Biomedical subjects

F M Veronese

Publications and source records attributed to F M Veronese.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Polyethylene glycol and a novel developed polyethylene glycol-nitric oxide normalize arteriolar response and oxidative stress in ischemia-reperfusion.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been shown to repair cell membranes and, thus, inhibit free radical production in in vitro and in vivo models. We hypothesized that PEG and newly developed organic nitrate forms of PEG (PEG-NO) could repair endothelial dysfunction in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in the hamster cheek pouch visualized by intravital fluorescent microscopy. After treatments, we evaluated diameter and RBC velocity and flow in arterioles, as well as lipid peroxides in the systemic blood, perfused capillary length, vascular permeability, leukocyte adhesion, and amount of von Willebrand factor (vWF) in the blood after I/R injury. A control group was treated with 5,000- or 10,000-Da PEG, and three groups were treated with PG1 (1 NO molecule covalently bound to PEG, 5,170 Da), PG8 (8 NO molecules covalently bound to PEG, 11,860 Da), and PG16 (16 NO molecules covalently bound to PEG, 14,060 Da). All animals received 0.5 mg/0.5 ml. Lipid peroxides increased at 5 and 15 min of reperfusion, whereas diameter, RBC velocity, and blood flow decreased in arterioles after I/R injury. Vascular permeability, leukocyte adhesion, and vWF increased significantly. PEG and PG1 attenuated lipid peroxides and vasoconstriction during reperfusion and decreased leukocyte adhesion and vascular permeability. PG8 maintained lipid peroxides at normal levels, increased arteriolar diameter, flow, and perfused capillary length, and decreased vWF level and leukocyte adhesion (P < 0.05). PG16 was less effective than PG1 and PG8. In conclusion, PEG-NO shows promise as a compound that protects microvascular perfusion by normalizing the balance between NO level and excessive production of free radicals in endothelial cells during I/R injury.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

PEG-Ara-C conjugates for controlled release.

The antitumour agent 1-beta-D arabinofuranosilcytosyne (Ara-C) was covalently linked to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in order to improve the in vivo stability and blood residence time. Eight PEG conjugates were synthesised, with linear or branched PEG of 5000, 10000 and 20000 Da molecular weight through an amino acid spacer. Starting from mPEG-OH or HO-PEG-OH, conjugation was carried out to the one or two available hydroxyl groups at the polymer's extreme. Furthermore, to increase the drug loading of the polymer, the hydroxyl functions of PEG were functionalised with a bicarboxylic amino acid yielding a tetrafunctional derivative and, by recursive conjugation with the same bicarboxylic amino acid, products with four or eight Ara-C molecules for each PEG chain were prepared. A computer graphic investigation demonstrated that aminoadipic acid was a suitable bicarboxylic amino acid to overcome the steric hindrance between the vicinal Ara-C molecules in the dendrimeric structure. In this paper we report the optimised conditions for synthesis and purification of PEG-Ara-C products with a low amount of remaining free drug, studies toward the hydrolysis of PEG-Ara-C and the Ara-C deamination by cytidine deaminase, pharmacokinetics in mice and cytotoxicity towards HeLa human cells were also investigated. Increased stability towards degradation of the conjugated Ara-C products, in particular for the highly loaded ones, improved blood residence time in mice and a reduced cytotoxicity with respect to the free Ara-C form was demonstrated.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Slow release of two antibiotics of veterinary interest from PVA hydrogels.

Two antibiotics, tylosin tartrate and oxytetracycline hydrochloride, were entrapped in poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels (MW 31,000-50,000) by a cryogen procedure obtaining a controlled release system suitable for veterinary application. It was found that at a low drug matrix loading (10 mg/ml), the in vitro release rate of both antibiotics could be reduced by a previous freeze drying of the gel, while no reduction in drug rate took place in heavily loaded matrices (300 mg/ml). When PVA hydrogels containing tylosin were administered to rats per os the drug could not be detected in the blood, but it was found in organs,: liver, kidneys, and muscles, for up to 120 h. On the other hand, when the same amount of drug was administered orally as powder, no appreciable organ accumulation was detected, while the drug was found in faeces and urine. These data show that PVA hydrogels can be a suitable slow release system for tylosin administration. Oxytetracycline could also be quantitatively entrapped and released from PVA hydrogels, but once administered per os to rats, it was not detected in blood or organs.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2003

PEGylation of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GRF) analogues.

