AIMS:Exposure to toxic metals remains a widespread occupational and environmental problem in world. Chelation therapy is a mainstream treatment used to treat heavy metal poisoning. This paper describes the synthesis, characterization and therapeutic evaluation of monoisoamyl 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (MiADMSA)-encapsulated polymeric nanoparticles as a detoxifying agent for arsenic poisoning.MATERIALS & METHODS:Polymeric nanoparticles entrapping the DMSA monoester, which can evade the reticulo-endothelial system and have a long circulation time in the blood, were prepared. Particle characterization was carried out by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. An in vivo study was conducted to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of MiADMSA-encapsulated polymeric nanoparticles (nano- MiADMSA; 50 mg/kg orally for 5 days) and comparison drawn with bulk MiADMSA. Swiss albino mice exposed to sodium arsenite for 4 weeks were treated for 5 days to evaluate alterations in blood, brain, kidney and liver oxidative stress variables. The study also evaluated the histopathological changes in tissues and the chelating potential of the nanoformulation.RESULTS:Our results show that nano-MiADMSA have a narrow size distribution in the 50-nm range. We observed an enhanced chelating potential of nano-MiADMSA compared with bulk MiADMSA as evident in the reversal of biochemical changes indicative of oxidative stress and efficient removal of arsenic from the blood and tissues. Histopathological changes and urinary 8-OHdG levels also prove better therapeutic efficacy of the novel formulation for arsenic toxicity.CONCLUSION:The results from our study show better therapeutic efficacy of nano-MiADMSA in removing arsenic burden from the brain and liver.

Background: Nanotechnology plays a remarkable role in the field of the treatment of Lymphomas associated with tumor. Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine and to compare the tumor uptake, biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of radiolabeled etoposide and etoposide loaded nanoparticles in Dalton's Lymphoma tumor bearing mice and healthy mice. Materials and Methods: Etoposide loaded nanoparticles were prepared by nanoprecipitation technique using the poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) in the presence of Pluronic F 68 (F 68) as a stabilizer and characterized by particle size analyzer, zeta potential and transmission electron microscope. Etoposide and etoposide loaded nanoparticles were labeled with Technetium-99m (Tc-99m) by the direct method and various quality control tests were carried out. The labeling parameters like labeling efficiency, stability, etc., were optimized to get high labeling efficiency as well as stability of the labeled formulations. Tc-99m labeled formulations were administered intravenously in Balb C mice and their biodistribution and pharmacokinetics were determined. Results: Mean size of the etoposide loaded PLGA nanoparticles was found to be 105.1 nm. The concentration of both free etoposide and nanoparticles increased with time and showed higher tumor concentrations of both free etoposide and nanoparticles increased with time and showed higher retention, indicating their applicability in effective and prolonged tumor therapy. Nuclear scintigraphic images confirm the presence of labeled complexes at the site of tumor for 24 h at higher concentration than in the normal muscles. Conclusion: This study indicated higher tumor affinity and targeting properties of etoposide loaded nanoparticles than free etoposide.

The aim of the present investigation was to prepare and characterize clobazam mucoadhesive microemulsion (CZMME) to assess brain drug uptake and protection against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced convulsions in mice. Clobazam microemulsion (CZME) and CZMME were prepared by titration method and characterized. Brain uptake and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated from drug concentration in mice brain versus time plots following intranasal administration of radiolabeled CZME and CZMME, intravenous and intranasal administration of radiolabeled clobazam solution. Gamma scintigraphy imaging of rabbit brain following intranasal administration was performed. Formulations were investigated for the onset of seizures in PTZ-challenged mice. Brain targeting efficiency and direct nose-to-brain transport percentage for mucoadhesive microemulsion suggested an improved brain uptake following intranasal administration. The findings were supported by gamma scintigraphy images. Delay in onset of PTZ-induced seizures with CZMME compared with positive control and placebo-treated groups confirmed the improved brain uptake. However, extensive animal studies followed by clinical trials are necessary to develop a product suitable for emergencies of acute seizures in status epilepticus and patients suffering from drug tolerance and hepatic impairment on long-term use in treatment of epilepsy, schizophrenia, and anxiety.

Etoposide and nanoparticle formulations were labeled with Tc-99m and their biodistribution and pharmacokinetics were studied after intravenous administration in healthy mice and rabbits respectively. Etoposide was rapidly cleared from the body, while the disposition of nanoparticles was slower. A higher proportion of nanoparticles compared with etoposide was observed in different organs of mice. Scintigraphic images of rabbits concluded that the radioactivity shown by formulations is significantly higher after 4 and 24 h, as compared with etoposide administered in rabbits. AUC(0 - infinity), clearance and MRT are better than those obtained with etoposide administration. The overall high residence of nanoparticles, compared with etoposide, signifies the advantage of PLGA and PCL nanoparticles as drug carriers for etoposide in enhancing the bioavailability and reducing the etoposide-associated toxicity.

The purpose of this work was to study the biodistribution pattern of the fifth generation of poly(propylene imine) dendrimer (PPI-5.0G)-based carbohydrate (mannose and lactose)-coated glycodendrimers in mice so as to explore the potential of these systems as drug carriers. Plain dendrimers were synthesized and coated with carbohydrates following the reported procedures. The formulations were labeled with radioactive technetium (sodium pertechnetate; 99mTcO4-) and characterized for labeling efficiency as well as in vitro and in vivo stability of the labeled complexes. The blood clearance study was performed in female New Zealand rabbits. The periodic in vivo biodistribution profile of the formulations was investigated in female Balb/c mice. The dendrimeric formulations were labeled with 95% labeling efficiency. The labeled complexes were found to be stable in vitro (97% to 98% stability) and in vivo (89% to 94% stability). All the formulations were cleared rapidly from circulation; clearance of mannose-coated poly (propylene imine) dendrimer (M-PPI) and lactose-coated poly(propylene imine) dendrimer (L-PPI) was faster than PPI-5.0G. All the formulations accumulated in liver to a significant extent, but only those with terminal carbohydrate moieties were retained for a longer period. Significant accumulation of PPI-5.0G and M-PPI was observed in kidneys as against very less activity in the case of L-PPI. Rapid clearance of the dendrimers was in accordance with the earlier reports. Higher and prolonged retention of M-PPI and L-PPI in liver was attributed to lectin-carbohydrate interactions. Lesser accumulation of L-PPI in kidneys was suggestive of its lesser excretion. This observation can be explained on the basis of the molecular weight of L-PPI, which was greater than the threshold of glomerular excretion. In general, it was observed that the carbohydrate-coated dendrimers were distributed in liver to a significant extent. This information could serve as a useful platform in designing carbohydrate-coated dendrimers for selective delivery of bioactive agents to liver.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) represents an insurmountable obstacle for delivery of a large number of drugs, including antibacterials, anticancer agents and neuropeptides. One approach to overcoming this barrier has been drug delivery to the brain using appropriately modified nanoparticles. Since polysorbate80 is known to facilitate uptake by brain endothelial cells, nanoparticles coated with polysorbate80 hold great promise for the transport of agents across the BBB. Since chitosan nanoparticles have extended circulation time in the blood and decreased uptake by the reticuloendothelial system, we decided to evaluate the efficiency of polysorbate80-coated chitosan nanoparticles as brain-delivery carriers.