Les nanoparticules constituent une forme médicamenteuse d’avenir dans le domaine pharmaceutique. Capables de véhiculer de nombreux principes actifs, elles peuvent les libérer dans l’organisme après administration in vivo mais aussi les piloter vers des cibles prédéfinies. Ce travail repose sur la préparation, par une technique de double émulsion, de nanoparticules constituées de deux polymères : la poly-e-caprolactone et un polymère polyacrylique et polycationique (Eudragit® RS). La première partie a consisté en la mise au point de nanoparticules encapsulant de l’insuline et capables de la libérer in vitro et in vivo. Ces nanoparticules ont développé une activité hypoglycémiante après administration orale. En effet, l’inconvénient majeur du traitement du diabète par l’insuline reste un mode d’administration contraignant pour le diabétique : la voie injectable. La possibilité d’administrer l’insuline par voie orale constituerait un progrès révolutionnaire dans le domaine de la diabétologie. Les nanoparticules préparées ont donc démontré leur capacité à diminuer le glucose sanguin de rats diabétiques après administration orale. Le mécanisme de passage de l’insuline semble être dû à un contact intime entre le mucus chargé négativement et les nanoparticules de charge opposée créant ainsi un fort gradient local de concentration. La seconde partie du travail a consisté en la mise au point de nanoparticules dites furtives c’est à dire capables d’éviter leur reconnaissance par le système phagocytaire mononucléé après administration intraveineuse. L’objectif était de créer un procédé innovant de furtivité reposant sur la formation d’interactions électrostatiques entre l’héparine, glycosaminoglycane polyanionique, et l’Eudragit® RS, polymère polycationique. Le potentiel de furtivité a été démontré par l’augmentation in vivo de la demi-vie plasmatique de deux principes actifs de natures différentes : le chlorhydrate de propranolol et l’insuline. / Nanoparticles are innovative dosage forms in drug delivery. They can act as prolonged release dosage forms but they also have the potentiality to target specific physiological compartments after in vivo administration. This thesis is based on the preparation of nanoparticles according to a double emulsion process. The nanoparticles are formed of two biocompatible polymers: poly-e-caprolactone and a polyacrylic and polycationic polymer (Eudragit® RS). The first part describes the development of insulin-loaded nanoparticles able to release insulin both in vitro and in vivo. It has been demonstrated that such nanoparticles incorporated high amounts of insulin and were able to display a hypoglycemic activity after oral administration. It is well known that the major drawback of diabetes treatment remains the injectable administration route for insulin. The ability to administer insulin orally would be a tremendous progress in the field of diabetes. Our prepared nanoparticles have demonstrated their ability to reduce blood glucose in diabetic rats after oral administration. It is believed that the positively charged insulin-loaded nanoparticles may interact with the negatively charged mucus and create a high local gradient concentration which would favor the intestine permeation. The second part of the thesis was devoted to the development of stealth nanoparticles able to avoid the recognition by the mononuclear phagocytosis system after intravenous administration. The objective was to create a new system based on the formation of electrostatic interactions between heparin, a polyanionic glycosaminoglycane, and Eudragit® RS, polycationic polymer. The stealth potential has been demonstrated by increasing the in vivo plasma half-life of two drugs namely propranolol hydrochloride and insulin.

