Este trabalho teve como objetivo propor novo método para estudar a permeabilidade de fármacos, utilizando epitélio intestinal de rã-touro (Rana catesbeiana) em método ex vivo, empregando células de Franz. Por utilizar epitélio intestinal, um material de descarte proveniente de um animal utilizado como alimento humano, pode ser considerado um método alternativo, pois não implica no sacrifício de animais. A quantidade de fármaco permeada foi determinada por método de eletroforese capilar com detecção ultravioleta e validado para os antivirais lamivudina, zidovudina e aciclovir, na presença de metoprolol e floridizina. O fármaco escolhido como modelo nos ensaios de permeabilidade foi a lamivudina. Para estabelecimento do protocolo experimental dos estudos de permeabilidade, foi proposta uma análise de variância three-way para verificar a influência na permeabilidade dos fármacos, das seguintes variáveis: secção intestinal, pH da solução de Ringer e temperatura. Foram determinados a quantidade total de fármaco permeado (Qt), o coeficiente de permeabilidade aparente (Papp) e a constante de absorção de primeira ordem (ka). A partir da análise do planejamento experimental, os efeitos das variáveis não foram significativos, exceto para a secção intestinal. Os resultados de coeficiente de permeabilidade aparente (Papp) obtidos foram de 0,09 x 10-4 cm/s para lamivudina e de 0,22 x 10-4 cm/s para o metoprolol. O valor de Papp obtido de para o metoprolol é próximo dos valores encontrados na literatura para outras técnicas. Para a lamivudina, entretanto, a diferença encontrada em comparação às células Caco-2 pode ser devida às diferentes técnicas empregadas. / This work aimed to propose a new method for studying drug permeability using frog intestinal epithelium (Rana catesbeiana) in ex vivo method, using Franz cells. By using intestinal epithelium, a disposal material from an animal used as human food, can be considered an alternative method, because it doesn\'t involve the sacrifice of animals. The amount of permeated drug was determined by capillary electrophoresis method with UV detection and validated for antiviral drugs lamivudine, zidovudine and acyclovir in the presence of metoprolol and floridizina. The drug chosen as a model in permeability studies was lamivudine. To establish the experimental protocol for the permeability studies, a three-way analysis of variance was proposed to check the influence of intestinal section, pH of Ringer\'s solution and the temperature on the permeability. Total amount of drug permeated (Qt), apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) and first-order constant absorption (ka) were determined. By the analysis of experimental design, the effects of the variables were not significant, except for intestinal section. The results of apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) obtained were 0.09 x 10-4 cm/s for lamivudine and 0.22 x 10-4 cm/s for metoprolol. The value of Papp obtained for metoprolol is quite close to the values found in literature for other methods. For lamivudine, however, the difference found in comparison to Caco-2 cells may be due to different techniques.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo propor novo método para estudar a permeabilidade de fármacos, utilizando epitélio intestinal de rã-touro (Rana catesbeiana) em método ex vivo, empregando células de Franz. Por utilizar epitélio intestinal, um material de descarte proveniente de um animal utilizado como alimento humano, pode ser considerado um método alternativo, pois não implica no sacrifício de animais. A quantidade de fármaco permeada foi determinada por método de eletroforese capilar com detecção ultravioleta e validado para os antivirais lamivudina, zidovudina e aciclovir, na presença de metoprolol e floridizina. O fármaco escolhido como modelo nos ensaios de permeabilidade foi a lamivudina. Para estabelecimento do protocolo experimental dos estudos de permeabilidade, foi proposta uma análise de variância three-way para verificar a influência na permeabilidade dos fármacos, das seguintes variáveis: secção intestinal, pH da solução de Ringer e temperatura. Foram determinados a quantidade total de fármaco permeado (Qt), o coeficiente de permeabilidade aparente (Papp) e a constante de absorção de primeira ordem (ka). A partir da análise do planejamento