AIMTo prepare solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) loaded with all trans retinoic acid using an ultrasonic technique with Compritol 888 ATO as matrix material, and investigate properties of nanoparticles in vitro and in vivo.

METHODSUltrasonic technique was adopted to prepare solid lipid nanoparticles in an aqueous system using all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) as a model drug. Physicochemical proterties of SLN were investigated in detail. Drug release from two sorts of ATRA-SLN was investigated using a dialysis bag method. Compared with ATRA solution, the in vivo pharmacokinetics of two sorts of ATRA-SLN after intravenous injection to rats were studied.

RESULTSSolid lipid nanoparticles loaded with all-trans retinoic acid was readily and quickly prepared by ultrasonic technique. The morphological investigation by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) showed that the particles had round and uniform shapes. The mean diameters of them were (158 +/- 9) nm and (89 +/- 11) nm separately. The SLN dispersion was stable at 4 degrees C for more than one year. Drug loading was 3.3%, drug entrapment efficiency was more than 95%, the in vitro release was well in accordance with Weibull distribution. Compared with ATRA control solution, SLN could stay in the blood circulation for a longer time after intravenous injection.

CONCLUSIONThe ultrasonic technique was appropriate for the preparation of solid lipid nanoparticles.

Animals ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Drug Stability ; Fatty Acids ; Male ; Nanostructures ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Poloxamer ; chemistry ; Polysorbates ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tretinoin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Ultrasonics

AIMTo investigate the in vitro recovery and influencing factors of ketoprofen in microdialysis probe, and study the pharmacokinetic of unbound ketoprofen in rat after iv administration.

METHODSThe recovery of ketoprofen was detected by a concentration difference method. After microdialysis probe was inserted into the jugular vein of male Wistar rats, the probe was infused with various concentrations perfusate. The in vivo recovery and the pharmacokinetics of unbound ketoprofen in rat were investigated. Dialysate samples were determined by HPLC.

RESULTSThe recovery detected by gain was as the same as that by loss; the recovery was independent of the drug concentration surrounding the probe. The in vitro recovery was 28.75% by concentration difference method and the in vivo recovery was (40.3 +/- 2.7) % by retrodialysis method. After i.v. administration of ketoprofen in rat, T 1/2, AUC and CL of unbound ketoprofen were (181 +/- 16) min, (112 +/- 27) microg x min x mL(-1) and (0.22 +/- 0.05) L x min(-1), respectively.

CONCLUSIONMicrodialysis sampling can be used for the pharmacokinetic study of unbound ketoprofen in rat.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Area Under Curve ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Injections, Intravenous ; Ketoprofen ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Microdialysis ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo study the inhibition of berberine (BBR) against ECV-304 apoptosis induced by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).

METHODSECV-304 cells were pre-treated with 128 microg/mL BBR for 2 h and then S. aureus was added (1:100). The viability of cells was detected by MTT (3-4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The morphological changes were observed by Hoechst 33258 staining. The protection of BBR for infected cells was detected by DNA Ladder.

RESULTSECV-304 cells' viability were not obviously affected by berberine. But S. aureus induced ECV-304 cells' viability could be significantly inhibited by pre-treatment of BBR (P < 0.05). Besides S. aureus-induced ECV-304 apoptosis could be reduced, with significantly lessened apoptotic body and unobvious DNA degradation.

CONCLUSIONBBR could significantly inhibit S. aureus induced ECV-304 apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Berberine ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; microbiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Staphylococcus aureus

Objective To observe the effects of Wendan decoction (WD) on depression-like behavior in a rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD) and explore the related mechanism.Methods Rodent model of PD was established by unilaterally lesioning medial forebrain bundle with 6-hydrodopamine.After intragastric administration with WD,the rats's behavior changes were detected by the open field test,sucrose preference test and forced swimming test;the contents of monoamine neurotransmitters in the rat brain were assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.Results Compared with those of sham-operated rats,the horizontal and vertical activities of the PD model rats decreased significantly,and sucrose consumption decreased significantly,but immobility time during forced swimming was significantly prolonged.The contents of dopamine (DA),5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and noradrenaline (NA) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and DA in the striatum decreased significantly.After administration of WD for 2 weeks,the immobility time of the PD model rats was significantly decreased,sucrose consumption increased significantly;DA,5-HT and NA levels in the mPFC increased significantly.Conclusion WD improves the depression-like behavior in PD model rats,and the mechanisms may involve the regulation of monoamine neurotransmitters in mPFC.

