Advances in Recombinant Lipases: Production, Engineering, Immobilization and Application in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Lipases are one of the most used enzymes in the pharmaceutical industry due to their efficiency in organic syntheses, mainly in the production of enantiopure drugs. From an industrial viewpoint, the selection of an efficient expression system and host for recombinant lipase production is highly important. The most used hosts are Escherichia coli and Komagataella phaffii (previously known as Pichia pastoris) and less often reported Bacillus and Aspergillus strains. The use of efficient expression systems to overproduce homologous or heterologous lipases often require the use of strong promoters and the co-expression of chaperones. Protein engineering techniques, including rational design and directed evolution, are the most reported strategies for improving lipase characteristics. Additionally, lipases can be immobilized in different supports that enable improved properties and enzyme reuse. Here, we review approaches for strain and protein engineering, immobilization and the application of lipases in the pharmaceutical industry

Farmacocinética do Benznidazol administrado em coelhos na forma de comprimidos de liberação imediata e comprimidos de liberação prolongada

Benznidazole (BNZ) is the first-line drug for the treatment of Chagas disease. In Brazil, the drug is available in the form of immediate-release tablets, 100-mg (adult) and 12.5-mg (pediatric); the drug is administered twice or thrice daily for 60 days. The high frequency of daily administrations and the long period of treatment are factors that significantly contribute to the abandonment of therapy, affecting therapeutic success. In this scenario, researchers from Laboratory of Medicine Technology (Federal University of Pernambuco) developed BNZ extended-release tablets (ERK4M and ERK100M). This study aimed to evaluate the preclinical pharmacokinetics of BNZ administered as extended-release tablets (200-mg dose) compared to the tablets currently available. The studies were conducted in rabbits and BNZ quantification was performed in plasma and urine by ultra performance liquid chromatography methods previously validated. The mean residence time (MRT) was twice as high for the tablet ERK100M when compared to the immediaterelease adult. The time to maximum plasma concentration (tmax) was three times higher for the tablet ERK100M when compared to immediate-release adult. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) there no was no statistical difference between the different types of tablet (100-mg and 200-mg), demonstrating that even administering a double dose (extended-release tablets), plasma concentrations do not exceed the immediate-release adult tablet (100-mg). The bioavailability of BNZ was adequate in the administration of extended-release tablets and immediaterelease adult tablet; however, with the administration of the pediatric tablet, bioavailability was lower than with other tablets. The pharmacokinetic parameters demonstrated that the ERK100M tablet prolonged drug release from the polymer matrix and provided an increase in the maintenance of the drug concentration in vivo. Thus, a relative bioavailability study in humans will be ...O benznidazol (BNZ) é o fármaco de primeira escolha para o tratamento da doença de Chagas. No Brasil, este fármaco está disponível na forma de comprimidos de liberação imediata de 100 mg (adulto) e 12,5 mg (pediátrico) e é administrado duas ou três vezes ao dia, durante 60 dias. A alta frequência diária de administrações e o longo período de tratamento são fatores que contribuem significativamente para o abandono da terapia, com consequências sobre o sucesso terapêutico. Diante deste cenário, pesquisadores do Laboratório de Tecnologia de Medicamentos (Universidade Federal de Pernambuco) desenvolveram comprimidos de liberação prolongada de BNZ (LPK4M e LPK100M). Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a farmacocinética pré-clínica do BNZ administrado na forma farmacêutica de comprimidos de liberação prolongada (200 mg), comparando-a aos comprimidos atualmente disponíveis. Os estudos foram conduzidos em coelhos e a quantificação de BNZ foi realizada no plasma e urina através de métodos de cromatografia líquida de ultra eficiência previamente validados. O tempo de residência médio (MRT) foi duas vezes maior para o comprimido LPK100M em comparação ao de liberação imediata adulto. O tempo para atingir a concentração plasmática máxima (tmáx) foi três vezes maior para o comprimido LPK100M em relação ao de liberação imediata adulto. Na concentração plasmática máxima (Cmáx) não se observou diferença estatística entre os diferentes tipos de comprimido (100 mg e 200 mg), demonstrando que mesmo administrando o dobro da dose (comprimidos de liberação prolongada), as concentrações plasmáticas não superam as do comprimido de liberação imediata adulto (100 mg). A biodisponibilidade do BNZ foi adequada na administração dos comprimidos de liberação prolongada e no de liberação imediata adulto, no entanto, no pediátrico foi inferior aos demais. Os parâmetros farmacocinéticos mencionados...Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Farmacocinética pré-clínica e hematotoxicidade de Phe-Ala-PQ – pró-fármaco de primaquina

