HIGHLY EFFECTIVE LUNG DELIVERY OF A FULLY HUMAN MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TARGETING PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA FOLLOWING INTRA-NASAL ADMINISTRATION

A time-course study was performed to assess lung concentrations and bioactivities of a fully human monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) flagella type b (LST-007) following intra-nasal administration. Intra-nasal administration of LST-007 (5 mg/kg) resulted in high mAb concentrations (11 µg/ml) within the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid at 15 min post-administration, which decreased to 3 µg/ml at 4 hr. In marked contrast, LST-007 concentrations in blood were 110 and 11 fold lower at the same time points. Scrutinization of BAL fluid demonstrated the presence of both intact and immunoreactive LST-007 towards PAO1 bacteria, which impeded bacterial motility, underscoring the maintenance of biological activity. These compelling data lay credence that intra-nasal and thus potential inhalation modes of administration might represent bona fide routes for a targeted mAb delivery to the lung environment and establishment of therapeutically effective concentrations. Such delivery approaches could help combat life-threatening, pneumonia infections caused by PA. KEY WORDS:Monoclonal antibody, intra-nasal, bronchoalveolar lavage; Pseudomonas aeruginos

TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA: A CLIMBING SHRUB IN HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT

Tinospora cordifolia is a deciduous climbing shrub described as ‘the one who protects the body against diseases’. It is one of the most versatile rejuvenating shrub also known as ’Giloya ’ in Indian vernacular having many therapeutic applications. The pharmaceutical significance of this plant is mainly because of the leaves, barks and roots contain various bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, glycosides, lactones, steroids, polysaccharides and aliphatic compounds having various medicinal importance viz. immunomodulatory or immunostimulatory, antitumor, cognition, antiinflammatory, anti-neoplastic, antihyperglycemia, antihyperlipidemia, antioxidant, antituberculosis, gastrointestinal and hepatoprotection, anti-osteoporotic, anti-angiogenic, anti-malarial, anti-allergic and side effects prevention of the cancer chemotherapy. The bitter priniciples present in the leaves, stems, roots and barks viz. tinosporine, tinosporide, tinosporaside, cordifolide, cordifol, berberine, cordifolioside A, B. C, amritosides A, B, C, and columbin which act as therapeutic agents and play vital role in many therapeutic applications. Various parts of the plant are being prescribed i