experimental, os efeitos das variáveis não foram significativos, exceto para a secção intestinal. Os resultados de coeficiente de permeabilidade aparente (Papp) obtidos foram de 0,09 x 10-4 cm/s para lamivudina e de 0,22 x 10-4 cm/s para o metoprolol. O valor de Papp obtido de para o metoprolol é próximo dos valores encontrados na literatura para outras técnicas. Para a lamivudina, entretanto, a diferença encontrada em comparação às células Caco-2 pode ser devida às diferentes técnicas empregadas. / This work aimed to propose a new method for studying drug permeability using frog intestinal epithelium (Rana catesbeiana) in ex vivo method, using Franz cells. By using intestinal epithelium, a disposal material from an animal used as human food, can be considered an alternative method, because it doesn\'t involve the sacrifice of animals. The amount of permeated drug was determined by capillary electrophoresis method with UV detection and validated for antiviral drugs lamivudine, zidovudine and acyclovir in the presence of metoprolol and floridizina. The drug chosen as a model in permeability studies was lamivudine. To establish the experimental protocol for the permeability studies, a three-way analysis of variance was proposed to check the influence of intestinal section, pH of Ringer\'s solution and the temperature on the permeability. Total amount of drug permeated (Qt), apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) and first-order constant absorption (ka) were determined. By the analysis of experimental design, the effects of the variables were not significant, except for intestinal section. The results of apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) obtained were 0.09 x 10-4 cm/s for lamivudine and 0.22 x 10-4 cm/s for metoprolol. The value of Papp obtained for metoprolol is quite close to the values found in literature for other methods. For lamivudine, however, the difference found in comparison to Caco-2 cells may be due to different techniques.

Based on the biochemical composition and structure of the buccal mucosa, drugs can permeate by the lipoidal and/or aqueous pathways. In this regard, the buccal mucosa is similar to skin. As the unionized drug form is the major permeant across skin, flux depends predominantly on the thermodynamic activity of this species. In contrast, ionized drug has been demonstrated to contribute significantly to the permeability across the buccal mucosa due to the presence of large amounts of polar lipids. The contributions of the individual activities of these species is however, not known. Therefore, the first objective of this study was to delineate the thermodynamic activities of ionized and unionized species and to determine their role in governing the total flux across buccal membrane. The flux of model acidic (nimesulide) and basic (bupivacaine) drugs across buccal mucosa either increased (nimesulide) or decreased (bupivacaine) with pH under saturated conditions depending on an increase (nimesulide) or decrease (bupivacaine) in the degree of saturation of ionized species (DS ionized ). At sub-saturated drug concentrations, a decrease in nimesulide flux and an increase in bupivacaine flux were observed with pH due to corresponding changes in DS unionized . For nimesulide and bupivacaine, the contributions of the ionized and unionized species to total flux are equal when 90% of the drug is in the ionized form. In conclusion, the contribution of the ionized form activity to flux was significant. A lack of a specific model for predicting buccal permeability has led to the use of transdermal models such as the Potts-Guy model. However, it is hypothesized that based on the above conclusion, this model might lead to erroneous permeability predictions. In the second part of this dissertation, a specific model was developed and validated by performing permeation studies of 15 small molecules across porcine buccal mucosa. Molecular volume, lipophilicity, number of hydrogen bond donors and number of rotatable bonds were found to be the most significant descriptors governing buccal permeability (logK p ) based on stepwise regression analysis. An excellent fit with an adjusted R 2 of 0.946 and a Q 2 of 0.882 were obtained. A good correlation was observed between the observed and predicted logK p values for an external data set.

