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Transdermal drug delivery is an attractive route for administration of drugs, and it offers several advantages such as painless administration. To accurately predict the rate of human skin permeation for new transdermal drug formulations, we developed a novel assessment system using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Skin was generated from iPSC-derived keratinocytes and fibroblasts. In the histological and immunohistochemical examination, cellular markers (keratin 14 and keratin 10) for the epidermal basal and suprabasal layers were clearly detected within the multilayer structures produced in the human iPSC-based three-dimensional skin model. The results from our permeation study indicate that an initial lag time exists during permeation of 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein and fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran 4000. Furthermore, the permeation for these model drugs in human iPSC-based skin was inversely proportional to the molecular weight of the drugs. These results of the present iPSC-based skin are useful basic information as a first step for developing a new assessment system to predict the efficacy of drug permeation in human skin by using iPSC-based skin.

Breast cancer resistance protein transporter (ABCG2/BCRP) is highly expressed on the intestinal epithelial membrane and has a significant impact on the oral absorption of topotecan. In this study, we examined 6 pharmaceutical excipients including BL-9EX, Brij97, Cremophor EL, Labrasol, Pluronic F68, and Tween 20 for their BCRP inhibitory effects. A bidirectional transport study using Caco-2 cells demonstrated that Tween 20 and Cremophor EL significantly increased the absorptive transport of topotecan, while simultaneously decreasing secretory transport. Interestingly, Labrasol selectively increased absorptive transport, whereas Pluronic F68 selectively decreased the secretory transport, of topotecan. Further investigation using an in situ closed loop experiment showed that 0.05% (w/v) Tween 20 and Cremophor EL significantly increased the intestinal absorption of topotecan in rats. An LDH assay demonstrated that 0.05% (w/v) Tween 20 and Cremophor EL did not cause significant damage to intestinal epithelial membranes. Furthermore, we examined the absorption-enhancing mechanisms of these excipients and found that Cremophor EL, Tween 20, and Labrasol increased the membrane fluidity of the inner lipid bilayers of the intestine. Therefore, this might be one of the most important mechanisms for inhibition of BCRP function by these excipients in the intestine.

We examined the effects of polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers (Brijs) on the intestinal transport and absorption of rhodamine 123, a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrate, by in vitro and in vivo studies. Brijs increased the absorptive transport of rhodamine 123 and decreased its secretory transport in the in vitro diffusion chamber method. However, Brijs did not change the transport of 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein, a non-P-gp substrate, indicating that the effect of Brijs on the transport of drugs was P-gp substrate-specific. The effects of Brijs on rhodamine 123 transport across Caco-2 cell monolayers were also examined. Secretory transport of rhodamine 123 was enhanced and its absorptive transport was significantly reduced in the presence of Brijs. Furthermore, in the in vivo studies, Brijs also enhanced the intestinal absorption of rhodamine 123 in rats. The intestinal membrane damage produced by Brijs was also evaluated by measuring the activity of lactate dehydrogenase and the release of protein. We found almost no intestinal damage in the presence of various Brijs. These findings suggest that Brijs might inhibit the function of intestinal P-gp, thereby increasing the intestinal transport and absorption of P-gp substrates without serious intestinal membrane damage.

Breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) transporter is an efflux transporter that utilizes energy from adenosine triphosphate hydrolysis to push its substrates, regardless of the concentration gradient. Its presence on the apical membrane of the intestinal mucosa is a major obstacle for the intestinal absorption of its substrates. In this study, we examined the effects of various pharmaceutical excipients on the intestinal transport and absorption of sulfasalazine, a BCRP substrate. Four excipients, including 0.05% and 0.075% BL-9EX, 0.01% and 0.05% Brij 97, 0.075% Labrasol, and 0.05% and 0.1% Tween 20 decreased the secretory transport of sulfasalazine in an in vitro diffusion chamber. Further investigation in an in situ closed loop experiment in rats showed that 0.05% and 0.1% BL-9EX and 0.1% Brij 97 effectively enhanced the intestinal absorption of sulfasalazine while maintaining minimal toxicity to the intestinal mucosa. However, 0.1% Brij 97 also increased the intestinal absorption of 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein, a paracellular marker compound. These findings suggest that BL-9EX might effectively inhibit the BCRP-mediated efflux of sulfasalazine in vivo, indicating that BL-9EX could improve the intestinal absorption of sulfasalazine and other BCRP substrates.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been recently recognized as a gaseous signaling molecule that controls various biological activities. In the present study, we developed sulfo-albumin as a macromolecular H2S prodrug for therapeutic use, in which multisulfide groups (source of H2S) were conjugated with bovine serum albumin through a covalent linkage. In an in vitro study on H2S release in phosphate buffered saline solution, we found that H2S was released from sulfo-albumin in the presence of 5-mM glutathione but not in its absence. Furthermore, sulfo-albumin was taken up by RAW 264.7 cells, and it released H2S in cells but not in plasma. These results indicate that H2S can be selectively released from sulfo-albumin in cells. 111In-labeled sulfo-albumin predominantly accumulated in the liver, dependent upon the number of sulfide groups, after intravenous injection in mice. In a carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury mouse model, sulfo-albumin significantly suppressed the increase in plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities, which are indicators of hepatocyte injury, after intravenous injection. These findings indicate that sulfo-albumin is a promising compound for the treatment of hepatic injuries.

