Preparation of solid lipid nanoparticles by a solvent emulsification-diffusion technique.

A preparation method for nanoparticles based on the emulsification of a butyl lactate or benzyl alcohol solution of a solid lipid in an aqueous solution of different emulsifiers, followed by dilution of the emulsion with water, was used to prepare glyceryl monostearate nanodispersions with narrow size distribution. To increase the lipid load the process was conducted at 47+/-2 degrees C and in order to reach submicron size a high-shear homogenizer was used. Particle size of the solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) was affected by using different emulsifiers and different lipid loads.

Transmucosal transport of tobramycin incorporated in solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) after duodenal administration to rats. Part II--tissue distribution.

Tobramycin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) were prepared and administered by duodenal and intravenous (i.v.) routes to rats and the tissue distributions were determined successively at fixed times (30 min, 4 h and 24 h) and compared to those of the tobramycin solution after i.

Transmucosal transport of tobramycin incorporated in SLN after duodenal administration to rats. Part I--a pharmacokinetic study.

Tobramycin-loaded solid lipid nanospheres (SLN) were prepared and administered to rats into the duodenum; their behaviour was compared to that of tobramycin-loaded SLN administered intravenously (i.v.).

Scale-up of the preparation process of solid lipid nanospheres. Part I.

An apparatus was designed to prepare solid lipid nanospheres (SLN), potential colloidal therapeutic system obtained by dispersing a warm oil-in-water (o/w) microemulsion in cold water. The apparatus, consisting mainly of a thermostated aluminium chamber and a pneumatic piston, permitted to disperse through a needle up to 100 ml of warm microemulsion and to vary the temperature, the dispersing rate and the drop size of the warm o/w microemulsion. Experimental design was applied to study the effect of four experimental factors, such as chamber temperature, piston pressure, needle gauge and volume of dispersing water, on average diameter and polydispersity index of SLN and on dispersing time of microemulsion (the time required for the microemulsion to drip completely from the apparatus).

Preparation and characterization of solid lipid nanospheres containing paclitaxel.

The study describes the development of stealth and non-stealth solid lipid nanospheres (SLNs) as colloidal carriers for paclitaxel, a drug with very low solubility. SLNs are constituted mainly of bioacceptable and biodegradable lipids, such as tripalmitin and phosphatidylcholine, and can incorporate amounts of paclitaxel up to 2.8%.

Pharmacokinetics of doxorubicin incorporated in solid lipid nanospheres (SLN).

The pharmacokinetics of doxorubicin incorporated as ion-pair into solid lipid nanospheres (SLN) was compared with that of the commercial solution of the drug. Male albino rats (Wistar-derived strain) were treated i.v.

Solid lipid nanoparticles as carriers of hydrocortisone and progesterone complexes with beta-cyclodextrins.

Inclusion complexes of hydrocortisone and progesterone were formed with beta-cyclodextrin or 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin. The formation of the complexes was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The inclusion complexes were incorporated in two types of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN).

Effects of ultrasound-assisted compaction on Ketoprofen/Eudragit S100 mixtures.

Ketoprofen alone and in binary mixtures with Eudragit S100 was compacted by an ultrasound-assisted (US) tableting machine at an energy ranging from 50 to 400 J. The final material was analysed by TLC and HPLC: no decomposition product of the active agent was found. IR spectra and HSM revealed the absence of any interaction between the two components.

Solid lipid nanoparticles in lymph and plasma after duodenal administration to rats.

Purpose: To evaluate the uptake and transport of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), which have been proposed as alternative drug carriers, into the lymph and blood after duodenal administration in rats.

Methods: Single doses of two different concentrations of aqueous dispersions of unlabelled and labelled SLN (average diameter 80 nm) were administered intraduodenally to rats. At different times, samples of lymph were withdrawn by cannulating the thoracic duct and blood was sampled from the jugular vein.

Fractal analysis of beta-cyclodextrin-indomethacin particles compacted by ultrasound.

