title: Propylene glycol-embodying deformable liposomes as a novel drug delivery carrier for vaginal fibrauretine delivery applications.
abstract: The purpose of this work was to develop and characterize the fibrauretine (FN) loaded propylene glycol-embodying deformable liposomes (FDL), and evaluate the pharmacokinetic behavior and safety of FDL for vaginal drug delivery applications. FDL was characterized for structure, particle size, zeta potential, deformability and encapsulation efficiency; the ability of FDL to deliver FN across vagina tissue in vitro and the distribution behavior of FN in rat by vaginal drug delivery were investigated, the safety of FDL to the vagina of rabbits and rats as well as human vaginal epithelial cells (VK2/E6E7) were also evaluated. Results revealed that: (i) the FDL have a closed spherical shape and lamellar structure with a homogeneous size of 185±19nm, and exhibited a negative charge of -53±2.7mV, FDL also have a good flexibility with a deformability of 92±5.6 (%phospholipids/min); (ii) the dissolving capacity of inner water phase and hydrophilicity of phospholipid bilayers of deformable liposomes were increased by the presence of propylene glycol, this may be elucidated by the fluorescent probes both lipophilic Nile red and hydrophilic calcein that were filled up the entire volume of the FDL uniformly, so the FDL with a high entrapment capacity (were calculated as percentages of total drug) for FN was 78±2.14%; (iii) the permeability of FN through vaginal mucosa was obviously improved by propylene glycol-embodying deformable liposomes, no matter whether the FN loaded in liposomes or not, although FN loaded in liposomes caused the highest permeability and drug reservoir in vagina; (iv) the FN mainly aggregated in the vagina and uterus, then the blood, spleen, liver, kidney, heart and lungs for vaginal drug delivery, this indicating vaginal delivery of FDL have a better 'vaginal local targeting effect'; and (v) the results of safety evaluation illustrate that the FDL is non-irritant and well tolerated in vivo, thereby establishing its vaginal drug delivery potential. These results indicate that the propylene glycol-embodying deformable liposomes may be a promising drug delivery carrier for vaginal delivery of fibrauretine.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an 710021, PR China; Center of Drug Research and Development, Yantai Weitenarui Pharmaceutical Technology Co. Ltd., Yantai 264000, PR China.
authors.forename: Wei-Ze
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Shanxi Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan 034000, PR China.
authors.forename: Xu-Liang
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an 710021, PR China.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an 710021, PR China.
authors.forename: Wen-Xia
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an 710021, PR China.
authors.forename: Xi-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, PR China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Shanxi Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan 034000, PR China.
authors.forename: Yu-E
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Center of Drug Research and Development, Yantai Weitenarui Pharmaceutical Technology Co. Ltd., Yantai 264000, PR China. Electronic address: zhouyongqiangs1@163.com.
authors.forename: Yong-Qiang
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Shanxi Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan 034000, PR China.
authors.forename: Yu-Chuan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Shanxi Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan 034000, PR China.
authors.forename: Yong-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an 710021, PR China.
authors.forename: Li-Na
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Center of Drug Research and Development, Yantai Weitenarui Pharmaceutical Technology Co. Ltd., Yantai 264000, PR China.
authors.forename: Ji-Lei
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Center of Drug Research and Development, Yantai Weitenarui Pharmaceutical Technology Co. Ltd., Yantai 264000, PR China.
authors.forename: Hong-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Center of Drug Research and Development, Yantai Weitenarui Pharmaceutical Technology Co. Ltd., Yantai 264000, PR China.
authors.forename: Chun-Jing
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002460:Cell Line; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D019946:Propylene Glycol / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D007546:Isoquinolines; D008081:Liposomes; D019946:Propylene Glycol
keywords: Deformable liposomes; Fibrauretine; Pharmacokinetic behavior; Safety; Vaginal drug delivery