As parasitoses causadas por helmintos constituem um grave problema sanitário, tanto para os seres humanos quanto para os animais, além de gerar grandes prejuízos econômicos. O sulfóxido de albendazol é um fármaco anti-helmíntico de amplo espectro, largamente utilizado na medicina veterinária, veiculado pelas vias oral e parenteral, mediante a utilização de formas farmacêuticas convencionais. Apresenta biodisponibilidade baixa e irregular em função de sua pouca solubilidade nos fluidos biológicos. Para a manutenção da concentração plasmática e completa eliminação dos parasitos, são necessárias administrações reiteradas, ocasionando transtornos decorrentes do manejo freqüente dos animais e do aumento do custo da terapia. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo desenvolver e caracterizar um sistema microparticulado para liberação sustentada de sulfóxido de albendazol, de modo que este pudesse permanecer no organismo dos animais pelo tempo suficiente para a completa eliminação dos parasitos após uma única administração. Os sistemas foram obtidos a utilizando as técnicas de spray-drying e emulsificação / evaporação de solvente, tendo sido utilizados os polímeros Eudragit RS 30 D® e Eudragit RS PO®, respectivamente. As micropartículas obtidas foram caracterizadas com relação ao tamanho, à morfologia e à eficiência de encapsulação. Através da técnica de emulsificação / evaporação de solvente, foram obtidas partículas com diâmetro médio inferior a 300nm, estreita faixa de distribuição de tamanho e eficiência de encapsulação de aproximadamente 60%. Os resultados do estudo in vitro do perfil de liberação do fármaco a partir das micropartículas obtidas mostraram que, apesar de o sistema desenvolvido não ter sido capaz de sustentar a liberação do fármaco, o mesmo promoveu um aumento significativo da solubilidade do sulfóxido de albendazol em pH 7,4, fato este que pode contribuir para o aumento da biodisponibilidade do mesmo após administração parenteral. / The helminthosis are a serious sanitary problem, as for the men than for the animals, besides the great economic lacks. Albendazole sulphoxide is an antihelminthic drug with broad spectrum of action, widely used at veterinarian medicine, throw oral and parentereal vies, in conventional pharmaceutical dosages. It has low and irregular bioavailability due its low solubility in the biological fluids. For the maintenance of the plasmatic concentration and complete elimination of the parasites, it is required several administrations, creating many troubles due the frequent handling of the animals and increase in the costs of the therapy. The present work had as objective to develop and characterize microparticles for sustained release of albendazole sulphoxide, in order that the drug could be for a longer time in the animals organisms and the parasites could be eliminated after just one administration. The referred microparticles were obtained from the spray-drying and emulsification / evaporation of solvent techniques, using the polymers Eudragit RS 30 D® and Eudragit RS PO®, respectively. The obtained systems were characterized considering size, morphology and encapsulation efficiency. Using the emulsification / evaporation of solvent technique, it was prepared microparticles with medium diameter under 300nm, narrow range of size distribution and encapsulation efficiency of about 60%. The results of the in vitro release profile study of the drug from the prepared microparticles showed that besides the developed system was not be able to sustain the drug delivery, it was able to improve significantly the solubility of albendazole sulphoxide at pH 7.4, what can be useful to improve its parenteral bioavailability.

As parasitoses causadas por helmintos constituem um grave problema sanitário, tanto para os seres humanos quanto para os animais, além de gerar grandes prejuízos econômicos. O sulfóxido de albendazol é um fármaco anti-helmíntico de amplo espectro, largamente utilizado na medicina veterinária, veiculado pelas vias oral e parenteral, mediante a utilização de formas farmacêuticas convencionais. Apresenta biodisponibilidade baixa e irregular em função de sua pouca solubilidade nos fluidos biológicos. Para a manutenção da concentração plasmática e completa eliminação dos parasitos, são necessárias administrações reiteradas, ocasionando transtornos decorrentes do manejo freqüente dos animais e do aumento do custo da terapia. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo desenvolver e caracterizar um sistema microparticulado para liberação sustentada de sulfóxido de albendazol, de modo que este pudesse permanecer no organismo dos animais pelo tempo suficiente para a completa eliminação dos parasitos após uma única administração. Os sistemas foram obtidos a utilizando as técnicas de spray-drying e emulsificação / evaporação de solvente, tendo sido utilizados os polímeros Eudragit RS 30 D® e Eudragit RS PO®, respectivamente. As micropartículas obtidas foram caracterizadas com relação ao tamanho, à morfologia e à eficiência de encapsulação. Através da técnica de emulsificação / evaporação de solvente, foram obtidas partículas com diâmetro médio inferior a 300nm, estreita faixa de distribuição de tamanho e eficiência de encapsulação de aproximadamente 60%. Os resultados do estudo in vitro do perfil de liberação do fármaco a partir das micropartículas obtidas mostraram que, apesar de o sistema desenvolvido não ter sido capaz de sustentar a liberação do fármaco, o mesmo promoveu um aumento significativo da solubilidade do sulfóxido de albendazol em pH 7,4, fato este que pode contribuir para o aumento da biodisponibilidade do mesmo após administração parenteral. / The helminthosis are a serious sanitary problem, as for the men than for the animals, besides the great economic lacks. Albendazole sulphoxide is an antihelminthic drug with broad spectrum of action, widely used at veterinarian