Objective:To develop an etonogestrel (ENG)/ethinyl estradiol (EE) compound vaginal ring with good sustained-release properties, studying its in vitro release assay methodology, and establishing an accelerated release method with good correlation with real-time release methods. Methods:Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) was used as the matrix to prepare ENG/EE compound vaginal ring by hot melt extrusion method, and an in vitro real-time release assay method and an accelerated release assay method based on shake flask method were established. The in vitro release behavior and release mechanism of ENG/EE compound vaginal ring were investigated, and the correlation between real-time release and accelerated release over time was analyzed. Results:The obtained vaginal ring had a round appearance and a smooth surface, and the drug was slowly released under the optimal real-time release conditions in vitro (release medium: 200 mL of pure water, shaking at 60 r/min in a constant temperature water bath shaker at 37 ℃), and the cumulative release of ENG and EE on the 21st day were 54.39% and 46.80%, respectively. The correlation coefficients of drug release and its mechanism under the optimized in vitro accelerated conditions (release medium: 200 mL of 0.6% sodium dodecyl sulfate aqueous solution, shaking at 60 r/min at 55 ℃) with the results under real-time release conditions were all greater than 0.99. Conclusion:The ENG/EE compound vaginal ring obtained in this study has a significant in vitro sustained-release effect, and the established accelerated release conditions have a good correlation with real-time release conditions, which can provide a useful reference for the quality evaluation research of such vaginal ring products and the formulation of guidelines for in vitro release research methods.

Background: Subcutaneous injection of biopharmaceutical agents or microparticles is challenging due to issues with low injection efficiency and high residual amounts. Objective: This study aimed to determine the important factors affecting the injectability of microparticle delivery systems, establish a suitable injection system with lower injection force and higher discharge rate, and eventually develop a reliable injectability evaluation system for injectable microparticle delivery systems in vitro andin vivo. Methods: The effects of various parameters, including particle size, injection speed, concentration of microspheres suspension, vehicle viscosity, needle length and gauge were evaluated by measuring the injection force and discharge rate. The characteristics of microparticles and rheological measurement of the suspension systems were studied. A design of experiment approach was utilized to evaluate the interaction between the microsphere suspension, vehicle viscosity and needle gauges. Both in vitro sieve tests andin vivo tests in rats were conducted to evaluate injectability. Results: The in vitro test results showed that the vehicle viscosity and injection speed have varying effects on discharge rate and injection force, respectively. Particle size and needle gauge have substantial influence on injectability, larger particle size and smaller needle gauges resulting in poor injectability, while the needle gauge was found to have the greatest influence on injectability. Levonorgestrel (LNG) microsphere and glass bead were relatively uniform spherical, the glass bead had extremely smooth surface; while mesoporous silica had irregular shape. The settling rate of glass bead was the fastest, which was about 18 times faster than the LNG microsphere. The CMC-Na had a poor interaction with the LNG microspheres, glass bead and mesoporous silica and showed basically Newtonian behavior in the shear rate range of 0.1 s- 1-100 s-1. When shear rate increased to more than 100 s-1, no obvious shear thinning behavior was observed. CMC-Na formed a nodule structure with whether LNG microspheres or the glass beads, which were much lower than that with the mesoporous silica in static state, among which the glass beads were the weakest. The viscosity of the suspension increased with the rising of the volume fraction of particles. Fundamentals of hydrodynamics in capillaries were referenced, such as Navier-Stokes Law equation, Krieger-Dougherty (K-D) equation, Hagen-Poiseuille equation. The best results achieved was using a suspension concentration of 120-240 mg /mL and a viscosity of 60 cP at 20 degrees C with 23-gauge needles. The optimized conditions were verified in vivo tests. It was proven that the LNG microsphere suspen-sion had a good injectability when injected into subcutaneous tissue of rats. Conclusion: The injection system of injectable microparticle delivery system with lower injection force and higher discharge rate was established and the evaluation method was suitable for the injectability evaluation both in vivo and in vitro. Improved injectability would promote the clinical translation of microparticle delivery systems.

