The efficacy of rifapentine, an oral antibiotic used in the treatment of tuberculosis, is reduced due to its degradation at gastric pH and low solubility at intestinal pH. We aimed to improve delivery properties in vitro by incorporating rifapentine into pH-responsive amorphous solid dispersions with cellulose derivatives including: hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS), cellulose acetate suberate (CASub), and 5-carboxypentyl hydroxypropyl cellulose (CHC). Most amorphous solid dispersions reduced rifapentine release at gastric pH, with the best performing polymer CASub showing >31-fold decrease in area under the curve compared to rifapentine alone. Lower solubility at gastric conditions was accompanied by a reduction in the acidic degradation product 3-formylrifamycin, as compared to rifapentine alone. Certain formulations also showed enhanced apparent solubility and stabilization of supersaturated solutions at intestinal pH, with the best performing polymer HPMCAS showing almost a 4-fold increase in total area under the curve compared to rifapentine alone. These in vitro results suggest that delivery of rifapentine via amorphous solid dispersion with cellulose polymers may improve bioavailability in vivo. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

O flubendazol (FB) é um agente anti-helmíntico benzimidazólico cuja potencialidade foi demonstrada para uso no tratamento da filariose linfática e da oncocercose em humanos. As formulações atualmente comercializadas, entretanto, atuam apenas em parasitas do trato gastrointestinal, uma vez que, praticamente, não são absorvidas por via oral em decorrência da baixa solubilidade do fármaco. Assim, observa-se a necessidade da busca de alternativas que melhorem a solubilidade do FB e viabilizem o desenvolvimento de formulações orais de efeito sistêmico. Uma das tecnologias que vem se destacando no mercado farmacêutico nas últimas décadas para a produção de dispersões sólidas amorfas para melhoria de solubilidade é a extrusão a quente; esta representa uma potencial solução para o problema apresentado, constituindo-se o objeto de estudo do presente trabalho. Para tal, foram selecionados os polímeros copovidona e HPMCAS LG, além dos adjuvantes HPC EF e estearato de magnésio. Inicialmente os componentes individuais e misturas binárias de FB e excipientes foram caracterizados por DSC e TG, mostrando-se compatíveis com o fármaco em questão. Misturas entre o fármaco, polímero e adjuvantes para a extrusão a quente foram planejadas por delineamento experimental e o processo conduzido em extrusora dupla rosca. Parâmetros como a temperatura das zonas de aquecimento, velocidade de alimentação e das roscas da extrusora foram mantidos constantes durante todo o processo, de modo a avaliar o impacto de cada material e sua porcentagem na fórmula. A copovidona mostrou-se altamente extrusável, sendo que o HPMCAS LG, para os parâmetros utilizados, não permitiu a obtenção de extrusados com o FB. Todos os testes feitos com a copovidona, exceto o com alta carga de FB, pois nesta condição não foi possível obter extrusados, foram avaliados por meio de DSC e difratometria de raios-X pelo método do pó, durante um ano em temperatura ambiente e, após 30 dias, em condição de estabilidade acelerada (40°C/75% U.R.), com resultados positivos relativos à amorfização do fármaco. Adicionalmente, ensaios de dissolução foram realizados em meio HCl pH 1.2 indicaram melhoria expressiva da solubilidade, porém de forma distinta para cada formulação proposta. Desta forma, o processo de extrusão a quente com a copovidona mostrou-se uma alternativa viável e eficiente para promover o aumento da dissolução do FB, por meio da obtenção de uma dispersão sólida amorfa estável. / Flubendazole (FB) is a benzimidazole anthelmintic agent that has recently demonstrated effectiveness for the treatment of lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis in humans. However, the formulations currently commercialized act only on parasites of the gastrointestinal tract, since they are not orally absorbed due to the poor drug solubility. Thus, there is a need to seek alternatives to improve FB solubility and enable the development of oral formulations with systemic effect. Hot melt extrusion (HME) is a technology that has been outstanding on the pharmaceutical market in recent decades aiming to produce amorphous solid dispersion for solubility enhancement. Aside from that, this technique can be considered a potential alternative to the presented drug. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to prepare a solid dispersion using copovidone and HPMCAS LG as the polymers and HPC EF and magnesium stearate as the adjuvants. Initially, the individual components and drug/excipients binary mixtures were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (DTG) to evaluate the thermal behavior and compatibility with FB. Through these tests, it was possible to verify that the polymers and adjuvants chosen were compatible with FB. Then, the mixtures of drug, polymer and adjuvant were designed statistically and the process was performed in a twin-screw extruder; the temperature of the heating zones, screw speed, and feed screw speed were kept constant for all tests to evaluate the impact of each material and its percentage on getting an achievable solid dispersion. Copovidone was highly extrudable and the HPMCAS LG, for the determined parameters, did not allow obtaining extrudates for FB. The extruded materials were evaluated by DSC and X-ray powder diffraction and presented positive results concerning amorphization of the drug, except the tests with high drug loading. Stability tests were performed at room temperature for one year and accelerated condition (40° C/75% RH) for 30 days showing, for almost all tests, optimistic results regarding keeping FB amorphous. In order to evaluate the improvement of the solubility of the drug, a comparative dissolution test of the extrudates and the pure FB was carried out at HCl pH 1.2. At different levels, all extrudates showed expressive improvement on the solubility when compared to pure FB. In conclusion, HME process can be considered a viable alternative to obtain stable solid amorphous dispersion of FB and copovidone.