Synthetically produced GRF1-29 (Sermorelin) has an amino acid composition identical to the N-terminal 29 amino acids sequence of the natural hypothalamic GHRH1-44 (Figure 1). It maintains bioactivity in vitro and is almost equally effective in eliciting secretion of endogenous growth hormone in vivo. The main drawbacks associated with the pharmaceutical use of hGRF1-29 relate to its short half-life in plasma, about 10-20 min in humans, which is caused mostly by renal ultrafiltration and enzymatic degradation at the N terminus. PEGylation has been considered as one valid approach to obtain more stable forms of the peptide, with a longer in vivo half-life and ultimately with increased pharmacodynamic response along the somatotropic axis (endogenous GH, IGF-1 levels). Different PEGylated GRF conjugates were obtained and their bioactivity was tested in vitro and in vivo by monitoring endogenous growth hormone (GH) serum levels after intravenous (i.v.) injection in rats, and intravenous and subcutaneous (s.c.) injection in pigs. It was found that GRF-PEG conjugates are able to bind and activate the human GRF receptor, although with different potency. The effect of PEG molecular weight, number of PEG chains bound and position of PEGylation site on GRF activity were investigated. Mono-PEGylated isomers with a PEG5000 polymer chain linked to Lys 12 or Lys 21 residues, showed high biological activity in vitro, which is similar to that of hGRF1-29, and a higher pharmacodynamic response as compared to unmodified GRF molecule.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Synthesis and biopharmaceutical characterisation of new poly(hydroxyethylaspartamide) copolymers as drug carriers.

Four new poly(hydroxyethylaspartamide)-based copolymers bearing (a) poly(ethylene glycol) 2000, (b) poly(ethylene glycol) 5000, (c) poly(ethylene glycol) 2000 and hexadecylalkyl, (d) poly(ethylene glycol) 5000 and hexadecylalkyle, as pendant groups were synthesised. The copolymers were obtained by partial aminolysis of polysuccinimide with poly(ethylene glycol) and hexadecylalkyl amino derivatives followed by reaction with ethanolamine. Naked polyhydroxyaspartamide was obtained by polysuccinimide reaction with ethanolamine. The nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, light scattering and elemental analysis allowed for the extensive physico-chemical characterisation of the carriers. The molecular mass of all the polymers was in the range of 27000-34000 Da, and the polydispersivity was in the range of 1.5-1.7. By intravenous injection to mice bearing a solid tumour, all the polymeric carriers displayed a bi-compartmental pharmacokinetic behaviour. Both the poly(ethylene glycol) and the hexadecylalkyle conjugation prolonged and enhanced the distribution phase of poly(hydroxyethylaspartamide). The poly(ethylene glycol) conjugation was found to promote the carrier elimination by kidney ultrafiltration and to prevent partially the accumulation in the spleen and in the liver. The poly(ethylene glycol)/hexadecylalkyle conjugates localised preferentially in the liver were over 30% of the dose/g of tissue was determined after 144 h from administration. In the tumour all the polymers displayed a relevant accumulation that significantly increased throughout the time to reach high concentrations after 24 h. In particular, the poly(ethylene glycol)/hexadecylalkyle conjugates achieved a concentration of 15-25% of the dose/g of tissue after 24 h from administration that was maintained up to 144 h.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Pegylated enzyme entrapped in poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel for biocatalytic application.

A procedure for enzyme entrapment into matrices suitable for biocatalytic applications is reported. The method, which takes advantage of the stable formation of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels by freezing and thawing PVA aqueous solutions, was assayed using lipase as model enzyme. The leakage of lipase was minimised by using high molecular weight PVA and by previous conjugation of the enzyme to PEG. The immobilised PEG enzyme maintained its catalytic activity in organic solvents also, thus allowing enzymatic activity towards water insoluble substrates. The activity was largely increased reducing the diffusional constrain by cutting the matrices into slices of micron size. Matrix-entrapped lipase-PEG, when used in the hydrolysis of acetoxycoumarins, showed a conversion rate of about 10 times lower than the enzyme-PEG in the free form, and maintained regioselectivity when a diacetylated product was used as substrate.

Hydrogels↗

PubMed2001

Peptide and protein PEGylation: a review of problems and solutions.