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are carbon-substituted pyrophosphate analogs that exhibit a high affinity to hydroxyapatite and specifically inhibit bone resorption. Alendronate sodium (sodium 4-amino-1-hydroxybutylidene-1,1-bisphosphonate trihydrate) is a typical BP compound in clinical use. BPs have very low bioavailability, typically

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of polyoxyethylene 10-oleyl ether and polyoxyethylene 9-lauryl ether, 2 polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, on the transport and absorption of 2 P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrates, quinidine and prednisolone, across the intestinal membrane and to elucidate the inhibitory mechanisms of intestinal P-gp by these polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers. For in vitro studies, we used a diffusion chamber method and the Caco-2 cell model. An in situ closed-loop method was used for in vivo study. The 2 polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, nonionic surfactants, increased the intestinal absorptive transport of quinidine and prednisolone in the diffusion chamber studies, and absorptive permeability was enhanced in the in vitro Caco-2 cell study. Furthermore, these surfactants enhanced the rat intestinal absorption of prednisolone, and we observed no intestinal membrane damage in the presence of these surfactants. Furthermore, these surfactants increased membrane fluidity in intestinal brush border membranes and inhibited P-gp ATPase activity. For in vitro and in vivo studies, these surfactants enhanced the intestinal absorption of quinidine and prednisolone, 2 P-gp substrates. The alteration in intestinal membrane fluidity and the inhibition of P-gp ATPase activity by these 2 polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers may be confirmed as mechanisms of P-gp inhibition.

Alendronate is a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate that is widely used for the treatment of osteoporosis. In this study, we developed a novel self-dissolving micron-size needle array (microneedle array) containing alendronate, which was fabricated by micromodeling technologies using hyaluronic acid as a basic material. Micron-scale pores in the skin were seen after the application of the alendronate-loaded microneedle array, verifying establishment of transdermal pathways for alendronate. The absorption of alendronate after the application of alendronate-loaded microneedle array was almost equivalent to that after subcutaneous administration, and the bioavailability of alendronate was approximately 90% in rats. Furthermore, delivery of alendronate via this strategy effectively suppressed the decrease in the width of the growth plate in a rat model of osteoporosis. Although mild cutaneous irritation was observed after the application of the alendronate-loaded microneedle array, it resolved by day 15. These findings indicate that this alendronate-loaded microneedle array is a promising transdermal formulation for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Bisphosphonates are widely used for the treatment of bone diseases, including hypercalcemia and osteoporosis. However, the bioavailability (BA) of orally administered bisphosphonates is low, at approximately 0.9%–1.8%. In addition, the oral administration of bisphosphonates is associated with mucosal damage, including gastritis, gastric ulcer, and erosive esophagitis. Here, to develop a new delivery system for bisphosphonates that improve their BA and safety, we developed polyethylene glycol (PEG)-conjugated alendronate, a novel nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate derivative. We evaluated the absorption and safety of PEG–alendronate in rats following intrapulmonary administration. The BA of PEG–alendronate after intrapulmonary administration was approximately 44 ± 10% in rats, which was similar to that of alendronate (54 ± 3.9%). Alendronate significantly increased total protein concentration and lactate dehydrogenase activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, suggesting that pulmonary epithelium was locally damaged by intrapulmonary administration of alendronate. In marked contrast, PEG–alendronate did not significantly increase the markers following intrapulmonary administration. In an osteoporosis model in rats, intrapulmonary administration of PEG–alendronate effectively inhibited decreases in the width of the growth plate to a level similar to that achieved by intrapulmonary administration of alendronate. These results indicate that pulmonary delivery of PEG–alendronate is a promising approach for the treatment of bone diseases. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 100:3783–3792, 2011

The absorption-enhancing effects of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers with various generations (G0-G3) and concentrations [0.1%-1.0% (w/v)] on the pulmonary absorption of peptide and protein drugs were studied in rats. Insulin and calcitonin were chosen as models of peptide and protein drugs, and their pulmonary absorption with or without PAMAM dendrimers was examined by in vivo pulmonary absorption studies. PAMAM dendrimers significantly increased the pulmonary absorption of insulin and calcitonin in rats, and their absorption-enhancing effects were generation dependent. The rank order of absorption enhancement effect of these PAMAM dendrimers was G3 > G2 > G1 > G0. For the same generation, the absorption-enhancing effects of PAMAM dendrimers were shown to be concentration dependent. The toxicity of these PAMAM dendrimers in the lung tissues was evaluated by measuring the release of protein and the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The PAMAM dendrimers with various generations and concentrations did not significantly increase the release of protein and the activities of LDH in BALF, indicating that these dendrimers did not cause any membrane damage to the lung tissues. The zeta potentials of insulin and calcitonin solutions changed to positive by the addition of PAMAM dendrimers, and the degree of positive charge as determined by the zeta potentials was linearly correlated with the absorption-enhancing effects of the PAMAM dendrimers. This positive charge of the PAMAM dendrimers might be related to their absorption-enhancing mechanisms for improving the pulmonary absorption of insulin and calcitonin in rats. In conclusion, the PAMAM dendrimers are suitable absorption enhancers to improve the pulmonary absorption of insulin and calcitonin without any membrane damage to the respiratory tissues.

Absorption and metabolic characteristics of p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and m-aminobenzoic acid (MABA) from the rat small intestine were examined by means of in situ recirculation and in vitro everted sac experiments. p-Aminobenzoic acid was extremely rapidly absorbed from the rat small intestine, whereas the absorption of MABA, the m-isomer of PABA, was comparably slower. This finding was partly explained by the result that PABA is more lipophilic than MABA. The metabolite percentage of PABA was considerably greater than that of MABA in mucosal fluid, tissue, and serosal fluid. On the other hand, a concentration-dependent and a directional difference in the transfer rate of these drugs were observed in everted and noneverted sacs of rat small intestine. Furthermore, mucosal uptake of PABA or MABA was inhibited by 1 mM 2,4-dinitrophenol, 10 mM sodium azide, and pretreatment with HgCl2 (10 mM). These results indicate that MABA, as well as PABA, is transported through the intestine by a carrier-mediated transport system, and that the molecular structure of these drugs is important for their absorption and metabolic characteristics.

The aim of the present study was to develop new and better protocols for a short-term Caco-2 cell culture system for use in rapid screening of intestinal drug absorption. Caco-2 cells were cultured according to several protocols for short-term cell culture to obtain monolayers. The effects of serum (fetal bovine serum, FBS) in the culture medium and of the period of cell culture on the barrier function and transporter activities of the monolayers were examined. The barrier function was estimated both from the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and the permeability of [14C]mannitol. Transporter activities were monitored by measuring the permeability of [14C]glycylsarcosine for oligopeptide transporter (PepT1) and of rhodamine 123 for P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Caco-2 monolayers obtained by 3-day culture in the BIOCOAT® HTS Caco-2 Assay System, developed by Becton Dickinson Bioscience, showed much higher permeability to hydrophilic compounds, such as mannitol, compared with those obtained by the standard 21-day culture system, due to the leaky structure of cell junctions. The newly developed 3-day protocol, which includes 10% FBS in the culture medium during the first day of culture, markedly enhanced TEER and lowered mannitol permeability of the monolayers. This protocol allowed us to better determine the rank order of permeability of compounds, giving results equivalent to those in the 21-day culture system. The longer culture period gave tighter monolayers, and the maximum value of TEER was obtained with 5 days in culture. However, after 5 days in culture, the integrity of monolayers decreased gradually. The highest activities of transporters, PepT1 and P-gp, in monolayers were obtained at days 5 or 6 of culture by the new protocol with FBS-containing medium. These results indicate that by a simple modification of the short-term culture protocol, it is possible to obtain Caco-2 monolayers with better barrier properties and higher activity of transporters that are equivalent to those found in the 21-day Caco-2 culture system. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 91:669–679, 2002