Pesquisas na área farmacêutica têm sido realizadas com a finalidade de desenvolvimento de fármacos aplicáveis ao tratamento da doença de Chagas que possuam maior eficácia – supressão dos sintomas causados pela doença, potencialização do efeito tripanocida, menor incidência e gravidade de efeitos adversos. O pró-fármaco Phe-Ala-PQ foi planejado e sintetizado para liberação de primaquina (PQ) mediante ação enzimática da cruzaína, protease específica do Trypanosoma cruzi. Em estudos de atividade antichagásica in vitro, Phe-Ala-PQ demonstrou atividade tripanocida superior ao fármaco matriz (PQ), tornando-o uma alternativa promissora para o tratamento da doença. Neste trabalho foi investigado o perfil farmacocinético de PQ quando administrado por via intravenosa e gavagem na forma de difosfato de PQ e na forma de pró-fármaco (Phe-Ala-PQ) em ratos Wistar. Além disso, foi avaliada a hematotoxicidade da administração em doses múltiplas por gavagem de difosfato de PQ e Phe-Ala-PQ no mesmo modelo animal. Os resultados deste trabalho evidenciaram que a administração do pró-fármaco Phe- Ala-PQ reduz a oscilação da concentração plasmática de PQ e diminui a fragilidade osmótica de eritrócitos quando comparado à administração em doses múltiplas da forma comercial (difosfato de PQ). Assim, o pró-fármaco Phe-Ala-PQ apresenta algumas vantagens em relação ao uso de PQ na forma difosfatada. Ensaios adicionais de toxicidade e atividade antichagásica in vivo são necessários para que sejam estabelecidos os riscos versus benefícios desta alternativa terapêutica ...Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Rapid and sensitive ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography method for quantification of antichagasic benznidazole in plasma: application in a preclinical pharmacokinetic study

Benznidazole (BNZ) and nifurtimox are the only drugs available for treating Chagas disease. In this work, we validated a bioanalytical method for the quantification of BNZ in plasma aimed at improving sensitivity and time of analysis compared with the assays already published. Furthermore, we demonstrated the application of the method in a preclinical pharmacokinetic study after administration of a single oral dose of BNZ in Wistar rats. A Waters (R) Acquity UHPLC system equipped with a UV-vis detector was employed. The method was established using an Acquity (R) UHPLC HSS SB C-18 protected by an Acquity (R) UHPLC HSS SB C-18 VanGuard guard column and detection at 324 nm(.) The mobile phase consisted of ultrapure water-acetonitrile (65:35), and elution was isocratic. The mobile phase flow rate was 0.55 mL/min, the volume of injection was 1 L, and the run time was just 2 min. The samples were kept at 25 degrees C until injection and the column at 45 degrees C for the chromatographic separation. The sample preparation was performed by a rapid protein precipitation with acetonitrile. The linear concentration range was 0.15-20 mu g/mL. The pharmacokinetic parameters of BNZ in rats were determined and the method was considered sensitive, fast and suitable for application in pharmacokinetic studies.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Methylphenidate Multiphasic Release Tablet: Bioequivalence Assessment between Two Formulations Administered under Fasting and Fed Conditions

Methylphenidate hydrochloride is used to treat children, adolescents, and adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Multiphasic release formulation has been used to control drug levels, mainly during children’s school period. This study aimed to evaluate the bioequivalence between two methylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release tablets to meet regulatory requirements for registration in Brazil. Two independent studies (under fasting and fed conditions) designed as open-label, randomized, single-dose, two-period, two-way crossover trials were conducted in healthy subjects of both genders. Subjects were enrolled and randomly received a single dose of the test formulation methylphenidate hydrochloride 54 mg extended-release tablet (Consiv®, Adium S.A., São Paulo, Brazil) or the reference formulation (Concerta®, Janssen-Cilag Farmacêutica Ltd., São Paulo, Brazil), in each period, with a 7-day washout interval. Serial blood samples were collected up to 24 h post dose and methylphenidate plasma concentrations were obtained using a validated LC-MS/MS method. A total of 96 healthy subjects were enrolled in the fasting study, of which 80 completed the study. For the fed study, 52 healthy subjects were enrolled, and 46 subjects completed it. In both studies, 90% confidence intervals for Cmax, AUC0–t, AUC0–inf, and partial AUCs were within the acceptable limits of 80.00 to 125.00%. Thus, according to regulatory requirements, the test formulation (Consiv®) was considered to be bioequivalent to the reference formulation (Concerta®) in both conditions (fasting and fed) and, therefore, it can be considered interchangeable in clinical practice. Both formulations were safe and well tolerated in single-dose administration