O melhoramento das propriedades de dissolução de produtos farmacêuticos é extremamente importante, visto que houve um aumento de fármacos de baixa solubilidade disponibilizados no mercado farmacêutico nos últimos tempos. Várias técnicas têm sido utilizadas para melhorar as propriedades de dissolução destes fármacos como a cominuição, o uso de surfactantes e o preparo de dispersões sólidas. A preparação de dispersões sólidas é um método útil para dispersar moléculas de fármaco em uma matriz sólida hidrofílica. A técnica de spray congealing é usada para produção de micropartículas não necessitando de solventes orgânicos ou aquosos. O presente trabalho teve o objetivo de produzir micropartículas de dispersão sólida contendo carbamazepina (CBZ) preparadas por spray congealing e estudar a influência dos parâmetros do processo. A CBZ foi usada como fármaco modelo por apresentar baixa solubilidade e ser o medicamento de primeira escolha no tratamento da epilepsia psicomotora. Inicialmente foram preparadas dispersões sólidas usando como carreador o polioxilglicerídeo (Gelucire® 50/13), e os polietilenoglicóis (PEG 4000 e PEG 6000) nas proporções 1:9, 1:5 e 1:1 (fármaco:carreador), pelo método da fusão e posteriormente submetidas a estudos de solubilidade, onde a dispersão sólida com Gelucire® 50/13 (1:9) mostrou melhor solubilidade em relação a CBZ pura, sendo selecionada para o processo de produção de microparticulados por spray congealing. As micropartículas foram obtidas utilizando um planejamento experimental do tipo Box-Behnken, estudando os seguintes parâmetros: vazão de dispersão, vazão do ar de resfriamento e pressão de atomização num total de 15 experimentos. Os microparticulados foram caracterizados pelos estudos de tamanho de partícula, densidade aparente, densidade compactada, fator de Hausner, índice de Carr, ângulo de repouso, eficiência de encapsulação, atividade de água, solubilidade, teor de umidade e rendimento do processo, sendo todas estas propriedades avaliadas pela técnica de superfície de resposta (ANOVA). A análise estatística demonstrou que o rendimento sofreu influência das três variáveis enquanto que o teor de umidade foi dependente apenas da vazão de dispersão. As demais propriedades não sofreram influência significante dos parâmetros estudados. A dispersão sólida, a mistura física e as micropartículas de CBZ em Gelucire® 50/13 tiveram suas características físico-químicas avaliadas por difração de raios-x, espectroscopia em infravermelho, microscopia de plataforma a quente e análises térmicas (DSC e TG). Os resultados das análises mostraram que não ocorreram interações físico-químicas entre o fármaco e o carreador. No entanto, o processo de preparo da dispersão conduziu uma mudança no estado cristalino da CBZ convertendo parcialmente a forma polimórfica III para uma forma I. Os microparticulados apresentaram fluxo de bom a moderado com bons rendimentos (50-80 %), baixo teor de umidade (< 2%), atividade de água menor que 0,550 e boa eficiência de encapsulação (99,5 a 112 %). O tamanho médio das micropartículas variou de 53,09 a 78,75 µm.e sua morfologia analisada por microscopia eletrônica de varredura mostrou forma esférica, superfície lisa com algumas irregularidades e aparentemente não porosa. A solubilidade da CBZ contida nas micropartículas apresentou um aumento de 2,70 vezes em relação ao fármaco puro. As características do estado sólido das micropartículas foram semelhantes às da dispersão sólida. As micropartículas estudadas conduziram a um aumento na taxa de dissolução in vitro da CBZ comparada a sua respectiva dispersão sólida e a CBZ pura. Portanto, o