Agrimonolide (AM), which is a derivative of isocoumarins, is found mainly in the herb Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. This compound is highly lipophilic and readily crosses the blood–brain barrier. In recent years, interest has grown in the use of AM as a multitarget natural treatment for various diseases, such as cancer, inflammation, hepatic injury, myocardial damage, and diabetes mellitus. The potential mechanisms of these pharmacological effects have been clarified at cellular and molecular levels. AM shows no cytotoxicity over a range of concentrations in different types of cells, providing evidence for its good safety profile in vitro. These findings indicate that AM is a promising medicinal agent. However, most studies on AM’s pharmacological activities, mechanisms of action, and safety lack substantial animal or human data. Additionally, the pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and disposition of this compound have received little attention. This review highlights the status of current information regarding the sources, properties, pharmacological effects, and safety of AM. Furthermore, potential strategies to resolve problematic issues identified in previous studies are fully discussed. This summary and analysis of the research progress of AM may inspire deeper investigations and more extensive applications of AM in the future.

T-cell engagers (TCEs) represent a breakthrough in hematological malignancy treatment but are vulnerable to antigen escape and lack a vaccination effect. The "immunologically cold" solid tumor presents substantial challenges due to intratumor heterogeneity and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, a methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG)-masked CD44×PD-L1/CD3 trispecific T-cell nanoengager loaded with the STING agonist c-di-AMP (CDA) (PmTriTNE@CDA) for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is rationally designed. PmTriTNE@CDA shows tumor-specific accumulation and is preferentially unmasked in response to a weakly acidic TME to prevent on-target off-tumor toxicity. The unmasked CD44×PD-L1/CD3 trispecific T-cell nanoengager (TriTNE) targets dual tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) to redirect CD8+ T cells for heterogeneous TNBC lysis while achieving PD-L1 blockade. PmTriTNE synergized with CDA to transform the cold tumor into a hot tumor, eradicate the large established TNBC tumor, and induce protective immune memory in a 4T1 orthotopic tumor model without causing obvious toxicity. PmTriTNE@CDA shows potent efficacy in cell line-derived xenograft (CDX) and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models. This study serves as a proof-of-concept demonstration of a nanobased TCEs strategy to expand therapeutic combinations that previously could not be achieved due to systemic toxicity with the aim of overcoming TNBC heterogeneity and immunotherapy resistance.

目的:开发中药流化床制粒颗粒生长过程预测模型,将中药制剂处方工艺研发由传统实验室试错法向科学化、数字化与智能化转变.方法:采用SolidWorks Premium软件构建流化床顶喷制粒机基本工况,采用ANSYS ICEM CFD软件划分工况网格.采用计算流体力学(computational fluid dynamics,CFD)构建颗粒成型数学模型,自定义颗粒成型机制规则并将其编制成用户自定义函数.将所构建的CFD模型分别用于金钱草提取物和垂盆草提取物流化床制粒工艺数值模拟研究,同时进行流化床制粒实验验证,对比数值模拟与实验结果的一致性.结果:模拟结果显示,金钱草提取物颗粒和垂盆草提取物颗粒的粒径均随模拟时间延长而增大,且粒径分布逐渐变宽.床层内颗粒的速度、颗粒与流体混合相的压力因颗粒粒径的不断变化而发生相应变化.颗粒粒径增长速率及颗粒空间分布状态的实验结果与数值模拟结果均具有较好的一致性.结论:对中药流化床制粒颗粒增长趋势的模拟可用于预测或判断处方工艺的适宜性,从而对最终颗粒的关键质量属性进行有效控制.

The objective of this study was to predict the droplet size and the spraying angle during the process of binder atomization in pharmaceutical fluidized bed granulation using an empirical model. The effects of the binder viscosity, the atomization pressure, and the spray rate on the droplet size and the spraying angle were investigated using a response surface central composite design and analysis of variance. Prediction models for droplet size and spraying angle were then established using stepwise regression analysis and were validated by comparing the measured and predicted values. The results showed that the droplet size model and the spraying angle model were well established, with an R-2 of 0.93 (p < 0.0001) and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 10.10, and an R-2 of 0.82 (p < 0.0001) and an RMSE of 3.69, respectively. The error between the measured and predicted values of the droplet size and the spraying angle were less than 10%, indicating that the established models were accurate. The results of the present study were significant in predicting the droplet size and spraying angle in the process of pharmaceutical fluidized bed granulation.