The paper discusses general problems in using PEG for conjugation to high or low molecular weight molecules. Methods of binding PEG to different functional groups in macromolecules is reported together with their eventual limitations. Problems encountered in conjugation, such as the evaluation of the number of PEG chains bound, the localisation of the site of conjugation in polypeptides and the procedure to direct PEGylation to the desired site in the molecule are discussed. Finally, the paper reports on more specific methods regarding reversible PEGylation, cross-linking reagents with PEG arms, PEG for enzyme solubilization in organic solvent and new polymers as alternative to PEG.

Peptides↗

PubMed2001

Calcitonin release system in the treatment of experimental osteoporosis. Histomorphometric evaluation.

Bioabsorbable polyphosphazene matrices charged with 250 microg calcitonin were evaluated as calcitonin delivery systems for the controlled release of this drug in an in vivo experimental model. Matrices were implanted under general anesthesia in osteopenic female rats, while a group of osteopenic animals (control group) received unloaded matrices. After 30 days a second series of matrices, loaded and unloaded was, respectively, implanted in both groups. In a third group of osteopenic female rats (positive control), 10 IU calcitonin were injected daily for two months. A baseline group and a sham operated group of animals were also included in the study. The explanted matrices were histologically evaluated together with the surrounding tissues, and bone histomorphometry was performed on undecalcified sections from femurs. The results showed the good biocompatibility of the matrices. Bone histomorphometry revealed that bone architecture in the treatment group was improved and results were not different from those observed after calcitonin injection. These data confirm a good in vivo behavior of the system, as well as a therapeutic effect of the released calcitonin in the osteopenic condition.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Influence of the spacer on the inhibitory effect of different polycarbophil-protease inhibitor conjugates.

Within the present study various polycarbophil (PCP)-serine protease inhibitor conjugates were synthesized and the influence of different spacers on their inhibitory efficacy was evaluated in vitro. Results demonstrated that 4.2+/-0.15 units (n=3; +/-SD) of alpha-chymotrypsin were inhibited by 50% utilizing 0.86% (w/v) of a PCP-tetramethylenediamine (TMDA)-chymostatin 20:1 conjugate. In contrast, only 0.6+/-0.05 units (n=3; +/-SD) of alpha-chymotrypsin were inhibited by a corresponding PCP-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-chymostatin conjugate. Inhibitory effects of PCP-TMDA-antipain and -elastatinal conjugates towards trypsin and elastase, respectively, were also significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of corresponding PCP-PEG-inhibitor conjugates. Hence, the great impact of the molecular size as well as the structure of the spacer on resulting polymer-inhibitor conjugates could be demonstrated. The small and rigid C4-spacer TMDA (molecular weight (MW) 161.1) was thereby shown to be highly advantageous over a long, hydrophilic and flexible PEG-diamine spacer (MW 3400). Results obtained should provide helpful basic knowledge for the development of mucoadhesive polymer-inhibitor conjugates used as auxiliary agents for the oral administration of peptide drugs.

Acrylic Resins↗

PubMed2000

Polyphosphazene microspheres for insulin delivery.

Polyphosphazene based microspheres for insulin delivery were prepared following three different procedures: (A) suspension-solvent evaporation; (B) double emulsion-solvent evaporation; (C) suspension/double emulsion-solvent evaporation. Methods A and C allowed for higher protein loading than procedure B. Scanning electron microscopy showed that all preparation procedures achieve microparticles with spherical shape, porous surface and internal honeycomb structure. In all cases insulin was released 'in vitro' by a bi-modal behaviour: fast release during the first 2 hours followed by a slow release. However, both the physical properties and the 'in vitro' release profiles were found to depend upon the preparation conditions. Subcutaneous administration to diabetic mice of microspheres obtained with methods A and C rapidly reduced the glucose levels of about 80% but most of activity was lost in 100 hours. Both preparations B induced a remarkable decrease in glucose levels and the activity was maintained throughout 1000 h. Finally all preparations stimulated anti-insulin antibody production that constantly increased over a period of 8 weeks.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Therapeutic proteins: a comparison of chemical and biological properties of uricase conjugated to linear or branched poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(N-acryloylmorpholine).

