Lung Ultrasound and Chest X-Rays: Together to Improve the Diagnosis

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Mechanochemical synthesis of a novel eutectic of the antimicrobial nitazoxanide with improved dissolution performance

Nitazoxanide (NTZ) is a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent with poor aqueous solubility and low bioavailability. Thus, the generation of new solid forms of NTZ is relevant to improve its unfavorable properties. The present study deals with the application of mechanochemistry for the preparation of alternate solid forms of NTZ, using saccharine (SAC) as coformer. Methods: NTZ-SAC mixtures were prepared by neat and liquid-assisted grinding (LAG) and characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), hot stage microscopy (HSM), X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD), 13C Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (SSNMR) and Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy. Powder dissolution (PD) profiles were obtained with USP apparatus 2 in buffer phosphate pH 6.5 with 0.25% TweenÒ 80 - 0.25% triethanolamine and in 0.25% sodium lauryl sulfate, at 37 ºC ± 0.5 ºC and 75 rpm. Drug release was characterized in terms of dissolution efficiency (DE). Results: XRPD, SSNMR and DRIFT indicated that NTZ and SAC did not cocrystallize but DSC and HSM revealed that they formed a binary eutectic mixture which melted near 176 °C, a melting temperature lower than those of NTZ and SAC. PD data indicated that the 1:1 NTZ-SAC sample obtained by LAG exhibited a slightly higher DE than pure NTZ in the two assayed media. Conclusion: NTZ and SAC formed a eutectic, the first reported for this drug, which improved its dissolution rate and opened the pathway for studies searching for new eutectics with better biopharmaceutical attributes than NTZ and the NTZ-SAC eutectic reported herein.Fil: Fandiño, Octavio Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Bruno, Flavia Paola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Monti, Gustavo Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola; ArgentinaFil: Sperandeo, Norma Rebeca. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica; Argentin

Spectroscopic, thermal and X-ray structural study of the antiparasitic and antiviral drug nitazoxanide

Nitazoxanide [2-(acetyloxy)-N-(5-nitro-2-thiazolyl)benzamide, NTZ] is a potent antiparasitic and antiviral agent recently approved. The anti-protozoal activity of NTZ is believed to be due to interference with the pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) enzyme dependent electron transfer reaction. As drug– enzyme interactions are governed by the three-dimensional stereochemistry of both participants, the crystal structure of NTZ was determined for the first time to identify the conformational preferences that may be related to biological activity. NTZ crystallizes as the carboxamide tautomer in the orthorhombic system, space group Pna21 with the following parameters at 100(2) K: a = 14.302(2) Å, b = 5.2800(8) Å, c = 33.183(5) Å, V = 2505.8(6) Å3 , Z = 8, Dx = 1.629 g cm3 , R = 0.0319, wR2 = 0.0799 for 5121 reflections. In addition, the spectroscopic and thermal properties were determined and related to the molecular structure. The 13C CPMAS NMR spectra showed resolved signals for each carbon of NTZ, some signals being broad due to residual dipolar interaction with quadrupolar 14N nuclei. In particular, the resonance at about 127 ppm showed multiplicity, indicating more than one molecule in the asymmetric unit and this is consistent with the crystallographic data. The DSC and TG data revealed that NTZ shows a single DSC melting peak with extrapolated onset at 201 C which is accompanied by a TG weight loss, indicating that NTZ melts with decomposition.Fil: Bruno, Flavia Paola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Caira, Mino R.. University of Cape Town; SudáfricaFil: Monti, Gustavo Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía y Física; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola; ArgentinaFil: Kassuha, Diego Enrique. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Sperandeo, Norma Rebeca. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia; Argentin

The Lipopolysaccharide Export Pathway in Escherichia coli: Structure, Organization and Regulated Assembly of the Lpt Machinery

The bacterial outer membrane (OM) is a peculiar biological structure with a unique composition that contributes significantly to the fitness of Gram-negative bacteria in hostile environments. OM components are all synthesized in the cytosol and must, then, be transported efficiently across three compartments to the cell surface. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a unique glycolipid that paves the outer leaflet of the OM. Transport of this complex molecule poses several problems to the cells due to its amphipatic nature. In this review, the multiprotein machinery devoted to LPS transport to the OM is discussed together with the challenges associated with this process and the solutions that cells have evolved to address the problem of LPS biogenesis

Linking dual mode of action of host defense antimicrobial peptide thanatin: structures, lipopolysaccharide and LptAm binding of designed analogs