medicine, throw oral and parentereal vies, in conventional pharmaceutical dosages. It has low and irregular bioavailability due its low solubility in the biological fluids. For the maintenance of the plasmatic concentration and complete elimination of the parasites, it is required several administrations, creating many troubles due the frequent handling of the animals and increase in the costs of the therapy. The present work had as objective to develop and characterize microparticles for sustained release of albendazole sulphoxide, in order that the drug could be for a longer time in the animals organisms and the parasites could be eliminated after just one administration. The referred microparticles were obtained from the spray-drying and emulsification / evaporation of solvent techniques, using the polymers Eudragit RS 30 D® and Eudragit RS PO®, respectively. The obtained systems were characterized considering size, morphology and encapsulation efficiency. Using the emulsification / evaporation of solvent technique, it was prepared microparticles with medium diameter under 300nm, narrow range of size distribution and encapsulation efficiency of about 60%. The results of the in vitro release profile study of the drug from the prepared microparticles showed that besides the developed system was not be able to sustain the drug delivery, it was able to improve significantly the solubility of albendazole sulphoxide at pH 7.4, what can be useful to improve its parenteral bioavailability.

A via de administração vaginal pode ser considerada uma alternativa para diversos tratamentos, tanto de ação farmacológica local como sistêmica. No entanto, o tempo de permanência do fármaco no local da aplicação e a eficácia esperada representam um desafio para o desenvolvimento de formulações. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver nanocápsulas de superfície catiônica (EUDRAGIT® RS 100) ou aniônica (EUDRAGIT® S 100), contendo ou não o marcador de fluorescência Vermelho do Nilo como um modelo de fármaco lipofílico, e incorporar essas partículas em hidrogéis de quitosana, a fim de aumentar o tempo de residência da formulação na mucosa vaginal, devido às propriedades mucoadesivas desse polímero. Diversas formulações foram preparadas com concentrações crescentes de quitosana e analisadas em termos de pH e comportamento reológico, a fim de selecionar a mais adequada para aplicação vaginal. Os hidrogéis foram produzidos com quitosana 2,5% p/p, com ou sem nanocápsulas. Foi avaliada a aderência (mucoadesividade e perfil lavabilidade) e a capacidade de penetração (microscopia confocal e extração seguido de quantificação do vermelho do nilo) das formulações quando aplicadas em mucosa vaginal de porcas. As suspensões de nanocápsulas apresentaram diâmetro em torno de 200 nm e potencial zeta entre +13 mV (NC-RS) e -13 mV( NC-S) e valores de pH entre 5,1 e 6,2. A formulação de quitosana apresentou viscosidade característica e pH ácido (em torno de 4,5), ideal para aplicação vaginal. Os testes de mucoadesão mostraram que as formulações propostas contendo nanocápsulas poliméricas apresentaram maior adesividade em mucosa vaginal em comparação com a formulação composta somente de quitosana. Através do experimento de lavabilidade não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre as formulações. No entanto, as técnicas de microscopia confocal e a quantificação após a extração de fluorescência a partir da mucosa demonstraram uma maior penetração de vermelho do nilo quando nanoencapsulado, especialmente em nanocápsulas catiônicas. As formulações desenvolvidas com base no veículo do hidrogel de quitosana e nanocápsulas poliméricas, especialmente as nanocápsulas catiônicas, demonstraram aplicabilidade para a entrega de substâncias hidrofóbicas pela via vaginal. Palavras-chave: quitosana, nanocápsuas, via vaginal, EUDRAGIT® RS100, EUDRAGIT® S100. / The vaginal route of administration might be an alternative for several treatments, either for local or systemic pharmacological effect. However, the permanence of the drug at the site of application and its expected effectiveness represent a challenge in the development of formulations. Thus, the objective of this work was to develop nanocapsules with cationic or anionic surface charge, containing or not nile red as a model of lipophilic substance, and to incorporate such particles into chitosan vehicle in order to increase the residence time of the formulation due to chitosan mucoadhesive properties. Several formulations prepared with increasing chitosan concentrations were analyzed in terms of pH and rheological behaviour in order to select the most suitable one for vaginal application. Gel formulations were produced with chitosan at 2.5% w/w, with or without nanocapsules. The adhesion (tensile stress test and washability profile) and penetration enhancement properties (confocal microscopy- CLSM and extraction followed by quantification) of the formuations, when applied on porcine vaginal mucosa, were evaluated. The nanocapsule suspensions presented adequate properties and pH values around 5.1 and 6.2. The chitosan formulation presented a characteristic viscosity and an acid pH (around 4.5), which is suitable for vaginal application. Mucoadhesion tests showed that the proposed formulations containing polymeric nanocapsules had higher adhesion to the vaginal mucosa in comparison with the formulation containing only chitosan. The washability evaluation showed no significant differences between the formulations. However, the confocal microscopy and the fluorescence quantification after extraction from the mucosa showed higher penetration of nile red when nanoencapsulated, especially into cationic-charged nanocapsules. The formulations developed, based on chitosan gel vehicle and polymeric nanocapsules, especially the cationic nanocapsules, demonstrated applicability for the vaginal delivery of hydrophobic substances.