Uricase from Bacillus fastidiosus (UC) was covalently linked to linear PEG (PEG-1) (Mw 5 kDa), branched PEG (PEG-2) (Mw 10 kDa) and to poly(N-acryloylmorpholine) (PAcM) (Mw 6 kDa). The conjugation of UC with linear PEG and PAcM was accompanied by complete loss of enzymatic activity but, if uric acid as site protecting agent was included in the reaction mixture, the conjugate protein retained enzymatic activity. On the other hand, the modification with PEG-2 gave a conjugate that also maintained enzymatic activity in the absence of any active site protection. This behaviour must be related to hindrance of the branched polymer in reaching the enzyme active site. The UC conjugates exhibited increased resistance to proteolytic digestion while minor variations in the inhibitory constant, optimal pH, heat stability, affinity for substrate, were observed. Pharmacokinetic investigations in mice demonstrated increased residence time in blood for all the conjugates as compared with native uricase. Uricase conjugated with linear PEG was longer lasting in blood UC derivative, followed by branched PEG and the PAcM conjugates. Unconjugated uricase was rapidly removed from circulation. All these data are in favour of the use of the less known amphiphilic polymer PAcM as an alternative to PEGs in modification of enzymes devised for therapeutic applications.

Acrylic Resins↗

PubMed2000

Plain and drug loaded polyphosphazene membranes and microspheres in the treatment of rabbit bone defects.

The healing of periodontal surgical defects was studied in rabbits, using polyphosphazenes (POP) membranes and microspheres, both plain or drug-enriched. POP polymers having amino acid ester as backbone substituents, are used since they resorb and undergo hydrolytic degradation to ammonia, phosphate and amino acids. Fourteen animal were operated in tibia, and other fourteen at angle of the mandible, that was reached by extraoral access. Bone defects were performed in tibiae, and covered either with POP or with poly-tetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes, while other rabbits served as controls. The animals were sacrificed after one and two months, and the tibiae taken and processed for optical microscopy. Similar surgical defects were made in mandible, and POP membranes were placed over the breaches, some of which were filled with POP microspheres, both alone or mixed with granular hydroxyapatite. For comparison, two rabbits were treated with PTFE membranes, while other two served as controls. The animals operated at the mandible were all sacrificed after one month, and the operated bones taken and processed for histology. It was found that POP membranes were very effective in promoting the healing in tibiae, while less satisfactory results were found in the animals treated with PTFE membranes and in controls. In mandible, the healing occurred without a clear relationship with the grafted microgranular material or the membrane, since repairing bone was found also in controls. In any case, both POP membranes and microspheres showed excellent biocompatibility, as no inflammatory cells or macrophages were found in the surrounding tissue. This property was completely independent from the presence of drug, since the matrix-entrapped drugs, released in the tissue, did not hamper the bone healing. It was also found that POP, by itself, has a positive effect in stimulating the bone repair.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2000

PAcM-AN: poly (N-acryloylmorpholine)-conjugated antisense oligonucleotides.

A new amphiphilic, high-molecular weight poly (N-acryloylmorpholine) (PAcM) polymer has been used to be linked to oligonucleotide chains through a liquid-phase stepwise synthesis. This new conjugate has been investigated for its melting property, nuclease stability and capacity to elicit RNase H activity. Its antisense activity against an HIV-1 target has been also evaluated.

Gene Expression Regulation↗

PubMed1999

Bioconjugation in pharmaceutical chemistry.