Pharmacokinetics of hydroxymethylnitrofurazone and its parent drug nitrofurazone in rabbits

The prodrug hydroximethylnitrofurazone (NFOH) presents antichagasic activity with greatly reduced toxicity compared to its drug matrix nitrofurazone (NF). Besides these new characteristics, the prodrug was more active against the parasite T. cruzi amastigotes. These advantages make the prodrug a possible therapeutic alternative for the treatment of both acute and the chronic phase of Chagas disease. However, the knowledge of pharmacokinetic profile is crucial to evaluate the feasibility of a new drug. In this study, our objective was to evaluate the in vivo formation of NF from the NFOH single administration and to evaluate its pharmacokinetic profile and compared it to NF administration. A bioanalytical method to determine the NF and NFOH by LCMS/MS was developed and validated to perform these investigations. Male albino rabbits (n=15) received NF intravenously and orally in doses of 6.35 and 63.5 mg / kg respectively, and NFOH, 80.5 mg / kg orally. The serial blood samples were processed and analyzed by mass spectrometry. The system operated in positive and negative modes for the analites determination, under elution of the mobile phase 50:50 water: methanol. The administration of NFOH allowed the calculation of pharmacokinetic parameters for the prodrug, and the NF obtained from NFOH administration. Using the pharmacokinetic profile obtained from the NF i.v. administration, the oral bioavailability of NF from the administered prodrug was obtained (60.1%) and, as a key parameter in a prodrug administration, should be considered in future studies. The i.v. and oral administrations of NF differ in the constant of elimination (0.04 vs 0.002) and elimination half-life (17.32 min vs 276.09 min) due to the low solubility of the drug that hinders the formation of molecular dispersions in the digestory tract. Still, there was observed no statistical differences were observed between the pharmacokinetic parameters of orally administered NF and NF obtained from NFOH. The calculated area under the curve (AUC 0-∞) showed that the exposure to the parental drug was fairly the same (844.79 vs 566.44) for NF and NF obtained from the prodrug administration. The tendency to higher NF's mean residence time (MRT) as observed in the prodrug administration (956.1 min vs 496.3 min) guarantees longer time for the action of the drug and it allows the expansion of the administration intervals. These findings, added with the beneficial characteristics of the prodrug encourage new efficacy tests towards the clinical use of NFOH

Pharmacokinetic Profile of A New Diclofenac Prodrug without Gastroulcerogenic Effect

Gastrotoxicity is a major problem for long-term therapy with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). DICCIC (1-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)indolin-2-one) is a new diclofenac prodrug, which has proven anti-inflammatory activity without gastroulcerogenic effect. The aim of this work was to compare the pharmacokinetic profiles of diclofenac from DICCIC (7.6 mg/kg equivalent to 8.1 mg/kg diclofenac) and diclofenac (8.1 mg/kg) administration in Wistar rats weighing 250-300 g (n=20). The doses were calculated by interspecific allometric scaling based on the 2 mg/kg from diary human dose of diclofenac. Blood samples were collected in heparinized tubes via the femoral artery through the implanted catheter. The plasma was separated and quantitation was made in a HPLC system with a UV-Vis detector. The confidence limits of the bioanalytical method were appropriate for its application in a preclinical pharmacokinetic study. The AUC of diclofenac from DICCIC (53.7± 5.8 ug/mL.min) was significantly less (Mann Whitney test, p<0.05) than that of diclofenac from diclofenac administration (885.9 ± 124,8 ug/mL.min). Terminal half-life of diclofenac from DICCIC (50.1 ± 17.2 min) was significantly less (Mann Whitney test, p<0.05) than that of diclofenac from diclofenac administration (247.4 ± 100.9 min). Still the parameters clearance and distribution volume were calculated for diclofenac from diclofenac, whose results were 9.2 ±1.2 mL/min.kg and 3.3 ±1.2 L/kg, respectively. The results of DICCIC from DICCIC administration were 108.9 ± 19.6 mL/min.kg and 7.8 ± 2.4 L/kg for clearance and distribution volume, respectively. The pharmacokinetic profile demonstrated that there was an increase in diclofenac elimination and a lower exposure to diclofenac with administration of DICCIC compared to diclofenac. © 2013 Bentham Science Publishers

Photomicrographs of rat liver focusing on the periportal and centrilobular regions (hematoxylin/eosin staining, 40× original magnification, Bars = 100 µm).

<p>Photomicrographs of rat liver focusing on the periportal and centrilobular regions (hematoxylin/eosin staining, 40× original magnification, Bars  = 100 µm).</p