Zugl.: Düsseldorf, Univ., Diss., 2008

A via de administração vaginal pode ser considerada uma alternativa para diversos tratamentos, tanto de ação farmacológica local como sistêmica. No entanto, o tempo de permanência do fármaco no local da aplicação e a eficácia esperada representam um desafio para o desenvolvimento de formulações. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver nanocápsulas de superfície catiônica (EUDRAGIT® RS 100) ou aniônica (EUDRAGIT® S 100), contendo ou não o marcador de fluorescência Vermelho do Nilo como um modelo de fármaco lipofílico, e incorporar essas partículas em hidrogéis de quitosana, a fim de aumentar o tempo de residência da formulação na mucosa vaginal, devido às propriedades mucoadesivas desse polímero. Diversas formulações foram preparadas com concentrações crescentes de quitosana e analisadas em termos de pH e comportamento reológico, a fim de selecionar a mais adequada para aplicação vaginal. Os hidrogéis foram produzidos com quitosana 2,5% p/p, com ou sem nanocápsulas. Foi avaliada a aderência (mucoadesividade e perfil lavabilidade) e a capacidade de penetração (microscopia confocal e extração seguido de quantificação do vermelho do nilo) das formulações quando aplicadas em mucosa vaginal de porcas. As suspensões de nanocápsulas apresentaram diâmetro em torno de 200 nm e potencial zeta entre +13 mV (NC-RS) e -13 mV( NC-S) e valores de pH entre 5,1 e 6,2. A formulação de quitosana apresentou viscosidade característica e pH ácido (em torno de 4,5), ideal para aplicação vaginal. Os testes de mucoadesão mostraram que as formulações propostas contendo nanocápsulas poliméricas apresentaram maior adesividade em mucosa vaginal em comparação com a formulação composta somente de quitosana. Através do experimento de lavabilidade não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre as formulações. No entanto, as técnicas de microscopia confocal e a quantificação após a extração de fluorescência a partir da mucosa demonstraram uma maior penetração de vermelho do nilo quando nanoencapsulado, especialmente em nanocápsulas catiônicas. As formulações desenvolvidas com base no veículo do hidrogel de quitosana e nanocápsulas poliméricas, especialmente as nanocápsulas catiônicas, demonstraram aplicabilidade para a entrega de substâncias hidrofóbicas pela via vaginal. Palavras-chave: quitosana, nanocápsuas, via vaginal, EUDRAGIT® RS100, EUDRAGIT® S100. / The vaginal route of administration might be an alternative for several treatments, either for local or systemic pharmacological effect. However, the permanence of the drug at the site of application and its expected effectiveness represent a challenge in the development of formulations. Thus, the objective of this work was to develop nanocapsules with cationic or anionic surface charge, containing or not nile red as a model of lipophilic substance, and to incorporate such particles into chitosan vehicle in order to increase the residence time of the formulation due to chitosan mucoadhesive properties. Several formulations prepared with increasing chitosan concentrations were analyzed in terms of pH and rheological behaviour in order to select the most suitable one for vaginal application. Gel formulations were produced with chitosan at 2.5% w/w, with or without nanocapsules. The adhesion (tensile stress test and washability profile) and penetration enhancement properties (confocal microscopy- CLSM and extraction followed by quantification) of the formuations, when applied on porcine vaginal mucosa, were evaluated. The nanocapsule suspensions presented adequate properties and pH values around 5.1 and 6.2. The chitosan formulation presented a characteristic viscosity and an acid pH (around 4.5), which is suitable for vaginal application. Mucoadhesion tests showed that the proposed formulations containing polymeric nanocapsules had higher adhesion to the vaginal mucosa in comparison with the formulation containing only chitosan. The washability evaluation showed no significant differences between the formulations. However, the confocal microscopy and the fluorescence quantification after extraction from the mucosa showed higher penetration of nile red when nanoencapsulated, especially into cationic-charged nanocapsules. The formulations developed, based on chitosan gel vehicle and polymeric nanocapsules, especially the cationic nanocapsules, demonstrated applicability for the vaginal delivery of hydrophobic substances.