An association between indomethacin and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) was obtained by compacting a 1:2 molar physical mixture by ultrasound. The product prepared by this technique was compared with the initial physical mixture and with materials having the same composition but prepared by a simple compaction and kneading process. The samples examined by scanning electron microscopy revealed morphological differences related to the methods of preparation.

Metabolism of 4-(3-cyclohexylpropionyl)-1-(2-ethoxyphenyl) piperazine (D-16120) by rat liver microsomes.

The metabolic fate of central analgesic 4-(3-cyclohexylpropionyl)-1-(2-ethoxyphenyl) piperazine (D-16120), was studied in vitro with phenobarbital 3-methylcholanthrene and clofibrate induced rat liver microsomal fractions. The presence of four metabolites was directly or indirectly established. Biotransformation products were isolated by TLC and HPLC techniques and, when possible, the structures were confirmed through comparison with synthetic samples.

Metabolism of 7-(1,3-thiazolidin-2-ylmethyl)theophylline by rat liver microsomes. Evidence for a monooxygenase-dependent step in 1,3-thiazolidine ring cleavage.

Metabolic transformation of the mucoregulator and bronchodilator 7-(1,3-thiazolidin-2-ylmethyl)theophylline was studied in vitro with a rat liver microsomal preparation containing a NADPH-generating system. The only metabolite observed was 7-theophyllinacetaldehyde. In contrast to previous literature pointing out the chemical nature of 2-substituted thiazolidine ring cleavage, the formation of 7-theophyllinacetaldehyde was mediated by monooxygenase-dependent oxidation.

The metabolic fate of the anti-parkinsonian drug budipine in rats.

The metabolic fate of the anti-Parkinsonian drug budipine was studied in rats after oral administration. The presence of an aromatic hydroxylation product, metabolite M1, and its O-sulphate conjugate was confirmed. Three new minor metabolites, budipine N-oxide, metabolite M1 N-oxide and a secondary metabolite derived from M1 via hydroxylation of a methyl of the tert-butyl group, were isolated and identified in rat urine.

Metabolism of 7-(1,3-dithiolan-2-ylmethyl)-1,3-dimethylxanthine by rat liver microsomes. Diastereoselective metabolism of the 1,3-dithiolane ring.

The metabolic transformation of the antibronchospastic compound ABC-99 [7-(1,3-dithiolan-2-ylmethyl)-1,3-dimethylxanthine] was studied in vitro with a rat liver microsomal preparation containing an NADPH-generating system. Thirty percent of the ABC-99 was metabolized and the only metabolic pathway observed as the oxidation of the 1,3-dithiolane ring. Two distinct sulfoxides were formed diastereoselectively, the trans isomer being the major product in the ratio 7:3.

22,23-Epoxy-2-aza-2,3-dihydrosqualene derivatives: potent new inhibitors of squalene 2,3-oxide-lanosterol cyclase.

Two new azasqualenoid derivatives, bearing a 22,23 epoxidic function, were synthesized, to obtain more efficient, competitive inhibitors of the enzyme squalene 2,3-oxide-lanosterol cyclase (EC 5.4.99.

Metabolism of 1,1-dichloro-cis-diphenylcyclopropane by rat liver microsomes.

The metabolic fate of the anti-estrogen 1,1-dichloro-cis-diphenylcyclopropane (Analog II), was studied in vitro with phenobarbital-induced rat liver microsomal fractions. The presence of five metabolites was directly or indirectly established. Biotransformation products were isolated by TLC and HPLC techniques and, when possible, the structures were confirmed through comparison with synthetic samples.

In vivo metabolism of the anti-inflammatory agent 2-(5-ethylpyridin-2-yl)benzimidazole.

The metabolic fate of anti-inflammatory agent 2-(5-ethylpyridin-2-yl)benzimidazole (KB-1043) was studied in rats after oral administration. An average of 12.2 +/- 1.

In vitro metabolism of azasqualene derivatives and their effects on aminopyrine N-demethylase activity in rat liver microsomes.

