title: Nanocrystal formulations of a poorly soluble drug. 1. In vitro characterization of stability, stabilizer adsorption and uptake in liver cells.
abstract: In the present work, milled nanocrystals of a poorly soluble compound using different stabilizers were prepared and characterized. The aim of the study was to evaluate a fundamental set of properties of the formulations prior to i.v. injection of the particles. Two polyethylene oxide containing stabilizers; (distearoyl phosphatidylethanol amine (DSPE)) -PEG2000 and the triblock copolymer Pluronic F127, were investigated, with and without polyvinylpyrrolidone K30/Aerosol OT (PVP/AOT) present. The solubility in water was around 10nM for the compound, measured from nanocrystals, but 1000 times higher in 4% human serum albumin. The particles were physically stable during the time investigated. The zeta potential was around -30 and -10mV for DSPE-PEG2000 and Pluronic F127 stabilized particles, respectively, at the conditions selected. The dissolution rate was similar for all four formulations and similar to the theoretically predicted rate. Critical micelle concentrations were determined as 56nM and 1.4μM for DSPE-PEG2000 and Pluronic F127, respectively. The adsorption isotherms for the PEG lipid showed a maximum adsorbed amount of about 1.3mg/m2, with and without PVP/AOT. Pluronic F127 showed a higher maximum amount adsorbed, at around 3.1mg/m2, and marginally lower with PVP/AOT present. Calculated data showed that the layer of Pluronic F127 was thicker than the corresponding DSPE-PEG2000 layer. The total amount of particles distributed mainly to the liver, and the hepatocellular distribution in vitro (Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and Kupffer cells), differed depending on the stabilizing mixture on the particles. Overall, DSPE-PEG2000 stabilized nanocrystals (with PVP/AOT) accumulated to a larger degree in the liver compared to particles with Pluronic F127 on the surface. A theoretical model was developed to interpret in vivo pharmacokinetic profiles, explaining the balance between dissolution and liver uptake. With the present, fundamental data of the nanocrystal formulations, the platform for forthcoming in vivo studies was settled.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences, AstraZeneca R&D, Gothenburg, S-431 83 Mölndal, Sweden. Electronic address: carl-gustav.sigfridsson@astrazeneca.com.
authors.forename: Kalle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sigfridsson
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences, AstraZeneca R&D, Gothenburg, S-431 83 Mölndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: Urban
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Skantze
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences, AstraZeneca R&D, Gothenburg, S-431 83 Mölndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skantze
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences, AstraZeneca R&D, Gothenburg, S-431 83 Mölndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: Svante
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences, AstraZeneca R&D Macclesfield, Silk Road Business Park, Macclesfield, SK10 2NA, UK.
authors.forename: Iain
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.affiliation: D'Liver AS, 9294 Tromsø, Norway; Vascular Biology Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Bård
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Smedsrød
authors.affiliation: D'Liver AS, 9294 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Britt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fuglesteg
authors.affiliation: D'Liver AS, 9294 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Kjetil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Elvevold
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences, AstraZeneca R&D, Gothenburg, S-431 83 Mölndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lindfors
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004143:Dioctyl Sulfosuccinic Acid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004355:Drug Stability; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D020442:Poloxamer / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012995:Solubility; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C519184:1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol 2000); D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D011145:Polyvinyls; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C505150:poly(N-vinylpyrrolidine); D004143:Dioctyl Sulfosuccinic Acid; D020442:Poloxamer; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols
keywords: Adsorption isotherm; CMC; Critical micelle concentration; Liposomes; Nanoparticles; PEG; Phospholipids; Pluronic; Poloxamer; Stealth; Zeta potential