AIMTo investigate the complexation of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) with hydroxylpropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) in aqueous solutions, inclusion molar ratio of the host and guest molecules and change of thermodynamic parameters during the complexation process.

METHODSThe measurements of the complexation mechanism, inclusion molar ratio of the host and guest molecules and change of thermodynamic parameters were carried out by the following methods separately: phase solubility method, UV absorption spectroscopy, circular dichroism spectroscopy, equimolar series method and thermodynamic method, respectively.

RESULTSThat all the phase solubility diagrams showed a typical AL-type in various pH buffered solutions, suggested the formation of a soluble complex of 1:1 molar ratio. Both UV absorption spectroscopy and circular dichroism spectroscopy confirmed that the significant interaction between the host and guest molecules was probably due to the inclusion of chromophore moiety of PGE1 molecule into the hydrophobic cavity of HP-beta-CD molecule. The change in the thermodynamic parameters suggested that the complexation could proceed spontaneously along with the release of heat and the decrease of entropy.

CONCLUSIONAn 1:1 molar ratio inclusion complex of PGE1 with HP-beta-CD could be formed spontaneously and, hence, the solubility of PGE1 in aqueous solution increased. Appropriate temperature and suitable media pH probably favor the progress of complexation procedure.

2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin ; Alprostadil ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Solubility ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Temperature ; beta-Cyclodextrins ; administration & dosage ; chemistry

AIMTo study the absorption of zedoary oil in intestine of rat.

METHODSIn situ single pass perfusion model was used and the concentrations of three components in perfusate were determined by HPLC in combination with diode array detection.

RESULTSThe P(app) s of curcumol, curdione and germacrone were all low and had no significant difference (P > 0.05) at zedoary oil concentration of 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 mg x mL(-1) in transmucosal fluid or in four different regions of intestine of rat [duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon]. The absorption rates of germacrone and curdione were faster than curcumol's in this study.

CONCLUSIONThe zedoary oil concentration in transmucosal fluid had no significant effect on the P(app) s within the scope of 0.4-1.2 mg x mL(-1). The absorption of curcumol, curdione and germacrone showed the passive diffusion process, and didn't contain a special absorption window.

Animals ; Biological Transport ; Colon ; metabolism ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Duodenum ; metabolism ; Ileum ; metabolism ; In Vitro Techniques ; Intestinal Absorption ; Jejunum ; metabolism ; Male ; Perfusion ; Plant Oils ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sesquiterpenes ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics

Crystallization has been widely applied in pharmaceutical formulations as an effective approach to improve the stability and efficacy of small agents. However protein crystals are suffered from limitation in the drug delivery system due to their complex crystallization behaviors. With development of crystallization technologies and their industrial application, protein crystals are receiving more and more attentions as a novel delivery system for biomacromolecules. Crystals with thermodynamic stable structure can improve the physical and chemical stability of protein drugs and present a sustained release behavior. On the basis of pertinent literatures, this review introduces the recent research situation and development process of protein crystals as drug delivery system. Moreover, the crystallization process of proteins, as well as the preparation and potential application are discussed systematically.
Crystallization ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; administration & dosage ; Proteins ; chemistry

To review the development and application of powdering technique on oily drug of the traditional Chinese medicine. There have been numerous methods of powdering technique on oily drug, such as preparing complexation, microcapsule, adsorption by adsorbent, solid lipid nanoparticles, etc. And beta-Cyclodextrin complexation is the most usually operated. Powdering techniques have broad prospects in the pharmaceutical field, but more efforts should be made to improve oily drug of the traditional Chinese medicine.
Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Nanotechnology ; Powders ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; beta-Cyclodextrins