spray congealing, é um método promissor para ser empregado e desenvolvido na fabricação de micropartículas de fármacos pouco solúveis. / Improvement of dissolution properties of pharmaceutical products is extremely important, especially because the percentage of poor water soluble drugs has increased in the pharmaceutical market lately. Several techniques have been used to improve the dissolution properties of drugs such as grinding, the use of surfactants and preparation of solid dispersions. The preparation of solid dispersions is a useful method for disperse the drug molecules in a hydrophilic solid matrix. The spray congealing technique is used for production of microparticles and do not require organic or aqueous solvents. This work aimed to produce microparticles of solid dispersion prepared by spray congealing and to study the influence of process parameters. Carbamazepine (CBZ) was used as model drug due to its poor solubility and because it is the first choice drug for the treatment of psychomotor epilepsy. Initially solid dispersions were prepared using as carriers polyoxylglyceride (Gelucire® 50/13), and polyethylene glycols (PEG 4000 and PEG 6000) in the proportions 1:9, 1:5 and 1:1 (drug: carrier), applying the hot melt method .Solid dispersion with Gelucire ® 50/13 (1:9) showed better solubility compared to pure CBZ, being selected for the further production of microparticles by spray congealing. The microparticles were obtained using a Box Behnken experimental design, studying the following parameters: flow rate of liquid dispersion, flow rate of cooling air and atomizing pressure for a total of 15 experiments. The microparticles were characterized by studies of particle size, bulk density, compacted density, Hausner factor, Carr index, angle of repose, encapsulation efficiency, water activity, solubility, moisture content and yield of the process. These effects were analyzed by response surface technique (ANOVA). Statistical analysis showed that the yield was influenced by all three variables while the moisture was only dependent on the flow dispersion. The other properties were not significantly influenced by the parameters. The solid dispersion, physical mixture and microparticles of CBZ in Gelucire® 50/13 had their physical and chemical characteristics evaluated by x-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, hot stage microscopy and thermal analysis (DSC and TG). The analysis of the results showed that there were no physical-chemical interactions between the drug and carrier. However, the preparation process of dispersion has led to a change in the crystalline state of CBZ, partially converting the polymorphic form III to the polymorphic form I. The microparticles showed good to moderate flow and good yields (50-80%), low moisture content (<2%), water activity lowerless than 0.550 and good encapsulation efficiency (99.5 to 112%) The average size microparticles ranged from 53.09 to 78.75 m. The morphology was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and showed spherical shape, smooth surface with minor irregularities and apparently non-porous. The solubility of CBZ in the microparticles showed an increase of 2.70 times the solubility CBZ alone. The characteristics of microparticulated solid dispersions were similar to that of the solid dispersion. The microparticles studied led to an increase in dissolution rate of CBZ in vitro compared to its corresponding solid dispersion and pure CBZ. Therefore, the spray congealing is a promising method to be developed and employed in the manufacture of microparticles of poorly soluble drugs.

