Lyophilisation and concentration of chitosan/siRNA polyplexes: Influence of buffer composition, oligonucleotide sequence, and hyaluronic acid coating.

Chitosan (CS)/siRNA polyplexes have great therapeutic potential for treating multiple diseases by gene silencing. However, clinical application of this technology requires the development of concentrated, hemocompatible, pH neutral formulations for safe and efficient administration. In this study we evaluate physicochemical properties of chitosan polyplexes in various buffers at increasing ionic strengths, to identify conditions for freeze-drying and rehydration at higher doses of uncoated or hyaluronic acid (HA)-coated polyplexes while maintaining physiological compatibility.

Preparation of Concentrated Chitosan/DNA Nanoparticle Formulations by Lyophilization for Gene Delivery at Clinically Relevant Dosages.

Chitosan/DNA polyplexes have been optimized for efficient and safe in vitro and in vivo gene delivery. Clinical application of this technology requires the development of formulations with higher concentrations to reach therapeutic dosages. Polyplexes were prepared using chitosan and EGFPLuc plasmids.

Stability of commonly used antibiotic solutions in an elastomeric infusion device.

Background: The Accufuser silicone-based elastomeric infusion device has recently been approved for the Canadian market.

Objective: To evaluate the stability of 5 antibiotics (cefazolin, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, clindamycin, and vancomycin) in either 5% dextrose in water (D5W) or 0.9% sodium chloride in water (NS) after storage in Accufuser disposable silicone balloon infusers.