title: Peptide-coated liposomal fasudil enhances site specific vasodilation in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
abstract: 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. The in vitro drug release profiles and uptake by TGF-β activated pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMC) and alveolar macrophages were evaluated. The pharmacokinetics were monitored in male Sprague-Dawley rats, and the pulmonary hemodynamics were studied in acute and chronic PAH rats. The size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential of the liposomes were 206-216 nm, 0.058-0.084, and -20-42.7 mV, respectively. The formulations showed minimal changes in structural integrity when nebulized with a commercial microsprayer. The optimized formulation was stable for >4 weeks when stored at 4 °C. Fasudil was released in a continuous fashion over 120 h with a cumulative release of 76%. Peptide-linked liposomes were taken up at a higher degree by TGF-β activated PASMCs; but alveolar macrophages could not engulf peptide-coated liposomes. The formulations did not injure the lungs; the half-life of liposomal fasudil was 34-fold higher than that of plain fasudil after intravenous administration. Peptide-linked liposomal fasudil, as opposed to plain liposomes, reduced the mean pulmonary arterial pressure by 35-40%, without influencing the mean systemic arterial pressure. This study establishes that CAR-conjugated inhalable liposomal fasudil offers favorable pharmacokinetics and produces pulmonary vasculature specific dilatation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , 1300 Coulter Street, Amarillo, Texas 79106, United States.
authors.forename: Kamrun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nahar
authors.forename: Shahriar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Absar
authors.forename: Nilesh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Venkata Ramana
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Kotamraju
authors.forename: Ivan F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: McMurtry
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: Masanobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nozik-Grayck
authors.forename: Fakhrul
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ahsan
mesh_terms: D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D010455:Peptides; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine; C049347:fasudil
keywords: CAR peptide; inhalation delivery; peptide link liposomes; pulmonary arterial hypertension