At present, antibiotics options to cure infections caused by drug resistant Gram-negative pathogens are highly inadequate. LPS outer membrane, proteins involved in LPS transport and biosynthesis pathways are vital targets. Thanatin, an insect derived 21-residue long antimicrobial peptide may be exploited for the development of effective antibiotics against Gram-negative bacteria. As a mode of bacterial cell killing, thanatin disrupts LPS outer membrane and inhibits LPS transport by binding to the periplasmic protein LptAm. Here, we report structure-activity correlation of thanatin and analogs for the purpose of rational design. These analogs of thanatin are investigated, by NMR, ITC and fluorescence, to correlate structure, antibacterial activity and binding with LPS and LptAm, a truncated monomeric variant. Our results demonstrate that an analog thanatin M21F exhibits superior antibacterial activity. In LPS interaction analyses, thanatin M21F demonstrate high affinity binding to outer membrane LPS. The atomic resolution structure of thanatin M21F in LPS micelle reveals four stranded -sheet structure in a dimeric topology whereby the sidechain of aromatic residues Y10, F21 sustained mutual packing at the interface. Strikingly, LptAm binding affinity of thanatin M21F has been significantly increased with an estimated Kd~0.73 nM vs 13 nM for thanatin. Further, atomic resolution structures and interactions of Ala based thanatin analogs define plausible correlations with antibacterial activity and LPS, LptAm interactions. Taken together, the current work provides a frame-work for the designing of thanatin based potent antimicrobial peptides for the treatment of drug resistance Gram-negative bacteria.Ministry of Education (MOE)Submitted/Accepted versionThis work was supported by the grant from Ministry of Education (MOE), Singapore

Pharmaceutical polymorphism of a 5´-O-oxalatoyl prodrug of zidovudine (azidothymidine)

The importance of polymorphism in pharmaceuticals makes its study relevant. The aim of this study was to investigate the solid-state forms in which 3´-azido-2´,3´-dideoxi-5´-O-oxalatoyl-thymidinic acid (AZT-Ac), a zidovudine (AZT) prodrug with improved pharmacokinetic properties, may exist. Samples were prepared using different crystallization conditions, and characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, solid state nuclear magnetic resonance, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry and hot stage microscopy. Pharmaceutical relevant properties such as solid-state stability and intrinsic dissolution rate (IDR) at 37 °C in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) were also evaluated. AZT-Ac was found able to exist as a crystalline polymorph (AZT-Ac-C) and an amorphous phase (AZT-Ac-A), which were thoroughly characterized. At 40 °C/75% RH, AZT-Ac-A in part devitrified to AZT-Ac-C, and partially hydrolyzed to AZT after 7 and 14 days of storage, respectively. AZT-Ac-C was physically stable at 40 °C/75% RH but partly hydrolyzed to AZT after 14 days of storage. In SGF, AZT-Ac-C exhibited a linear ID profile and provided an ID rate of 0.494 mg/min/cm2 while AZT-Ac-A exhibited a nonlinear profile. Therefore, the crystalline form demonstrated advantages over the amorphous one in terms of solid state stability and IDR, but approaches to enhance its stability should be considered for further formulation of this prodrug.Fil: Kassuha, Diego Enrique. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia; Argentina. Universidad Catolica de Cuyo - Sede San Juan. Facultad de Cs. de la Alimentación, Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bruno, Flavia Paola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Laboratorio Fresenius Kabi; ArgentinaFil: Monti, Gustavo Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía y Física; ArgentinaFil: Sperandeo, Norma Rebeca. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia; Argentin

Preparation and characterization of polymorphs of the glucocorticoid deflazacort

The polymorphism of new and old active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is of great importance due to performance, stability and processability aspects. The objective of this study was to investigate the polymorphism of deflazacort (DEF), a glucocorticoid discovered >40 years ago, since this phenomenon has not been previously investigated for this API. Using different methods for solid form screening, it was determined for the first time that DEF is able to exist as three forms: a crystalline (DEF-1); a hydrated X-ray amorphous (DEF-t-bw) and an anhydrous amorphous phase (DEF-g) obtained from manually grinding DEF-1. The in vitro and in vivo dissolution rates (DRs) of DEF-1 and DEF-t-bw, which were measured using the rotating disk method in water at 37 °C and the pellet implantation technique in rats, respectively, indicated that DEF-t-bw exhibited slightly faster in vitro and in vivo DRs than those of the crystalline form, but the values were not significantly different. In addition, it was determined that DEF-t-bw devitrifies to DEF-1 by the effect of pressure, humidity and heat. It was concluded that DEF is glucorticoid with low tendency to exhibit different crystalline forms and that DEF-t-bw has no advantages over DEF-1 in terms of solubility, DRs and solid-state stability.Fil: Kassuha, Diego Enrique. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Aiassa, Virginia. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bruno, Flavia Paola. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Cuadra, Gabriel R.. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Sperandeo, Norma Rebeca. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