子宫内膜癌的化疗耐药性问题显著,迫切需要新的治疗方案.随着对肿瘤发病机制和信号传导通路的深入研究,以及表观遗传修饰作用机制的阐明,靶向药物研究为子宫内膜癌的治疗提供了新的方法和手段.本文综述了表皮生长因子受体拮抗剂、血管内皮生长因子抑制剂、PI3K/Akt/mTOR通路抑制剂、PD-1/PD-L1抑制剂和表观遗传修饰抑制剂等靶向药物在子宫内膜癌治疗领域的研究进展,为临床用药提供新思路.

近年来,美国FDA大力倡导制药工业采用“质量源于设计(quality by design,QbD)”理念或建模与模拟技术来理解生产工艺.数值模拟技术因其经济性、科学性与直观性等优势,成为建模与模拟技术的主要工具之一,广泛应用于口服固体制剂混合、制粒、研磨、辊压、压片和包衣等多个系列单元操作.本文通过系统检索近20年的相关文献,对流化床制粒数值模拟技术的基本研究思路及其常用方法(离散元法、群体平衡模型、计算流体动力学)进行了总结,分别从气固流动、颗粒成形和颗粒干燥三方面综述了流化床制粒数值模拟技术研究进展.此外,提炼出当前研究存在的潜在问题及挑战,并对流化床制粒数值模拟技术的应用前景进行了展望.

PURPOSE:Hormone-dependent breast cancer is the most common form of breast cancer, and inhibiting 17β-HSD1 can play an attractive role in decreasing estrogen and cancer cell proliferation. However, the majority of existing inhibitors have been developed from estrogens and inevitably possess residual estrogenicity. siRNA knockdown provides a highly specific way to block a targeted enzyme, being especially useful to avoid estrogenicity. Application of 17β-HSD1-siRNA in vivo is limited by the establishment of an animal model, as well as the potential nuclease activity in vivo. We tried to reveal the in vivo potential of 17β-HSD1-siRNA-based breast cancer therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS:To establish a competent animal model, daily subcutaneous injection of an estrone micellar aqueous solution was adopted to provide the substrate for estradiol biosynthesis. The effects of three different doses of estrone (0.1, 0.5, and 2.5 µg/kg/day) on tumor growth in T47D-17β-HSD1-inoculated group were investigated and compared with the animals inoculated with wild type T47D cells. To solve in vivo delivery problem of siRNA, "17β-HSD1-siRNA/LPD", a PEGylated and modified liposome-polycation-DNA nanoparticle containing 17β-HSD1-siRNA was prepared by the thin film hydration method and postinsertion technology. Finally, "17β-HSD1-siRNA/LPD" was tested in the optimized model. Tumor growth and 17β-HSD1 expression were assessed. RESULTS:Comparison with the untreated group revealed significant suppression of tumor growth in "17β-HSD1-siRNA/LPD"-treated group when HSD17B1 gene expression was knocked down. CONCLUSION:These findings showed promising in vivo assessments of 17β-HSD1-siRNA candidates. This is the first report of an in vivo application of siRNA for steroid-converting enzymes in a nude mouse model.

RNA干扰技术(RNAi)因其具有高效、高特异性、低毒等优点在生物医药领域方面潜力巨大,为新药的研发提供了非常好的思路.通过合理设计、化学修饰及载体可在一定程度上解决小干扰RNA (siRNA)药物快速降解、细胞摄取率低和脱靶效应等问题.笔者主要从适应证、给药方式及纳米载体等几个方面对进入临床试验的siRNA药物进行综述,为从事siRNA药物研发的研究者提供参考.