The pharmacodynamics of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) administered by different routes to rats was investigated in this paper. The hypotensive effect of PGE, was used as an index of drug efficacy, pharmacodynamic parameters such as time to reach peak effect (Tmax), maximal percentage of blood pressure decrease (Emax, %), duration of effect (Td), and the area under the blood pressure decrease percent-time curves (AUC, % x min) were determined after PGE1 given to rats intranasally, sublingually, intraperitoneally (ip), and intramuscularly (im), separately, and compared with those obtained from intravenous (iv) administration. Similar to iv route, the pharmacodynamic parameters of PGE1 from the other administration routes, Emax, Td and in particular AUC values were all increased with increasing doses, showing dose-efficacy relationship. Tmax was found to be approximately 3-4 min for nasal route, 3-8 min for im, 6-8 min for ip and 12-30 min for sublingual route, separately. Thus, the order of magnitude of absorption rate of the drug was as follows: nasal approximately = im > ip > sublingual. If the pharmacological bioavailability (PF) for each administration route was used as a tentative measure of drug absorption extent, the order of magnitude of absolute bioavailability appeared as follows: nasal > im approximately = ip > sublingual. Furthermore, the interindividual difference was found to be larger for im and ip route than that for nasal and sublingual route. These results indicate nasal and sublingual routes are two promising routes for the systemic delivery of PGE1 in clinical applications.
Administration, Intranasal ; Administration, Sublingual ; Alprostadil ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Biological Availability ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the efficacy on gait time cycle of ischemic stroke between yin-yang respiratory reinforcing and reducing needling technique (yin-yang needling) and the conventional acupuncture.

METHODSSixty cases of ischemic stroke were randomized into a conventional acupuncture group and a yin-yang needling group, 30 cases in each one. The basic treatment (the control of blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipid, the intravenous drops of ginkgo leaf extract and dipyridamole injection and vinpocetine injection) were applied in the two groups. Additionally, in the conventional acupuncture group, the acupoints of the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming [Biguan (ST 31), Liangqiu (ST 34), Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Xiajuxu (ST 39), etc.] were selected and stimulated with the even needling technique. In the yin-yang needling group, the acupoints of yin meridians such as Zuwuli (LR 10), Xuehai (SP 10), Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), etc. and the acupoints of yang meridians such as Biguan (ST 31), Liangqiu (ST 34) and Yanglingquan (GB 34), etc. were selected. The reducing manipulation of respiratory reinforcing and reducing technique was applied to the acupoints of yin meridians and the reinforcing manipulation was applied to the acupoints of yang meridians. The kinematics time parameters were determined and compared before and 4 weeks after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the differences in the gait cycle, the phase time of standing (%), the phase time of single support (%), the phase time of unilateral sway (%) on the affected (healthy) foot and phase time of double support (%) were significant as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (all P < 0.05), in which, the gait cycle (1.75 +/- 0.21 vs 2.02 +/- 0.37), the phase time of standing (%) on the affected (healthy) foot [(65.41 +/- 5.20)% vs (68.37 +/- 6.24)%, (70.99 +/- 6.47)% vs (74.51 +/- 5.19)%], the phase time of unilateral sway (%) on the affected (healthy) foot [(36.08 +/- 4.86)% vs (33.65 +/- 2.94)%, (31.04 +/- 3.41)% vs (26.77 +/- 2.67)%] and the phase time of double support (%) [(36.91 +/- 5.10)% vs (41.22 +/- 5.39)%] in the yin-yang needling group were improved much obviously after treatment as compared with those in the conventional acupuncture group. The differences in support phase time (%), single support phase time (%) and sway phase time (%) were significant between the affected limb and healthy limb of the two groups after treatment (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONYin-yang respiratory reinforcing and reducing needling technique effectively improves hemiplegic gait movement cycle and walking function in patients of ischemic stroke, which is superior to the conventional acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Aged ; Female ; Gait ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Time Factors ; Yin-Yang