A via de administração vaginal pode ser considerada uma alternativa para diversos tratamentos, tanto de ação farmacológica local como sistêmica. No entanto, o tempo de permanência do fármaco no local da aplicação e a eficácia esperada representam um desafio para o desenvolvimento de formulações. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver nanocápsulas de superfície catiônica (EUDRAGIT® RS 100) ou aniônica (EUDRAGIT® S 100), contendo ou não o marcador de fluorescência Vermelho do Nilo como um modelo de fármaco lipofílico, e incorporar essas partículas em hidrogéis de quitosana, a fim de aumentar o tempo de residência da formulação na mucosa vaginal, devido às propriedades mucoadesivas desse polímero. Diversas formulações foram preparadas com concentrações crescentes de quitosana e analisadas em termos de pH e comportamento reológico, a fim de selecionar a mais adequada para aplicação vaginal. Os hidrogéis foram produzidos com quitosana 2,5% p/p, com ou sem nanocápsulas. Foi avaliada a aderência (mucoadesividade e perfil lavabilidade) e a capacidade de penetração (microscopia confocal e extração seguido de quantificação do vermelho do nilo) das formulações quando aplicadas em mucosa vaginal de porcas. As suspensões de nanocápsulas apresentaram diâmetro em torno de 200 nm e potencial zeta entre +13 mV (NC-RS) e -13 mV( NC-S) e valores de pH entre 5,1 e 6,2. A formulação de quitosana apresentou viscosidade característica e pH ácido (em torno de 4,5), ideal para aplicação vaginal. Os testes de mucoadesão mostraram que as formulações propostas contendo nanocápsulas poliméricas apresentaram maior adesividade em mucosa vaginal em comparação com a formulação composta somente de quitosana. Através do experimento de lavabilidade não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre as formulações. No entanto, as técnicas de microscopia confocal e a quantificação após a extração de fluorescência a partir da mucosa demonstraram uma maior penetração de vermelho do nilo quando nanoencapsulado, especialmente em nanocápsulas catiônicas. As formulações desenvolvidas com base no veículo do hidrogel de quitosana e nanocápsulas poliméricas, especialmente as nanocápsulas catiônicas, demonstraram aplicabilidade para a entrega de substâncias hidrofóbicas pela via vaginal. Palavras-chave: quitosana, nanocápsuas, via vaginal, EUDRAGIT® RS100, EUDRAGIT® S100. / The vaginal route of administration might be an alternative for several treatments, either for local or systemic pharmacological effect. However, the permanence of the drug at the site of application and its expected effectiveness represent a challenge in the development of formulations. Thus, the objective of this work was to develop nanocapsules with cationic or anionic surface charge, containing or not nile red as a model of lipophilic substance, and to incorporate such particles into chitosan vehicle in order to increase the residence time of the formulation due to chitosan mucoadhesive properties. Several formulations prepared with increasing chitosan concentrations were analyzed in terms of pH and rheological behaviour in order to select the most suitable one for vaginal application. Gel formulations were produced with chitosan at 2.5% w/w, with or without nanocapsules. The adhesion (tensile stress test and washability profile) and penetration enhancement properties (confocal microscopy- CLSM and extraction followed by quantification) of the formuations, when applied on porcine vaginal mucosa, were evaluated. The nanocapsule suspensions presented adequate properties and pH values around 5.1 and 6.2. The chitosan formulation presented a characteristic viscosity and an acid pH (around 4.5), which is suitable for vaginal application. Mucoadhesion tests showed that the proposed formulations containing polymeric nanocapsules had higher adhesion to the vaginal mucosa in comparison with the formulation containing only chitosan. The washability evaluation showed no significant differences between the formulations. However, the confocal microscopy and the fluorescence quantification after extraction from the mucosa showed higher penetration of nile red when nanoencapsulated, especially into cationic-charged nanocapsules. The formulations developed, based on chitosan gel vehicle and polymeric nanocapsules, especially the cationic nanocapsules, demonstrated applicability for the vaginal delivery of hydrophobic substances.