Trabalhos sugerem que a curcumina pode atuar na sepse diminuindo a liberação de mediadores pró-inflamatórios e de radicais livres. Na busca por aumentar sua biodisponibilidade, foi desenvolvido um processo fitotecnológico que gerou uma dispersão sólida de curcumina chamada DS17. O objetivo do nosso trabalho foi verificar a atividade biológica da dispersão sólida de curcumina (DS17) nas alterações imunológicas e metabólicas, utilizando modelo in vivo de sepse induzida em ratos por CLP, bem como avaliar as concentrações de nitrito in vitro em cultura de macrófagos peritoneais de animais sépticos e estimulados por LPS. Para os estudos in vivo ratos Wistar machos (250 a 300g) foram divididos em dois grupos, sepse polimicrobiana pelo modelo de ligadura e perfuração cecal (CLP) e operação fictícia (OF) sem ligadura ou perfuração do ceco. Esses animais foram pré-tratados com DS17 (100mg/kg), via oral, por 7 dias antes da indução da sepse e tratados 2 horas após o estímulo séptico. Um grupo de animais teve a sobrevida avaliada por 48 horas, o outro foi decapitado e teve o sangue coletado para análise de citocinas, proteína Heat shock 70 (HSP70), óxido nítrico (NO), volemia e glicemia e um terceiro grupo foi usado para avaliar a absorção de curcumina, por HPLC. Para os estudos in vitro foi realizada a cultura de macrófagos peritoneais tratados com DS17 e estimulados com LPS por 24 horas. Nossos resultados mostraram que a DS17 exerceu atividade biológica quando diminuiu as concentrações de IL-1? e IL-6 tanto no plasma como no lavado peritoneal 6 e 24 horas após a sepse, mas aumentou as concentrações plasmáticas de IL-6 , 4 horas após a sepse. Adicionalmente melhorou a hiperglicemia de fase aguda e a hipovolemia de fase tardia da sepse. Já as concentrações de IL10 plasmática e HSP 70 sérica diminuíram no período de 24 horas, enquanto o NO plasmático e a glicemia aumentaram nesse mesmo período. A análise da absorção da curcumina mostrou que ela está presente no plasma 4 e 6 horas, mas ausente 24 horas após a última administração de DS17. Essas alterações não foram suficientes para modificar significativamente a sobrevida, embora tenhamos observado pontualmente uma aparente melhora biológica de 20% em 24 horas. O tratamento da cultura de macrófagos com DS17 diminuiu a produção de NO que se seguiu à aplicação de LPS mostrando assim sua ação antioxidante in vitro. Nossos resultados sugerem que apesar do efeito oxidante da DS17 em modelo in vivo de sepse experimental, a mesma foi capaz de melhorar os parâmetros metabólicos e alterar a produção de citocinas pró e antiinflamatórias durante a fase aguda e tardia da sepse. Entretanto mais estudos são necessários para esclarecer o proposto efeito antiinflamatório e oxidante da curcumina durante a sepse experimental. / Studies suggest that curcumin may act in sepsis by decreasing the release of pro-inflammatory mediators and free radicals. In search to increase the curcumin\'s bioavailability was developed a phytothecnological process that generated a solid dispersion of curcumin named DS17. The aim of our study was to assess the biological activity of the solid dispersion of curcumin (DS17) in immunological and metabolical alterations observed in an in vivo model of sepsis in rats induced by CLP as well as to evaluate the concentration of nitrite in vitro in peritoneal macrophages culture of naïve rats and stimulated with LPS. For in vivo studies male Wistar rats (250 to 300 g) were divided into two groups, polymicrobial sepsis model by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and sham operation (OF) without cecal ligation and puncture. The animals were pretreated with DS17 (100mg/kg) orally for 7 days prior to CLP and treated 2 hours after surgery. One group of animals had the survival rate assessed for 48 hours, the other group was decapitated and the blood used to analyze cytokines, HSP 70, NO production, volemia and glicemia, a third group was used to analize curcumin absorption through HPLC. The in vitro studies were performed with intraperitoneal macrophages culture, treated with DS17 and stimulated with LPS for 24 hours. The dispersion decreased plasma IL-1? and IL-6 in plasma and peritoneal fluid, 6 and 24 hours after the sepsis stimulus. Additionally the DS17 improved the hyperglycemia of acute phase and hypovolemia of late phase of sepsis. On the other hand, plasma IL-10 and serum HSP70 decreased in 24 hours while plasma NO and glycemia increased in the same period. Moreover the HPLC results showed that curcumin is present in the plasma 4 and 6 hours, but absent 24 hours following the last DS17 administration. These changes were not sufficient to increase significantly the survival though we observed an apparent biological improvement of 20%, 24 hours following CLP. The DS17 treatment of macrophages reduced their NO production following LPS stimulus, showing an antioxidant effect in vitro. Our results suggest that despite the oxidant effect of DS17 in vivo experimental sepsis model, the dispersion has been able to improve metabolic parameters and change the production of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory during the acute phase and late sepsis. However more studies are needed to clarify the proposed oxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin during experimental sepsis.

