/mL和（300.80±94.67）ng/mL;AUC0-t分别为（1 314.74±349.92）ng·mL-1·h和（1 278.60±314.77）ng·mL-1·h;AUC0-∞分别为（1 413.73±361.98）ng·mL-1·h和（1 374.98±321.62）ng·mL-1·h;t1/2分别为（6.66±1.23）h和（6.66±1.34）h;两种制剂的Cmax、AUC0-t和AUC0-∞几何均值比的90%置信区间分别为81.42%～93.56%、99.61%～105.58%、99.80%～105.21%。结论：浙江医药股份有限公司新昌制药厂生产的诺氟沙星片与原研产品BACCIDAL在中国健康受试者空腹和餐后服用的状态下等效且安全性良好,临床上可以替换使用。     

UPLC法测定大鼠血浆中藤黄酸葡萄糖酯及其药代动力学研究

目的: 建立测定大鼠血浆中藤黄酸葡萄糖酯浓度的UPLC方法,并探讨其在大鼠体内的药代动力学。方法: 以新藤黄酸为内标,建立大鼠血浆中藤黄酸葡萄糖酯的UPLC测定方法。采用该方法测定大鼠单剂量静脉注射2、 4 、8 mg/kg 藤黄酸葡萄糖酯后,不同时间点大鼠血浆中的藤黄酸葡萄糖酯的浓度,对其血药浓度-时间采用DAS 2.1 软件拟合,计算药动学参数。结果: 血浆中藤黄酸葡萄糖酯在 0.05～14.0 mg/L 浓度范围内线性关系良好(r=0.9999) ,定量下限为 0.05 mg/L,提取回收率均大于87%,其日内日间RSD均小于10% ,藤黄酸葡萄糖酯按2、4和 8 mg/kg 静脉给药后,在大鼠体内的t_1/2分别为(16.66±1.56)、(16.81±2.21) 和(17.88±2.05) min,AUC_0-t 分别为(12.92±13.14)、(37.3±18.58) 和 (68.22±20.91) min·mg·L^-1。结论: 所建立的UPLC方法操作简便、快速、专属性强,能满足藤黄酸葡萄糖酯在大鼠体内的药代动力学研究。     

Analysis of macrolide antibiotics, using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, in food, biological and environmental matrices

Macrolides are a group of antibiotics that have been widely used in human medical and veterinary practices. Analysis of macrolides and related compounds in food, biological, and environmental matrices continue to be the focus of scientists for the reasons of food safety, pharmacokinetic studies, and environmental concerns. This article presents an overview on the primary biological properties of macrolides and their associated analytical issues, including extraction, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), method validation, and measurement uncertainty. The main techniques that have been used to extract macrolides from various matrices are solid-phase extraction and liquid-liquid extraction. Conventional liquid chromatography (LC) with C18 columns plays a dominant role for the determination of macrolides, whereas ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) along with sub-2 microm particle C18 columns reduces run time and improves sensitivity. Mass spectrometry (MS), serving as a universal detection technique, has replaced ultraviolet (UV), fluorometric, and electrochemical detection for multi-macrolide analysis. The triple-quadrupole (QqQ), quadrupole ion trap (QIT), triple-quadrupole linear ion trap, time-of-flight (TOF), and quadrupole time-of-flight (QqTOF) mass spectrometers are current choices for the determination of macrolides, including quantification, confirmation, identification of their degradation products or metabolites, and structural elucidation. LC or UPLC coupled to a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer operated in the multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode (LC/MS/MS) is the first choice for quantification. UPLC-TOF or UPLC-QqTOF has been recognized as an emerging technique for accurate mass measurement and unequivocal identification of macrolides and their related compounds.     

Pharmacokinetics and mammary elimination of imidocarb in sheep and goats

The pharmacokinetics and mammary excretion of imidocarb dipropionate, a therapeutic/prophylactic agent against a variety of tick-borne hemoparasitic diseases in domestic animals, have been investigated in sheep and goats. A commercial formulation of imidocarb di-propionate was injected i.m. at a single dose of 3 mg/kg of body weight in 7 mature lactating ewes and 8 lactating does in good health. Blood samples were collected for 48 h after administration and milk samples were collected every 12 h for 10 d. A weak cation-exchange solid-phase procedure was used to remove imidocarb from plasma. A hexane/isoamyl alcohol liquid-liquid procedure was adopted to extract the drug from the milk of sheep. The same method was used for goat milk after exposing the matrices to enzymatic digestion. The extracted samples were analyzed by HPLC. The i.m. disposition kinetics of imidocarb in the 2 species showed significant differences in the rate of elimination (0.0075 ± 0.002 and 0.025 ± 0.004 L/h in sheep and goats, respectively), being faster in ewes than in does. Nevertheless, a smaller area under the concentration-time curve (12.21 ± 0.76 and 9.49 ± 0.54 μg/mL per h in sheep and goats, respectively), a larger volume of distribution (4.18 ± 0.44 and 7.68 ± 0.57 L/kg in sheep and goats, respectively), and a longer mean residence time (9.07 ± 0.77 and 14.75 ± 2.20 h in sheep and goats, respectively) were found in goats, suggesting a more rapid and effective drug storage in tissues during the first 48 h after the injection. The concentrations of imidocarb in milk of both species were higher than in plasma. However, a fast passage through the blood-milk barrier and a high storage of imidocarb were observed in the milk of ewes, whereas the drug concentrations were not as high nor was the extent of drug penetration from blood to milk as great in the milk of goats (AUC_{milk 0-48}/AUC_{plasma 0-48} = 2.5 ± 0.45 and 1.26 ± 0.27 in sheep and goat, respectively). Despite the differences in pharmacokinetic behavior, and considering the sensitivity of pathogens to imidocarb, the same dosage regimen can be used for clinical efficacy against Babesia spp. infection in both species. In contrast, the differences in depletion of imidocarb residue in milk and the large variability in mammary drug elimination found in goats suggests that great care should be taken in defining the withdrawal time in small ruminant dairy species.     

Structure-activity relationship studies of 3-aroylindoles as potent antimitotic agents

The concise synthesis and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of 3-aroylindoles were carried out in an effort to improve the potency and solubility of anticancer drug candidate BPR0L075 (8) by exploring structure modifications through three regimens: substitution of the B ring, at the N1 position, and of the 3-carbonyl linker. The SAR information revealed that the methoxy group of the B ring could be replaced with an electron-donating group such as methyl (in compound 9) or N,N-dimethylamino (in compound 13) while retaining both strong cytotoxic and antitubulin activities. The introduction of amide (compounds 30-33) and carbamate (compounds 34-37) functionalities at the N1 position of 8 gave analogues with potent antiproliferative activities. The cytotoxic potency of 8 was improved by replacing the carbonyl group with sulfide (compound 41) or oxygen (compound 43), indicating that the carbonyl moiety is important but not essential. The N,N-dimethylamino derivative 13 not only displayed potent cytotoxicity and antitubulin activity, but also showed a markedly improved physicochemical profile relative to the parent compound.