The metabolism of squalene dimethylamine (I), a potent inhibitor of 2,3-oxidosqualene (SO) cyclase, and of sixteen other squalene derivatives was investigated in rat liver microsomes. N-oxidation was the only metabolic pathway observed, squalene dimethylamine N-oxide being the only metabolite isolated from incubation of I. The azasqualane and quaternary ammonium derivatives did not form N-oxides during their metabolism.

In vitro metabolism of 2-(5-ethylpyridin-2-yl)benzimidazole.

The in vitro metabolic transformation of the anti-inflammatory agent 2-(5-ethylpyridin-2-yl)benzimidazole (KB-1043) was studied with phenobarbital and 3-methylcholanthrene induced rat liver microsomal fractions containing an NADPH-generating system. The major metabolite was a benzylic oxidation product and a secondary metabolite was also recovered. The metabolites were isolated by TLC and HPLC techniques and identified by comparison with known pure compounds.

'In vitro' metabolism of N-picolyl-3,5-dimethylbenzamides.

'In vitro' metabolism of three isomeric N-picolyl-3,5-dimethylbenzamides was studied. The metabolites were isolated through TLC and HPLC techniques and identified by direct comparison with authentic compounds. The results of phenobarbital and 3-methyl-cholantrene inductions are given.

In vitro Metabolism of Bumetanide.

A new metabolite of the diuretic drug bumetanide, the 4-[(4'-hydroxy)-phenoxy] analog (7), was identified in incubation mixtures of rat liver microsomes. Phenobarbital and clofibrate pretreatment to induce microsomal enzymes changed the relative amounts of the six metabolites formed. Compound 7was the most prevalent metabolite after clofibrate pretreatment.

Biosynthesis of Sterols and Triterpenoids in Tissue Cultures of Cucurbita maxima.

The biosynthesis of sterols and triterpenoids in CUCURBITA MAXIMA was studied by analysis of unsaponifiable fraction of tissues from different development stages of the plant (seeds, seedlings, adult plant and tissue culture) and by feeding germinating seeds and tissue cultures with [2- (14)C]-acetate. Synthesis of cucurbitacins does not occur in callus tissues of CUCURBITA MAXIMA, whereas a wide variety of 4,4-dimethylsterols present in these tissues testifies of a high level of squaleneoxide cyclase activity in growing callus. The peculiarity of Cucurbitaceae among the higher plants is also discussed comparing the side chain biosynthesis of sterols in CUCURBITA MAXIMA to that operating in other higher plants.

Side chain degradation and microbial reduction of different steroids by Aspergillus auroefulgens.

The Aspergillus aureofulgens ability to cleave the side chain of progesterone (I) and the related C-21 steroids was studied. The enzymic system responsible for the progesterone side chain degradation was demonstrated to be adaptative and to operate by a Baeyer-Villiger mechanism. The cleavage of the side chain of the progesterone and of the related compounds was followed by the stereospecific reduction of the formed androst-4-ene-3,17-dione(II) to the 5 beta-androstan derivatives.

Bromination of 3-acyl-4-hydroxy-6 methyl-2H-thiopyran-2-ones. II.

The brominations of various 3-acyl-4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2H-thiopyran-2-ones as well as of 3-acyl-4-methoxy-6-methyl-2H-thiopyran-2-ones, bearing linear and branched acyl chains ranging from four to eight carbon atoms are described. The antibacterial and antimycotic activities of the new compounds are also reported.

Biosynthesis of cucurbitacins in Bryonia dioica seedlings.

The biosynthesis of cucurbitacins during the seed germination of Bryonia dioica was studied by analysis of the cucurbitacin-triterpenoid fraction and by tracer experiments with acetate-[2- (14)C]. Isolation of 10alpha-cucurbita-5,24-dien-3beta-ol (9a), the simplest tetracyclic triterpene with a cucurbitane skeleton, supports the view that (9a) is the general precursor of cucurbitacins. Moreover, following the tracer experiments, cucurbitacin E (1a) was the first cucurbitacin formed, whereas the less oxygenated bryodulcosigenin (4a) was not detectable during germination of the plant.