L'émergence rapide de bactéries résistantes et l’absence de nouveaux traitements efficaces ont conduit à réutiliser d’anciens antibiotiques. Le chloramphenicol (CHL) et le thiamphenicol (THA) ont ainsi été proposés pour traiter les infections respiratoires multirésistantes. Leur administration directe dans les poumons sous forme d’aérosols thérapeutiques devrait augmenter leur efficacité et minimiser l’exposition systémique responsable d’effets secondaires, en particulier lors de traitements prolongés. Ce travail de thèse a eu pour objectifs de réaliser des étudies biopharmaceutiques et de développer des formulations d’aérosols pour la voie pulmonaire. La perméabilité membranaire du CHL et du THA a été évaluée sur le modèle d’épithélium bronchique Calu-3 et leur pharmacocinétique a été réalisée chez le rat après administrations intratrachéale et intraveineuse. La perméabilité membranaire in vitro du CHL s’est révélée élevée, et intermédiaire pour le THA. Les deux antibiotiques sont substrats de transporteurs membranaires d’efflux. Les études pharmacocinétiques, cohérents avec les études in vitro, ont montré un impact nul de la voie d’administration dans cas du CHL et modéré dans le cas du THA. Par conséquent, pour prolonger l’exposition pulmonaire à ces antibiotiques, des formulations à libération prolongées basées sur des nanoparticules ont été incluses dans des poudres sèches de microsphères pour inhalation. Ces poudres se caractérisent par une teneur optimale, des propriétés aérodynamiques satisfaisantes et un profil de libération prolongée, et sont donc prometteuses pour l’administration pulmonaire de CHL ou de THA sous la forme d’aérosols. / The rapid emergence of resistant bacteria and the lack of new efficient treatments lead to re-use old forgotten, but still effective, antimicrobials. In particular, chloramphenicol (CHL) and thiamphenicol (THA) have been proposed to treat multidrug-resistant pulmonary bacterial infections. Their direct administration into the lungs as therapeutic aerosols should increase their efficiency and minimize whole body exposure responsible for adverse effects, particularly in the case of prolonged treatments. The purpose of these PhD. works was to perform biopharmaceutical studies and to develop an effective aerosol formulation for lung delivery. The membrane permeability of CHL and THA was evaluated in vitro in the Calu-3 bronchial epithelial cell model and pharmacokinetic (PK) studies were carried out in rats after intratracheal and intravenous administration. In vitro membrane permeability of CHL was high, but intermediate for THA. Both compounds were shown to be substrates of membrane efflux transporters. In agreement with these findings, the PK studies showed that the administration route had no impact in the case of CHL and a moderate one in the case of THA. Therefore, in order to prolong lung exposure to CHL and THA, nanoparticle-based formulations with sustained release properties were formulated using the palmitate ester prodrugs of CHL and THA. To ease administration, nanoparticles were included in microsphere-based dry powder for inhalation. These powders showed an optimal content, satisfactory aerodynamic properties and sustained drug release, which make them promising formulations for lung delivery of CHL and THA as aerosols.

<p>New effective experimental techniques in medicinal chemistry and pharmacology have resulted in a vast increase in the number of pharmacologically interesting compounds. However, the number of new drugs undergoing clinical trial has not augmented at the same pace, which in part has been attributed to poor absorption of the compounds.</p><p>The main objective of this thesis was to investigate whether computer-based models devised from calculated molecular descriptors can be used to predict aqueous drug solubility, an important property influencing the absorption process. For this purpose, both experimental and computational studies were performed. A new small-scale shake flask method for experimental solubility determination of crystalline compounds was devised. This method was used to experimentally determine solubility values used for the computational model development and to investigate the pH-dependent solubility of drugs. In the computer-based studies, rapidly calculated molecular descriptors were used to predict aqueous solubility and the melting point, a solid state characteristic of importance for the solubility. To predict the absorption process, drug permeability across the intestinal epithelium was also modeled.</p><p>The results show that high quality solubility data of crystalline compounds can be obtained by the small-scale shake flask method in a microtiter plate format. The experimentally determined pH-dependent solubility profiles deviated largely from the profiles predicted by a traditionally used relationship, highlighting the risk of data extrapolation. The <i>in silico</i> solubility models identified the non-polar surface area and partitioned total surface areas as potential new molecular descriptors for solubility. General solubility models of high accuracy were obtained when combining the surface area descriptors with descriptors for electron distribution, connectivity, flexibility and polarity. The used descriptors proved to be related to the solvation of the molecule rather than to solid state properties. The surface area descriptors were also valid for permeability predictions, and the use of the solubility and permeability models in concert resulted in an excellent theoretical absorption classification. To summarize, the experimental and computational models devised in this thesis are improved absorption screening tools applicable to the lead optimization in the drug discovery process. </p>

