Liposomal Aerosols of Nitric Oxide (NO) Donor as a Long-Acting Substitute for the Ultra-Short-Acting Inhaled NO in the Treatment of PAH.

Purpose: This study seeks to develop a liposomal formulation of diethylenetriamine NONOate (DN), a long acting nitric oxide (NO) donor, with a goal to replace inhaled NO (iNO) in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Methods: Liposomal formulations were prepared by a lipid film hydration method and modified with a cell penetrating peptide, CAR. The particles were characterized for size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, storage and nebulization stability, and in-vitro release profiles.

Newer devices and improved formulations of inhaled insulin.

Introduction: Delivery of therapeutic insulin via the pulmonary route has been the most investigated non-invasive alternative to the commonly used subcutaneous (SC) route for diabetes management. Despite discontinuation of the first inhalable insulin, Exubera®, due to suboptimal market acceptance, development of orally inhaled insulin delivery systems has been galvanized by the recent approval of Afrezza® and several others awaiting approval.

Areas Covered: The scope of this review article includes the prospects for and the challenges faced in developing inhaled insulin delivery systems; discussion of orally inhaled therapeutic insulin delivery systems that were discontinued, recently approved or are currently under active investigation; and formulation approaches that have the potential to deliver insulin via the pulmonary route.

Peptide-coated liposomal fasudil enhances site specific vasodilation in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

This study sought to develop a liposomal delivery system of fasudil--an investigational drug for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)--that will preferentially accumulate in the PAH lungs. Liposomal fasudil was prepared by film-hydration method, and the drug was encapsulated by active loading. The liposome surface was coated with a targeting moiety, CARSKNKDC, a cyclic peptide; the liposomes were characterized for size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and storage and nebulization stability.

Starch-coated magnetic liposomes as an inhalable carrier for accumulation of fasudil in the pulmonary vasculature.

In this study, we tested the feasibility of magnetic liposomes as a carrier for pulmonary preferential accumulation of fasudil, an investigational drug for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). To develop an optimal inhalable formulation, various magnetic liposomes were prepared and characterized for physicochemical properties, storage stability and in vitro release profiles. Select formulations were evaluated for uptake by pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) - target cells - using fluorescence microscopy and HPLC.

Bio-responsive delivery of tissue plasminogen activator for localized thrombolysis.

In this study, we have developed an albumin-camouflaged/thrombin-triggered delivery system for site-specific delivery of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). The camouflaged construct is expected to suppress tPA's enzymatic activity in the systemic circulation but regenerate its thrombolytic action upon contact with thrombin present on the thrombus. tPA was camouflaged with human serum albumin (HSA) via a thrombin-cleavable peptide (GFPRGFPAGGCtPA).

Serum albumin-protamine conjugate for biocompatible platform for targeted delivery of therapeutic macromolecules.

A well-defined, one-to-one conjugate between human serum albumin (HSA) and protamine was synthesized and characterized as a biocompatible carrier for macromolecules. In circulation, the conjugate will camouflage drug molecules upon complex formation, while liberating free drug at the desired location using a triggering mechanism. The N-terminus of protamine was thiolated and conjugated with the unpaired Cysteine-34 of HSA, and was purified by ion-exchange chromatography.

In vitro, in vivo and ex vivo models for studying particle deposition and drug absorption of inhaled pharmaceuticals.

Delivery of therapeutic agents via the pulmonary route has gained significant attention over the past few decades because this route of administration offers multiple advantages over traditional routes that include localized action, non-invasive nature and favorable lung-to-plasma ratio. However, assessment of post administration behavior of inhaled pharmaceuticals-such as deposition of particles over the respiratory airways, interaction with the respiratory fluid and movement across the air-blood barrier-is challenging because the lung is a very complex organs that is composed of airways with thousands of bifurcations with variable diameters. Thus, much effort has been put forward to develop models that mimic human lungs and allow evaluation of various pharmaceutical and physiological factors that influence the deposition and absorption profiles of inhaled formulations.

Thrombus-targeted nanocarrier attenuates bleeding complications associated with conventional thrombolytic therapy.

Purpose: To test the hypothesis that thrombus-specific tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)-loaded nanocarriers enhance thrombolytic efficacy and attenuate hemorrhagic complications.

Methods: A series of pegylated and non-pegylated tPA-loaded liposomes were prepared and their surfaces were decorated with the peptide sequence (CQQHHLGGAKQAGDV) of fibrinogen gamma-chain that binds with GPIIb/IIIa expressed on activated platelets. All formulations were characterized for physical properties, stability and in vitro release profile.

Preparation and characterization of anionic oligopeptide-modified tissue plasminogen activator for triggered delivery: an approach for localized thrombolysis.

Purpose: The study sought to synthesize anionic peptide-conjugated tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) for its targeted/triggered delivery, where tPA's activity would be masked in the circulation and regenerated at the thrombus site by a commonly used anticoagulant, heparin, to minimize tPA associated bleeding complications.

Methods: tPA was conjugated to Polyglutamate, and the activity of oligoanion-modified tPA was tested by fibrinolytic assay. Separately human serum albumin (HSA) was conjugated to protamine and the formation of its electrostatic complex with anionic peptide was monitored by Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET).

Computational and bioengineered lungs as alternatives to whole animal, isolated organ, and cell-based lung models.

Development of lung models for testing a drug substance or delivery system has been an intensive area of research. However, a model that mimics physiological and anatomical features of human lungs is yet to be established. Although in vitro lung models, developed and fine-tuned over the past few decades, were instrumental for the development of many commercially available drugs, they are suboptimal in reproducing the physiological microenvironment and complex anatomy of human lungs.

Heparin-triggered release of camouflaged tissue plasminogen activator for targeted thrombolysis.

A targetable, heparin-triggered release system for tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) was designed to prevent the excessive 'lytic' state associated with the current tPA therapy for acute thrombotic conditions, such as myocardial infarction (MI). The strategy is, upon target accumulation, to trigger tPA release from a prodrug construct by a usual heparin dose. A relatively inactive form of tPA was constructed by conjugating tPA with low-molecular weight heparin followed by complexation with albumin-protamine conjugate, termed 'camouflage'.