Enabling formulations are growing in popularity due to the large number of drugs within the pharmaceutical development pipeline that possess poor water solubility. These sophisticated formulation techniques can increase the solubility of the drug in aqueous media and/or aid in their dissolution. Amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) are of particular interest due to their ability to generate highly supersaturated solutions upon dissolution. Typically, an ASD consists of amorphous drug homogenously blended with an amphiphilic polymer. The polymer has several roles including to facilitate drug release, as well as to inhibit crystallization of the drug from the solid matrix and from the supersaturated solution generated following dissolution. A phenomenon termed liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) or glass-liquid phase separation (GLPS) can occur during ASD dissolution when the amorphous solubility is exceeded. Here the drug attains its maximum thermodynamic activity in solution with the excess drug forming a second phase consisting of colloidal amorphous aggregates. It has been hypothesized that the presence of the colloidal amorphous aggregates could be advantageous in vivo since they can act as a drug reservoir and subsequently maintain the drug at its maximum thermodynamic activity in the gastro-intestinal fluid following solution depletion arising from permeation across the gastrointestinal membrane. However, there are few in vivo studies which test this hypothesis. If colloids form, the polymer must also inhibit crystallization from the drug-rich phase. Hence, the polymer has many roles during ASD dissolution making rational polymer selection for ASD formulation a complex process. While many studies, both past and present, probe drug release during dissolution, a limited number of studies address a mechanistic understanding of the polymer role during dissolution. The purpose of this study was to 1) investigate the interplay of the polymer’s ability to inhibit crystallization (thought to be primarily through hydrophobic interactions) and to facilitate drug release (via hydrophilic interaction with the aqueous media) on ASD performance and 2) determine the in vivo relevance of colloidal amorphous aggregates. Herein, a preliminary correlation was established between in vitro diffusion cell experiments and the amount of drug absorbed in rats. Further, it was found that rapid drug release through use of a relatively hydrophilic polymer is essential, and that the best crystallization inhibitors may be too hydrophobic to achieve adequate release. Therefore, a polymer needs to be an adequate crystallization inhibitor, but be able to release the drug upon oral administration. The implications from this study provides the necessary foundation for assessing ASD phase behavior and performance in vitro in order to make improved in vivo predictions. Ultimately, this research is expected to improve the speed of life-saving drugs progressing through the development pipeline and reduce drug development costs by reducing the need for animal testing.

Trabalhos sugerem que a curcumina pode atuar na sepse diminuindo a liberação de mediadores pró-inflamatórios e de radicais livres. Na busca por aumentar sua biodisponibilidade, foi desenvolvido um processo fitotecnológico que gerou uma dispersão sólida de curcumina chamada DS17. O objetivo do nosso trabalho foi verificar a atividade biológica da dispersão sólida de curcumina (DS17) nas alterações imunológicas e metabólicas, utilizando modelo in vivo de sepse induzida em ratos por CLP, bem como avaliar as concentrações de nitrito in vitro em cultura de macrófagos peritoneais de animais sépticos e estimulados por LPS. Para os estudos in vivo ratos Wistar machos (250 a 300g) foram divididos em dois grupos, sepse polimicrobiana pelo modelo de ligadura e perfuração cecal (CLP) e operação fictícia (OF) sem ligadura ou perfuração do ceco. Esses animais foram pré-tratados com DS17 (100mg/kg), via oral, por 7 dias antes da indução da sepse e tratados 2 horas após o estímulo séptico. Um grupo de animais teve a sobrevida avaliada por 48 horas, o outro foi decapitado e teve o sangue coletado para análise de citocinas, proteína Heat shock 70 (HSP70), óxido nítrico (NO), volemia e glicemia e um terceiro grupo foi usado para avaliar a absorção de curcumina, por HPLC. Para os estudos in vitro foi realizada a cultura de macrófagos peritoneais tratados com DS17 e estimulados com LPS por 24 horas. Nossos resultados mostraram que a DS17 exerceu atividade biológica quando diminuiu as concentrações de IL-1? e IL-6 tanto no plasma como no lavado peritoneal 6 e 24 horas após a sepse, mas aumentou as concentrações plasmáticas de IL-6 , 4 horas após a sepse. Adicionalmente melhorou a hiperglicemia de fase aguda e a hipovolemia de fase tardia da sepse. Já as concentrações de IL10 plasmática e HSP 70 sérica diminuíram no período de 24 horas, enquanto o NO plasmático e a glicemia aumentaram nesse mesmo período. A análise da absorção da curcumina mostrou que ela está presente no plasma 4 e 6 horas, mas ausente 24 horas após a última administração de DS17. Essas alterações não foram suficientes para modificar significativamente a sobrevida, embora tenhamos observado pontualmente uma aparente melhora biológica de 20% em 24 horas. O tratamento da cultura de macrófagos com DS17 diminuiu a produção de NO que se seguiu à