New effective experimental techniques in medicinal chemistry and pharmacology have resulted in a vast increase in the number of pharmacologically interesting compounds. However, the number of new drugs undergoing clinical trial has not augmented at the same pace, which in part has been attributed to poor absorption of the compounds. The main objective of this thesis was to investigate whether computer-based models devised from calculated molecular descriptors can be used to predict aqueous drug solubility, an important property influencing the absorption process. For this purpose, both experimental and computational studies were performed. A new small-scale shake flask method for experimental solubility determination of crystalline compounds was devised. This method was used to experimentally determine solubility values used for the computational model development and to investigate the pH-dependent solubility of drugs. In the computer-based studies, rapidly calculated molecular descriptors were used to predict aqueous solubility and the melting point, a solid state characteristic of importance for the solubility. To predict the absorption process, drug permeability across the intestinal epithelium was also modeled. The results show that high quality solubility data of crystalline compounds can be obtained by the small-scale shake flask method in a microtiter plate format. The experimentally determined pH-dependent solubility profiles deviated largely from the profiles predicted by a traditionally used relationship, highlighting the risk of data extrapolation. The in silico solubility models identified the non-polar surface area and partitioned total surface areas as potential new molecular descriptors for solubility. General solubility models of high accuracy were obtained when combining the surface area descriptors with descriptors for electron distribution, connectivity, flexibility and polarity. The used descriptors proved to be related to the solvation of the molecule rather than to solid state properties. The surface area descriptors were also valid for permeability predictions, and the use of the solubility and permeability models in concert resulted in an excellent theoretical absorption classification. To summarize, the experimental and computational models devised in this thesis are improved absorption screening tools applicable to the lead optimization in the drug discovery process.

La barrière hémato-encéphalique (BHE) est une structure retrouvée au niveau des capillaires cérébraux. Elle représente un véritable obstacle pour les actifs qui doivent se rendre au cerveau pour y exercer un effet pharmacologique. Durant les étapes du développement du médicament, des modèles cellulaires in vitro sont utilisés pour l’évaluation de la perméabilité au cerveau des nouveaux médicaments. Le modèle assemblé avec des cellules endothéliales (CEs) isolées des capillaires des cerveaux de souris présente un intérêt particulier pour la recherche en raison de sa facilité d’obtention et sa pertinence pour le criblage des médicaments. Le but de ce projet a été de construire et de caractériser un modèle monocouche de CEs primaires de souris. En parallèle, un modèle monocouche de la lignée murine b.End3 a été investigué. L’évaluation de ces modèles a été basée sur les valeurs de TEER et de perméabilité aux marqueurs fluorescents, ainsi que sur la présence des protéines spécifiques de la BHE. La validation du modèle a été établie par la corrélation des résultats de perméabilité obtenus avec le modèle développé (in vitro) avec ceux obtenus chez la souris (in vivo). L’intégrité et l’expression des protéines spécifiques de la BHE du modèle primaire se sont montrées supérieures au modèle bEnd.3. La corrélation in vitro/in vivo du modèle primaire a abouti à un r2 = 0,765 comparé au r2 = 0,019 pour le modèle bEnd.3. Ce travail de recherche montre que le modèle primaire monocouche issu de cellules endothéliales cérébrales de souris est un modèle simple et fiable pour la prédiction de la perméabilité des actifs à travers la BHE. / The blood-brain barrier (BBB), a central nervous system structure, is found in the cerebral capillaries. It represents a major obstacle for the drugs that have to reach the brain in order to exercise their pharmacological effect. In the early stages of the drug development, in vitro cell models are used to evaluate the brain permeability of new drugs. Models assembled using primary endothelial cells (ECs) isolated from mouse brain capillaries are of particular interest for research, as for their ease of obtaining and relevance for the drug screening. Thus, the goal of this project was to build and characterize a primary mouse monolayer model. At the same time, a murine b.End3 cell line monolayer model was investigated. The evaluation of these models was based on the TEER and fluorescent marker permeability values, as well as on the presence of the BBB hallmark proteins. The model validation was established by the correlation of the permeability data obtained with the in vitro model and the data obtained in mice (in vivo). As a result, the primary mouse model showed superior monolayer integrity and higher expression of the tight junction and membrane transporter proteins when compared with the bEnd.3 cell line model. The in vitro/in vivo correlation of the primary model resulted in r2 = 0.765 compared to the bEnd.3 model with r2 = 0.019. This research work shows that the primary monolayer mouse model is a simple and reliable model for predicting the drug permeability across the BBB.