Hederagenin (HG) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid that exists in many plants in the form(s) of sapogenin or saponins. This review highlights the pharmacokinetics, pharmacological activities, mechanisms of action, and safety of HG using literature and patents from the last 50 years to collate information on this compound as a promising medicinal agent. This review also looks at the development of related derivatives of HG with increased efficacy and lower toxicity. HG is quickly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract with a short elimination half-life, and can cross the blood-brain barrier and rapidly distribute into cerebrospinal fluid. HG has been shown to possess a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, anti-neurodegenerative, anti-hyperlipidemia, anti-diabetic, anti-leishmanial, and anti-viral activity. In particular, the extensive anti-tumor activity indicates that HG has the potential to be a highly effective chemotherapy agent. Recently, in the search for more active compounds as potential pharmaceuticals, structural modification of the triterpene scaffold of HG at the C-3, C-12, C-13, C-23, and C-28 positions, has resulted in compounds that exhibited greater potency than HG itself. However, the low bioavailability and moderate hemolysis effect of HG may limit its clinical application. The cause of the observed toxic effects in some animals, including dogs, cats, cattle, goats, and horses also needs to be explained. Future studies of HG focusing on extending the half-life, improving bioavailability, enhancing pharmacological activity, as well as decreasing or avoiding hemolysis by structural modification or formulation design could potentially accelerate HG from the preclinical to clinical research phase.

Breast cancer is the most common invasive malignancy among females.In the treatment of breast cancer,multidrug resistance,recurrence and metastasis are still major obstacles leading to the failure of therapy.Small interfering RNA (siRNA),a novel and promisng targeted gene drug,is applied widely for breast cancer research.This paper reviews and summarizes the targets of siRNA in breast cancer research,delivery systems of siRNA and the concomitant strategies by combining with chemotherapies agents,to provide references and strategies for the further breast cancer treatment.

Objective To improve dissolution and content uniformity of oral gestodene (GSD) solid formulations.Methods GSD solid dispersion pellets were prepared by the fluid-bed coating technology with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) and Cremophor EL as carrier.The criteria to evaluate the pellets included the drug loading efficiency assay and dissolution rate.The influence of formulation factors such as the ratio of drug to carrier,the concentration of ethanol and the volume of solution were investigated based on single factor test.In addition,the process factors included the air volume,temperature and atomization pressure were investigated as well.Central composite design and response surface methodology (CCD-RSM) with two factors and five levels was used to optimize the formulation and process of GSD pellets.Results The ratio of drug and the volume of the solution had a significant effect on the properties of the pellets.The optimal region of formulation was 1 ∶ 25-1 ∶ 35 for the ratio of drug to carrier,and 25-55 mL for the volume of drug solution.Conclusion The dissolution of GSD solid dispersion pellets prepared by CCD-RSM optimized formulation and process was more than 90％ in 5 min.The result of optimization region was consistent with the results of single factor test,which indicated that CCD-RSM has a good predictability and reliability.

血清雌二醇(estradiol,E2)水平的检测是重要的临床指标和实验评价手段.由于生物种属的差异、测定目的和测定要求的不同,所选择的分析方法也不尽相同.本文对目前血清E24种常用的分析方法:色谱质谱联用法、放射免疫测定法、酶免疫分析法、化学发光免疫分析法进行综述和评价,以期为从事临床检测、临床研究、药学研究和分析方法开发的工作人员提供参考和依据.

目的：为研究者更加深入优化4T1小鼠乳腺癌细胞模型并服务于肿瘤新药及基础机制研究提供参考。方法：以“4T1细胞模型”“乳腺癌”“4T1 cell line”“Mammary cancer”为关键词，组合检索2003年1月－2015年6月在PubMed、Springer Link、中国知网等数据库中的相关文献，就该细胞模型在化疗药、中药单体和生物治疗方面的应用研究作一综述。结果：共查阅到相关文献99篇，其中有效文献28篇。4T1细胞恶性程度高、转移性高且免疫原性低，生长与转移特性与人类晚期乳腺癌十分相近。以4T1作为细胞模型已广泛应用于化疗药、中药单体和生物治疗等的研究中。结论：4T1细胞是人类Ⅳ期乳腺癌的理想细胞模型，可用于对乳腺癌的发生机制、治疗药物的作用机制及毒性等相关内容进行研究。