aplicação de LPS mostrando assim sua ação antioxidante in vitro. Nossos resultados sugerem que apesar do efeito oxidante da DS17 em modelo in vivo de sepse experimental, a mesma foi capaz de melhorar os parâmetros metabólicos e alterar a produção de citocinas pró e antiinflamatórias durante a fase aguda e tardia da sepse. Entretanto mais estudos são necessários para esclarecer o proposto efeito antiinflamatório e oxidante da curcumina durante a sepse experimental. / Studies suggest that curcumin may act in sepsis by decreasing the release of pro-inflammatory mediators and free radicals. In search to increase the curcumin\'s bioavailability was developed a phytothecnological process that generated a solid dispersion of curcumin named DS17. The aim of our study was to assess the biological activity of the solid dispersion of curcumin (DS17) in immunological and metabolical alterations observed in an in vivo model of sepsis in rats induced by CLP as well as to evaluate the concentration of nitrite in vitro in peritoneal macrophages culture of naïve rats and stimulated with LPS. For in vivo studies male Wistar rats (250 to 300 g) were divided into two groups, polymicrobial sepsis model by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and sham operation (OF) without cecal ligation and puncture. The animals were pretreated with DS17 (100mg/kg) orally for 7 days prior to CLP and treated 2 hours after surgery. One group of animals had the survival rate assessed for 48 hours, the other group was decapitated and the blood used to analyze cytokines, HSP 70, NO production, volemia and glicemia, a third group was used to analize curcumin absorption through HPLC. The in vitro studies were performed with intraperitoneal macrophages culture, treated with DS17 and stimulated with LPS for 24 hours. The dispersion decreased plasma IL-1? and IL-6 in plasma and peritoneal fluid, 6 and 24 hours after the sepsis stimulus. Additionally the DS17 improved the hyperglycemia of acute phase and hypovolemia of late phase of sepsis. On the other hand, plasma IL-10 and serum HSP70 decreased in 24 hours while plasma NO and glycemia increased in the same period. Moreover the HPLC results showed that curcumin is present in the plasma 4 and 6 hours, but absent 24 hours following the last DS17 administration. These changes were not sufficient to increase significantly the survival though we observed an apparent biological improvement of 20%, 24 hours following CLP. The DS17 treatment of macrophages reduced their NO production following LPS stimulus, showing an antioxidant effect in vitro. Our results suggest that despite the oxidant effect of DS17 in vivo experimental sepsis model, the dispersion has been able to improve metabolic parameters and change the production of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory during the acute phase and late sepsis. However more studies are needed to clarify the proposed oxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin during experimental sepsis.

O flubendazol (FB) é um agente anti-helmíntico benzimidazólico cuja potencialidade foi demonstrada para uso no tratamento da filariose linfática e da oncocercose em humanos. As formulações atualmente comercializadas, entretanto, atuam apenas em parasitas do trato gastrointestinal, uma vez que, praticamente, não são absorvidas por via oral em decorrência da baixa solubilidade do fármaco. Assim, observa-se a necessidade da busca de alternativas que melhorem a solubilidade do FB e viabilizem o desenvolvimento de formulações orais de efeito sistêmico. Uma das tecnologias que vem se destacando no mercado farmacêutico nas últimas décadas para a produção de dispersões sólidas amorfas para melhoria de solubilidade é a extrusão a quente; esta representa uma potencial solução para o problema apresentado, constituindo-se o objeto de estudo do presente trabalho. Para tal, foram selecionados os polímeros copovidona e HPMCAS LG, além dos adjuvantes HPC EF e estearato de magnésio. Inicialmente os componentes individuais e misturas binárias de FB e excipientes foram caracterizados por DSC e TG, mostrando-se compatíveis com o fármaco em questão. Misturas entre o fármaco, polímero e adjuvantes para a extrusão a quente foram planejadas por delineamento experimental e o processo conduzido em extrusora dupla rosca. Parâmetros como a temperatura das zonas de aquecimento, velocidade de alimentação e das roscas da extrusora foram mantidos constantes durante todo o processo, de modo a avaliar o impacto de cada material e sua porcentagem na fórmula. A copovidona mostrou-se altamente extrusável, sendo que o HPMCAS LG, para os parâmetros utilizados, não permitiu a obtenção de extrusados com o FB. Todos os testes feitos com a copovidona, exceto o com alta carga de FB, pois nesta condição não foi possível obter extrusados, foram avaliados por meio de DSC e difratometria de raios-X pelo método do pó, durante um ano em temperatura ambiente e, após 30 dias, em condição de estabilidade acelerada (40°C/75% U.R.), com resultados positivos relativos à amorfização do fármaco. Adicionalmente, ensaios de dissolução foram realizados em meio HCl pH 1.2 indicaram melhoria expressiva da solubilidade, porém de forma distinta para cada formulação proposta. Desta forma, o processo de extrusão a quente com a copovidona mostrou-se uma alternativa viável e eficiente para promover o aumento da dissolução do FB, por meio da obtenção de uma