New Insights into the Lpt Machinery for Lipopolysaccharide Transport to the Cell Surface: LptA-LptC Interaction and LptA Stability as Sensors of a Properly Assembled Transenvelope Complex▿

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a major glycolipid present in the outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative bacteria. The peculiar permeability barrier of the OM is due to the presence of LPS at the outer leaflet of this membrane that prevents many toxic compounds from entering the cell. In Escherichia coli LPS synthesized inside the cell is first translocated over the inner membrane (IM) by the essential MsbA flippase; then, seven essential Lpt proteins located in the IM (LptBCDF), in the periplasm (LptA), and in the OM (LptDE) are responsible for LPS transport across the periplasmic space and its assembly at the cell surface. The Lpt proteins constitute a transenvelope complex spanning IM and OM that appears to operate as a single device. We show here that in vivo LptA and LptC physically interact, forming a stable complex and, based on the analysis of loss-of-function mutations in LptC, we suggest that the C-terminal region of LptC is implicated in LptA binding. Moreover, we show that defects in Lpt components of either IM or OM result in LptA degradation; thus, LptA abundance in the cell appears to be a marker of properly bridged IM and OM. Collectively, our data support the recently proposed transenvelope model for LPS transport

Characterization of lptA and lptB, Two Essential Genes Implicated in Lipopolysaccharide Transport to the Outer Membrane of Escherichia coli

The outer membrane (OM) of gram-negative bacteria is an asymmetric lipid bilayer that protects the cell from toxic molecules. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an essential component of the OM in most gram-negative bacteria, and its structure and biosynthesis are well known. Nevertheless, the mechanisms of transport and assembly of this molecule in the OM are poorly understood. To date, the only proteins implicated in LPS transport are MsbA, responsible for LPS flipping across the inner membrane, and the Imp/RlpB complex, involved in LPS targeting to the OM. Here, we present evidence that two Escherichia coli essential genes, yhbN and yhbG, now renamed lptA and lptB, respectively, participate in LPS biogenesis. We show that mutants depleted of LptA and/or LptB not only produce an anomalous LPS form, but also are defective in LPS transport to the OM and accumulate de novo-synthesized LPS in a novel membrane fraction of intermediate density between the inner membrane (IM) and the OM. In addition, we show that LptA is located in the periplasm and that expression of the lptA-lptB operon is controlled by the extracytoplasmic σ factor RpoE. Based on these data, we propose that LptA and LptB are implicated in the transport of LPS from the IM to the OM of E. coli

Characterization and structural analysis of the potent antiparasitic and antiviral agent tizoxanide

Tizoxanide [2-(hydroxy)-N-(5-nitro-2-thiazolyl)benzamide, TIZ] is a new potent anti-infective agent which may enhance current therapies for leishmaniasis, Chagas disease and viral hepatitis. The aim of this study was to identify the conformational preferences that may be related to the biological activity of TIZ by resolving its crystal structure and characterizing various physicochemical properties, including its experimental vibrational and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance properties, behavior on heating and solubility in several solvents at 25 °C. TIZ crystallizes from dimethylformamide as the carboxamide tautomer in the triclinic system, space group P(−1) (No. 2) with the following unit cell parameters at 173(2) K: a = 5.4110(3) Å, b = 7.3315(6) Å, c = 13.5293(9) Å, α = 97.528(3), β = 95.390(4), γ = 97.316(5), V = 524.41(6) Å3, Z = 2, Dc = 1.680 g/cm3, R1 = 0.0482 and wR2 = 0.0911 for 2374 reflections. This modification of TIZ has a ‘graphitic’ structure and is composed of tightly packed layers of extensively hydrogen-bonded molecules. The various spectroscopic data [Diffuse Fourier transform infrared (DRIFT) and FT-Raman, recorded in the range 3600–500 and 4000–200 cm−1 respectively, and solid-state 13C NMR] were consistent with the structure determined by X-ray crystallography. From DSC, TG and thermomicroscopy, it was concluded that TIZ is thermally stable as a solid and that melting is not an isolated event from the one-step thermal decomposition that it undergoes above 270 °C. This modification of TIZ is practically insoluble in water and slightly soluble in polar aprotic solvents such as dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide and dioxane.Fil: Bruno, Flavia Paola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Caira, Mino R.. University of Cape Town; SudáfricaFil: Ceballos Martin, Eliseo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Monti, Gustavo Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola; ArgentinaFil: Sperandeo, Norma Rebeca. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin