Thesis (Master)--İzmir Institute of Technology, İzmir, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves. 55-58).

In this study, it is aimed to develop an injectable controlled release system of PCL and P(L,DL)LA microspheres loaded with TA and/or Ral for local treatment of rheumatoid arthritis which will avoid from systemic side effects of traditional administration and eliminate problems caused by direct local injections. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic, autoimmune disorder that most commonly causes inflammation and tissue damage in joints and tendon sheaths. Current strategies for the disease are mainly towards relieving symptoms and increasing mobility. The microsphere form drug delivery systems were developed to enhance the treatment success of rheumatic diseases by providing these agents alone or together for long terms without causing systemic or local site effects upon injection to the RA joints. Microspheres were prepared with s/o/w solvent evaporation technique and optimized to achieve a suitable size for joint application, to sustain the delivery of the drug(s), to provide required amount of the agent with feasible amount of microsphere. In order to manage these, microspheres prepared with different combinations of polymers and drugs were examined for particle size analysis, surface and structural characterizations, time related drug release properties, and drug loading capacities. In vitro cytotoxicity tests using 3T3 fibroblast cells were done to evaluate the biocompatibility of drug loaded PCL microspheres. The degradation of polymers were conducted and evaluated by GPC analysis. In PCL:TA microspheres, as polymer:drug ratio decreased (from 10:1 towards 10:4), namely as the drug partition increased, it was seen that encapsulation efficiency and loading percentages increased. Meanwhile, percent release of the drug decreased, indicating more prolonged release. Among all microspheres, PCL:TA 10:4 and PCL:Ral 10:2 were found to be the most appropriate for dual release in terms of release values (ca 21% and 0.09%, respectively), loadings (ca 27% and ca 13%, respectively) and mean particle size values (ca 100 &mu / m and ca 95 &mu / m, respectively). After release studies, microspheres preserved their sphericity. These selected polymer:drug groups also represented no cytotoxic effect. The microspheres for dual drug study (PCL:TA:Ral 10:4:2) released app. 55% of its TA and 0.29% of Ral at the end of 4 weeks. Drug loading capacities of these microspheres were found to be ca 14% for TA and 8% for Ral. Furthermore, with dual loading case, smallest mean particle size (68 &mu / m) could be obtained among all studied groups. P(L,DL)LA microspheres caused high viscosity problems during microsphere preparation steps and resulted in the slowest release, which was unfavorable for the aim of the study. To our knowledge there is no microsphere study reported with P(L,DL)LA in literature. The TA and Ral delivery systems with PCL and P(L,DL)LA were developed and studied for the first time in literature and they were optimized for RA treatment purposes. The potential of these systems, should be further tested in experimental animal models of RA.

Beim Tissue Engineering ist die Vaskularisierung von größeren Zell-Matrix-Konstrukten nach Implantation bis heute ein großes Problem. Durch das initiale Fehlen eines mikrovaskulären Netzwerkes kommt es zu einem raschen Zellsterben im Scaffold. Aufgrund dessen war das Ziel dieser Arbeit, im Sinne des in situ-Tissue Engineering ein Scaffold auf Basis von mineralisiertem Kollagen zu entwickeln, welches mit dem angiogenen Wachstumsfaktor VEGF funktionalisiert wird, um den Prozess der Vaskularisierung – die Einsprossung von Blutgefäßen – zu fördern und gleichzeitig durch Chemoattraktion in vivo Zellen aus dem umliegenden Knochengewebe in das Innere des Scaffolds migrieren zu lassen, so dass eine beschleunigte Defektheilung erzielt wird. Poröse Scaffolds aus mineralisiertem Kollagen wurden durch zwei unterschiedliche Strategien funktionalisiert und durch in vitro-Testungen charakterisiert. Die erste Strategie umfasste die Heparin-Modifizierung der gesamten Scaffolds, während die zweite Strategie die Injizierung eines zentralen VEGF-haltiges Depots in das Scaffoldinnere darstellte. Neben der Charakterisierung der Scaffolds wurde die Freisetzungskinetik des Modellwachstumsfaktors VEGF aus den modifizierten Scaffolds untersucht und die biologische Aktivität des freigesetzten Faktors auf Endothelzellen getestet. Zusätzlich wurde bei der 2. Strategie, der Injizierung eines Wirkstoffdepots, die Ausbildung eines Wirkstoffgradienten und die zielgerichtete Migration von Endothelzellen in Richtung des Wirkstoffdepots analysiert.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de NÃvel Superior / Este trabalho tem como objetivo a sÃntese e caracterizaÃÃo de nano e micropartÃculas para liberaÃÃo de fÃrmaco para tratamento da malÃria. Microesferas de quitosana de alta massa molar (QTa) e goma do chichà (CH) foram sintetizadas por complexaÃÃo polieletrolÃtica e reticuladas com glutaraldeÃdo. Os diÃmetros das microesferas reticuladas e nÃo-reticuladas foram de 544  3 μm e 558  2 μm, respectivamente. As esferas reticuladas nÃo foram solÃveis em meio Ãcido (pH 1,2). Ensaios de intumescimento mostraram que as microesferas intumesciam mais em pH 1,2 do que em pH 7,4 e que as reticuladas possuÃam menor intumescimento do que as nÃo reticuladas. A liberaÃÃo sequenciada de cloroquina, a partir das microesferas, foi realizada por 2 h em pH 1,2 seguida por uma liberaÃÃo em pH 7,4. A microesfera reticulada liberou 64% da cloroquina em pH 1,2, com um total do fÃrmaco liberado de 92%. O perfil de liberaÃÃo da mesma amostra em pH 7,4 apresenta uma liberaÃÃo controlada do fÃrmaco por cerca de 50 h. NanopartÃculas de QT e CH foram produzidas utilizando como rotas de sÃntese a complexaÃÃo polieletrolÃtica e formaÃÃo de base de Schiff. Na formaÃÃo de complexos polieletrolÃticos parÃmetros como massa molar da quitosana, razÃo molar de carga (n+/n-), ordem de adiÃÃo e concentraÃÃo dos polieletrÃlitos influenciam no tamanho, potencial zeta, Ãndice de polidispersividade e estabilidade das nanopartÃculas em soluÃÃo. O potencial zeta das partÃculas com excesso de QT à positivo e quando se diminui a razÃo molar de carga (n+/n-) para 0,1 o potencial torna-se negativo devido o excesso de chichÃ. Os diÃmetros das nanopartÃculas variaram de 80 a 1200 nm dependendo da concentraÃÃo dos polieletrÃlitos e da quitosana utilizada. NanopartÃculas formadas por quitosana de baixa massa molar (QTb) possuem tamanho maior do que as formadas por quitosana de alta massa molar (QTa). Quando a razÃo de cargas (n+/n-) e a concentraÃÃo dos polieletrÃlitos diminuem o tamanho das nanopartÃculas tambÃm diminui. Na liberaÃÃo da cloroquina em matrizes de CH, QTa e QTb de razÃo 5 e 0,1 duraram cerca 15 dias liberando atà 99% do fÃrmaco, porÃm apenas a razÃo de cargas influenciou no perfil da liberaÃÃo. NanopartÃculas formadas via base de Schiff foram preparadas. A influÃncia de parÃmetros tais como: grau de oxidaÃÃo da goma do chichÃ, massa molar da quitosana, ordem de adiÃÃo e razÃo entre as massas dos polissacarÃdeos foram investigados em relaÃÃo ao tamanho, potencial zeta e estabilidade. O potencial zeta mostrou-se positivo para partÃculas com excesso de QT e negativo para partÃculas com excesso de CH. Os diÃmetros das partÃculas variaram de 30 a 450 nm, dependendo do grau de oxidaÃÃo do CH e da massa molar de QT. Para goma do chichà com menor grau de oxidaÃÃo nanopartÃculas de QTa apresentaram-se maiores do que as formadas por QTb, e para a goma com maior grau de oxidaÃÃo nanopartÃculas de QTb possuÃam maiores tamanhos do que as formadas por QTa. / The aim of this work was the synthesis and characterization of nano and microparticles for malaria drug delivery system. Chitosan microspheres of high molar mass (QTa) and chichà gum (CH) were synthesized by polyelectrolyte complexation and crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. The diameters of the microspheres crosslinked and non-crosslinked were 544  3 μm and 558  2 μm, respectively. The crosslinked beads were not soluble in acidic medium (pH 1.2). The swelling of microspheres was higher in pH 1.2 and that the crosslinked beads have less swelling than non-crosslinked. The sequential release of chloroquine from the microspheres was performed for 2 h followed by a release in pH 7.4. The crosslinked microsphere released 64% of chloroquine at pH 1.2, with a total of drug released of 92%. The release profile of the same sample at pH 7.4 provides a controlled release of the drug for about 50h. QT and CH nanoparticles were prepared using polyelectrolyte complexation and formation of Schiff base. In the formation of polyelectrolyte complex, parameters such as molecular weight of chitosan, the molar ratio of charge (n+/ n-), order of addition and concentration of the polyelectrolyte influence the size, zeta potential, polydispersity index and stability of the nanoparticles in solution. The zeta potential of particles in excess of QT was positive and when the charg molar ratio (n+/ n ) decreases to 0.1 the potential becomes negative due to the excess of CH. The nanoparticles diameters vary from 80 to 1,200 nm depending on the concentration of the polyelectrolyte and the chitosan used. Chitosan nanoparticles formed by a low molecular weight (QTb) were larger than those formed by chitosan of high molecular weight (QTa). The decrease of the charge ratio (n+/n-) and the polyelectrolyte concentrations lead to small size nanoparticle. The release of chloroquine in matrices of CH, QTa and QTb ratio ratio 5 and 0.1 lasted 15 days by releasing up to 99% of the drug, however only the ratio influenced the release profile. Nanoparticles formed by Schiff base reaction were produced. The influence of parameters such as degree of oxidation of CH, chitosan molar mass, addition and masses ration of polysaccharides on size, zeta potential and stability were investigated. The zeta-potential was positive for particles with an excess of QT and negative with excess CH. The particle diameters ranged from 30 to 450 nm, depending on the degree of oxidation of CH and the molar mass of QT. Particle formed with low oxidation of CH and high molar mass chitosan are bigger than those formed with low molar mass chitosan. A inverse behavior was observed when high oxidated CH was used.

Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der molekularen Struktur der amyloiden Aggregate von Antagonisten des Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormones (GnRH) und Analoga des Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormones (GHRH) sowie deren schrittweiser Bildung und der Inhibierung dieses Prozesses durch verschiedene Polyphenole. Die dabei erhaltenen Erkenntnisse werden genutzt, um pharmazeutisch relevante Depotformulierungen der genannten Peptide zu generieren und deren Freisetzungsverhalten zu untersuchen. Die 3D Strukturen der Peptidmonomere werden basierend auf zweidimensionalen NMR-Experimenten aufgeklärt. Zur Untersuchung der einzelnen Teilschritte der Aggregation dienen zahlreiche strukturanalytische Methoden, u.a. zeitaufgelöste Fluoreszenzspektroskopie (TCSPC), Untersuchungen mit strukturselektiven Sonden sowie TEM-Messungen. Ein Schwerpunkt liegt auf der Sekundärstrukturanalyse durch Bandenformanalyse von ATR-FTIR-Banden, um die Ausbildung der amyloid-typischen β Faltblattstrukturen detailliert zu beschreiben. Aus den Ergebnissen wird für GnRH-Antagonisten ein fibrilläres Aggregatmodell mit paralleler β Faltblattstruktur abgeleitet, dass zwei voneinander unterscheidbare β Faltblattbereiche enthält. Mithilfe einer eigens entwickelten Kongorot-Titrationsmethode wird der amyloid-aggregierte Anteil der Peptide in Gegenwart verschiedener Partnermoleküle untersucht. Dabei zeigt sich u.a., dass Poly-L-Glutamat nur eine der beiden β Faltblattstrukturen schwächen kann, wohingegen eine Gallotanninmischung aus Rhus chinensis die Amyloidbildung vollständig unterdrückt. Durch umfangreiche Arbeiten zur Trennung und Charakterisierung der polyphenolischen Komponenten der Gallotanninmischung werden Untersuchungen zu Struktur-Eigenschaftsbeziehungen ermöglicht. Unter Nutzung dieser Erkenntnisse werden pharmazeutisch relevante Formulierungen aus den Peptiden und Partnermolekülen hergestellt und mit einer speziell entwickelten Dialyse-Liberationsmethode auf ihr Freisetzungsverhalten untersucht. Da der aggregationsinhibierende Effekte der Polyphenole diffusionsbedingt schnell verloren geht, wird schließlich die Synthese von mit Polyphenolen modifizierten Chitosanen und deren erfolgreicher Einsatz zur Komplexierung der Peptide beschrieben, wodurch erstmals eine Formulierung zur Verfügung steht, welche die Aggregation des Peptidwirkstoffes verhindert und gleichsam eine kontrolliert verzögerte Freisetzung ermöglicht. / The present study addresses the molecular structure of the amyloid type aggregates of GnRH antagonists and GHRH analogs, their stepwise formation and the inhibition of this process by various polyphenols. The findings thus obtained are used to prepare pharmaceutically relevant drug delivery systems of the peptides and to study the corresponding release behavior. The 3D structure of the peptide monomers are elucidated by two-dimensional nmr experiments. Numerous structure analytical approaches are applied to obtain further insight into the partial steps of the aggregation process, e.g. TCSPC, experiments with structure selective probes and TEM. Emphasis is placed on the investigation of the secondary structure by band shape analysis of amide bands obtained by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy in order to analyze the formation of amyloid type β sheet structures. Based on the analytical results, a fibrilar aggregate model is described, which contains two distinguishable β sheet structures. Using a newly developed congored titration method, the amyloid content of the peptides is examined in the presence of various additives. Whereas poly-L-glutamate is only capable of weakening one of the two β sheet structures, a crude tannic acid mixture from Rhus chinensis may suppress the aggregate formation completely. Extensive efforts are made to enable experiments targeting the structure-activity relationships of the polyphenolic components of the tannic acid mixture. With this in mind, pharmaceutically relevant formulations of the peptides and several additives are prepared and their release properties investigated using a newly developed dialysis liberation device. Since the aggregation inhibiting effect is lost quite fast due to the diffusive loss of the polyphenolic compounds, furthermore the synthesis of chitosan, which is covalently modified with the polyphenlic components, and its successful application for the generation of drug delivery systems of the peptides is described.