dispersão sólida amorfa estável. / Flubendazole (FB) is a benzimidazole anthelmintic agent that has recently demonstrated effectiveness for the treatment of lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis in humans. However, the formulations currently commercialized act only on parasites of the gastrointestinal tract, since they are not orally absorbed due to the poor drug solubility. Thus, there is a need to seek alternatives to improve FB solubility and enable the development of oral formulations with systemic effect. Hot melt extrusion (HME) is a technology that has been outstanding on the pharmaceutical market in recent decades aiming to produce amorphous solid dispersion for solubility enhancement. Aside from that, this technique can be considered a potential alternative to the presented drug. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to prepare a solid dispersion using copovidone and HPMCAS LG as the polymers and HPC EF and magnesium stearate as the adjuvants. Initially, the individual components and drug/excipients binary mixtures were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (DTG) to evaluate the thermal behavior and compatibility with FB. Through these tests, it was possible to verify that the polymers and adjuvants chosen were compatible with FB. Then, the mixtures of drug, polymer and adjuvant were designed statistically and the process was performed in a twin-screw extruder; the temperature of the heating zones, screw speed, and feed screw speed were kept constant for all tests to evaluate the impact of each material and its percentage on getting an achievable solid dispersion. Copovidone was highly extrudable and the HPMCAS LG, for the determined parameters, did not allow obtaining extrudates for FB. The extruded materials were evaluated by DSC and X-ray powder diffraction and presented positive results concerning amorphization of the drug, except the tests with high drug loading. Stability tests were performed at room temperature for one year and accelerated condition (40° C/75% RH) for 30 days showing, for almost all tests, optimistic results regarding keeping FB amorphous. In order to evaluate the improvement of the solubility of the drug, a comparative dissolution test of the extrudates and the pure FB was carried out at HCl pH 1.2. At different levels, all extrudates showed expressive improvement on the solubility when compared to pure FB. In conclusion, HME process can be considered a viable alternative to obtain stable solid amorphous dispersion of FB and copovidone.

Gene therapy holds the promise of revolutionizing the way we treat diseases. By using recombinant DNA and oligonucleotides (ONs), gene functions can be restored, altered or silenced according to the therapeutic need. However, gene therapy approaches require the delivery of large and charged nucleic acid-based molecules to their intracellular targets across the plasma membrane, which is inherently impermeable to such molecules. In this thesis, two chemically modified cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) that have superior delivery properties for several nucleic acid-based therapeutics are developed. These CPPs can spontaneously form nanoparticles upon non-covalent complexation with the nucleic acid cargo, and the formed nanoparticles mediate efficient cellular transfection. In paper I, we show that an N-terminally stearic acid-modified version of transportan-10 (PF3) can efficiently transfect different cell types with plasmid DNA and mediates efficient gene delivery in-vivo when administrated intra muscularly (i.m.) or intradermaly (i.d.). In paper II, a new peptide with ornithine modification, PF14, is shown to efficiently deliver splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) in different cell models including mdx mouse myotubes; a cell culture model of Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy (DMD). Additionally, we describe a method for incorporating the PF14-SSO nanoparticles into a solid formulation that is active and stable even when stored at elevated temperatures for several weeks. In paper III, we demonstrate the involvement of class-A scavenger receptor subtypes (SCARA3 &amp; SCARA5) in the uptake of PF14-SSO nanoparticles, which possess negative surface charge, and suggest for the first time that some CPP-based systems function through scavenger receptors. In paper IV, the ability of PF14 to deliver siRNA to different cell lines is shown and their stability in simulated gastric acidic conditions is highlighted. Taken together, these results demonstrate that certain chemical modifications can drastically enhance the activity and stability of CPPs for delivering nucleic acids after spontaneous nanoparticle formation upon non-covalent complexation. Moreover, we show that CPP-based nanoparticles can be formulated into convenient and stable solid formulations that can be suitable for several therapeutic applications. Importantly, the involvement of scavenger receptors in the uptake of such nanoparticles is presented, which could yield novel possibilities to understand and improve the transfection by CPPs and other gene therapy nanoparticles. / At the time of doctoral defence the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper nr 4: Submitted