Ruminants possess a unique digestive system. Using the high metabolic potential of the symbiotic microflora of the rumen, ruminants are capable of digesting plant material and obtaining nutrients and energy from this process. Because of the ruminal fermentation, the most bioactives are not stable in the harsh ruminal environment. Therefore there is a need to improve the bioavailability of a bioactive by protecting it from the ruminal digestion. The formulation of protected bioactive can be delivered in the rumen in a controlled manner and over a long period of time. In this project the degree of rumen protection was estimated using model substrates (sugar pellets and granules). These materials were coated with the pH-sensitive polymer Eudragit E. The model bioactive (phloridizin) was coated using the coating methodology adopted from exploratory studies with model substrates. The bioavailability of protected (coated) phloridizin was assessed by administering directly into the abomasum of fistulated cows. Formulation of protected phloridizin was used to demonstrate the feasibility of bioactive controlled delivery based on ART ( Active Rumen Technology ). This technology uses an elevated gas pressure created by a hydrogen-producing cell to drive a plunger which extrudes bioactive formulation from an intraruminal controlled-release device. Four groups of devices filled with formulation containing different amounts of protected phloridizin were tested. The bioactive was released in a controlled manner over several days. The formulation release profiles were reproducible suggesting that in principle the technology can be further developed to use in a commercial sense or for research purposes. The limitations of the technology, including formulation issues and gas diffusion through barrel walls, were identified.

No description available.

Enteric pathogens form a large part of infectious diseases which contribute to a bulk of the healthcare costs. Enteric infections are usually contracted via the faecal-oral route or through contact with contaminated surfaces. Treatment by antibiotics is becoming increasingly ineffective due to the growing number of antibiotic resistant strains. Anti-microbial resistance poses a serious threat to the future of healthcare worldwide and necessitates the search for alternate forms of therapy. Bacteriophages (phages), are viruses which specifically infect and lyse bacteria. To introduce phages as a viable form of therapy, route of administration needs to be considered carefully. Model phages with broad host ranges are ideal for therapy however oral delivery to the lower gastro-intestinal (GI) poses several challenges. The acidic stomach environment can be detrimental to phages, rendering them inactive during passage. To overcome this challenge and improve the stability of phage during encapsulation and storage, this PhD research has been conducted. pH responsive polymers, Eudragit and alginate were used to develop composite microparticles which protected phage from acidic pH (pH 1-3). A novel method of acidifying oil was developed for crosslinking droplets in vitro to avoid the use of harsh solvent systems that can cause phage inactivation. Platform microfluidic technology was employed for phage encapsulation for the first time. Monodispersed droplets and particles were produced, offering fine-tuning of droplet diameter to tailor the release and pH protection of encapsulated phage. Process scale-up was attempted using membrane emulsification (ME) to produce larger volumes of encapsulated phage. In vitro and in-situ models investigated the efficacy of encapsulated phage-bacterial killing. Industrial scale method of spray drying, and electrospinning were also used to demonstrate the versatility of the formulation. Tableting dry powder phage, showed an effective method for producing solid dosage forms for therapy. Additionally, electrospun phage fibres also showed the potential use of pH responsive formulations in addressing wound infections. Improvement in encapsulated phage storage stability was observed with the addition of trehalose in the formulation. This research underpins the need for testing phage encapsulation for site-specific delivery and offers insight into the potential use of commercially available technologies.