METHODS: Melt emulsification followed by ultrasonication was used as a method of preparation and Quality-by-Design (QbD) was utilized to optimize ABE-SLNs.
RESULTS: The optimized ABE-SLNs consist of Precirol-ATO5 as a lipid and Brij-58 as a surfactant. The particle size, PDI value, and zeta potential of the optimized formulation were 170.4 ± 0.49 nm, 0.25 ± 0.014, and -26.4 ± 0.1 mV, respectively. It also showed sustained release behavior and a high entrapment efficiency of 79.96%. ABE-SLNs exhibited enhanced anticancer activity in the MDA-MB-231 and T47D breast cancer cell lines compared to pure ABE. In Caco-2 human colonic cell lines, ABE-SLNs also showed increased cellular uptake.
CONCLUSION: The use of QbD to achieve high entrapment efficiency and sustained release in ABE-SLNs, coupled with enhanced cellular uptake and cytotoxicity, represents a novel approach that could set a new standard for nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems.
METHODS: Valproic acid-encapsulated nanoemulsions were formulated and physically characterised (osmolarity, viscosity, drug content, drug encapsulation efficiency). Further investigations were also conducted to estimate the drug release, cytotoxic profile, in-vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, pharmacokinetic parameter and the concentration of VPA and VANE in blood and brain.
KEY FINDINGS: Physical characterisation confirmed that VANE was suitable for parenteral administration. Formulating VPA into nanoemulsion significantly reduced the cytotoxicity of VPA. In-vitro drug permeation suggested that VANEs crossed the BBB as freely as VPA. Pharmacokinetic parameters of VANE-treated rats in plasma and brain showed F3 VANE had a remarkable improvement in AUC, prolongation of half-life and reduction in clearance compared to VPA. Given the same extent of in-vitro BBB permeation of VPA and VANE, the higher bioavailability of VANE in brain was believed to have due to higher concentration of VANE in blood. The brain bioavailability of VPA was improved by prolonging the half-life of VPA by encapsulating it within the nanoemulsion-T80.
CONCLUSIONS: Nanoemulsion containing VPA has alleviated the cytotoxic effect of VPA and improved the plasma and brain bioavailability for parenteral delivery of VPA.