Formulation intervention, through the application of processing technologies, is a requirement for enabling therapy for the vast majority of drugs. Without these enabling technologies, poorly soluble drugs may not achieve therapeutic concentrations in the blood or tissue of interest. Conversely, freely soluble and/or rapidly cleared drugs may require frequent dosing resulting in highly cyclic tissue concentrations. During the last several years, thermal processing techniques, such as melt mixing, spray congealing, sintering, and hot-melt extrusion (HME), have evolved rapidly. Several new technologies, specifically dry powder coating, injection molding, and KinetiSol® dispersing (KSD), have been adapted to the pharmaceutical arena. Co-rotating twin screw extrusion is routinely applied for the purposes of dissolving poorly soluble drugs into glassy polymers to prepare amorphous solid dispersions, which create supersaturated drug concentrations in the gastro-intestinal tract. A potentially more advantageous alternate geometry, counter-rotating twin screw extrusion was evaluated for preparation of model amorphous solid dispersion and was observed to be more efficient in forming a solid solution and reduced the thermal stress on the drug. HME and KSD processes were utilized to prepare two phase systems consisting of a lipid, glyceryl behenate, and a polymeric amorphous solid dispersion intended to provide both controlled release of drug and supersaturated drug concentrations in the release medium. Such systems are challenging due to the potential for crystallization of the drug within the dosage form during release, which was observed to be influenced by lipophilicity and porosity of the formulation, as well as the surface area to volume ratio of the system. High molecular weight cellulose based glassy dispersions were prepared using a weakly basic model drug by KSD, which when formulated into tablets were optimized to provide either immediate or approximately 2 hours of controlled release under the pH conditions simulating the environment of the stomach. Without formulation intervention in the external phase of the tablet, these compositions gel, muting drug release and missing the drug absorption window. Compositions optimized by an in vitro dissolution test were compared to a lower molecular weight HME prepared commercial product in a beagle dog model and observed to have statistically similar bioavailability, and in one case improved variability. A modified twin screw extrusion machine was utilized to develop a continuous granulation process capable of producing granules that do not require subsequent grinding or sizing. This novel process, which employs previously un-reported temperature profiles, produces lipid based granules that when compressed into tablets produce a controlled release of tramadol hydrochloride, which were not susceptible to alcohol induced dose dumping. / text

Developments in high throughput screening and combinatorial chemistry have contributed to the unprecedented success of the pharmaceutical industry over the last twenty years, leading to a multitude of blockbuster compounds that revolutionized treatment for a variety of clinical indications. This success, particularly in drug discovery, has been tempered by an increased number of moieties exhibiting delivery limitations due to molecular structure. One of the most pressing areas of pharmaceutical research today is addressing the reduced aqueous solubility of developmental chemical entities in pharmaceutical pipelines, which has been estimated to affect up to 90% of such compounds. Current technologies have focused on maximizing dissolution rates or equilibrium solubilities of such compounds using platforms such as microemulsions, polymorph engineering, particle size reduction, and complexation. While these technologies have been shown to improve oral bioavailability for a number of compositions, further improvement can be achieved by developing new production and formulation technologies for amorphous systems. Within the frame work of this dissertation, two unique technologies for bioavailability enhancement were investigated; formulation with concentration enhancing polymers to provide extended durations of supersaturation and the development of a novel fusion based solid dispersion production process based on thermo-kinetic mixing, termed KinetiSol® Dispersing, for the production of amorphous solid dispersions. Studies of solid dispersions containing concentration enhancing polymers prepared by ultra rapid freezing showed the ability of these formulations to provide improved oral bioavailability of itraconazole when compared to the currently marketed product, which is a conventional hydrophilic solid dispersion. KinetiSol® Dispersing was also extensively studied within this work and shown to be a viable platform for the production of hydrophilic solid dispersions, plasticizer free solid dispersions and solid dispersions containing heat sensitive active ingredients. In a culminating study, KinetiSol® Dispersing was utilized for the production of amorphous solid dispersions containing concentration enhancing polymers for improved oral bioavailability of itraconazole. Ultimately, this body of work demonstrated that concentration enhancing polymers could provide improved oral bioavailability for poorly water soluble compounds, while KinetiSol® Dispersing could be used for the production of such compositions, thereby presenting novel technologies for addressing future development of poorly water soluble active ingredients. / text