Polymer conjugation is of increasing interest in pharmaceutical chemistry for delivering drugs of simple structure or complex compounds such peptides, enzymes and oligonucleotides. For long time drugs, mainly with antitumoral activity, have been coupled to natural or synthetic polymers with the purpose of increasing their blood permanence time, taking advantage of the increased mass that reduces kidney ultrafiltration. However only recently complex constructs were devised that exploit the 'enhanced permeability and retention' (EPR) effect for an efficient tumor targeting, the high molecular weight for adsorption or receptor mediated endocytosis and finally a lysosomotropic targeting, taking advantage of acid labile bonds or cathepsin susceptible polypeptide spacers between polymer and drug. New original, very active conjugates of this type, as those based on poly(hydroxyacrylate) polymers, are already in advanced state of development. Labile oligonucleotides, including antisense drugs, were also successfully coupled to polymers in view of an increased cell penetration and stabilization towards nucleases. However, the most active research activity resides in the field of polypeptides and proteins delivery, mainly for the two following reasons: first of all because a great number of therapeutically interesting compounds are now being produced by genetic engineering in large quantity and, secondly, because these products are difficult to administer to patients for several inherent drawbacks. Proteins are in fact easily digested by many endo- and exo-peptidases present in blood or in other body districts; most of them are immunogenic to some extent and, finally, they are rapidly excreted by kidney ultrafiltration. Covalent polymer conjugation at protein surface was demonstrated to reduce or eliminate these problems, since the bound polymer behaves like a shield hindering the approach of proteolytic enzymes, antibodies, or antigen processing cell. Furthermore, the increase of the molecular weight of the conjugate allows to overcome the kidney elimination threshold. Many successful results were already obtained in peptides and proteins, conjugated mainly to water soluble or amphiphilic polymers like poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), dextrans, or styrenemaleic acid anhydride. Among the most successful are the conjugates of asparaginase, interleukin-2 or -6 and neocarcinostatin, to remind some antitumor agents, adenosine deaminase employed in a genetic desease treatment, superoxide dismutase as scavenger of toxic radicals, hemoglobin as oxygen carrier and urokinase and streptokinase as proteins with antithrombotic activity. In pharmaceutical chemistry the conjugation with polymers is also of great importance for synthetic applications since many enzymes without loss of catalytic activity become soluble in organic solvents where many drug precursors are. The various and often difficult chemical problems encountered in conjugation of so many different products prompted the development of many synthetic procedures, all characterized by high specificity and mild condition of reaction, now known as 'bioconjugation chemistry'. Bioconjugation developed also the design of new tailor-made polymers with the wanted molecular weight, shape, structure and with the functional groups needed for coupling at the wanted positions in the chain.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Immunogenic and tolerogenic properties of monomethoxypoly(ethylene glycol) conjugated proteins.

An immunogenic and tolerogenic characterisation of monomethoxypoly(ethylene glycol) conjugated proteins was carried out using, as immunogen models, an anti-malaria chimera monoclonal antibody (PfChMab) and a macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF). Two conjugates of PfChMab were prepared by polymer derivatisation of 19 and 33% protein amino groups and one conjugate of M-CSF was obtained by modification of 24% amino groups. In mice M-CSF was found to elicit rapidly high IgG and IgM levels whereas the monomethoxypoly(ethylene glycol) derivatised M-CSF stimulated a significantly lower immunoresponse. Native PfChMab was found to induce a delayed immunoresponse with high IgM levels but low production of IgG. Furthermore, similar immunogenic profiles were obtained with the native and modified protein forms. The pre-administration of polymer conjugated M-CSF to mice subsequently treated with the native protein was found to suppress up to 75% of anti-native M-CSF IgG, while IgM production was not affected. On the other hand the pre-administration of monomethoxypoly(ethylene glycol) derivatised PfChMab was found to reduce significantly the generation of anti-native PfChMab IgM. Such suppression depended on the degree of modification: the conjugate with the higher number of polymer chains was more effective in suppressing the immunoresponse.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Polyphosphazene membranes and microspheres in periodontal diseases and implant surgery.

Membranes or microcapsules made from polyphosphazenes bearing amino acid side groups are proposed for the treatment of periodontal diseases. Polyphosphazene membranes, prepared with alanine ethyl ester and imidazole in the molar ratio of 80:20 as phosphorus substituents, gave a degradation rate that corresponded to the healing of the bone defect. These membranes were much more successful in promoting healing of rabbit tibia defects than polytetrafluoroethylene membranes. Antibacterial or anti-inflammatory drugs, useful in periodontal tissue regeneration, could be entrapped in the polyphosphazene membranes and released both in vitro and in vivo at a rate that ensured therapeutic concentrations in the surrounding tissue. Polyphosphazene microspheres, prepared with phenylalanine ethyl ester as a phosphorus substituent and loaded with succinylsulphathiazole or naproxen, were also obtained. The kinetics of release from these matrices were very convenient in yielding local concentrations of the two drugs that are useful per se or when mixed with hydroxyapatite for better bone formation.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Synthesis by High-Efficiency Liquid-Phase (HELP) Method of Oligonucleotides Conjugated with High-Molecular Weight Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs).

The chemical modification of synthetic oligonucleotides has recently been investigated to improve their pharmacological utilization. In addition to chemical alterations of the backbone and of the heterocyclic bases, their conjugation with amphiphylic moieties, such as the polyethylene glycol has been proposed. The large scale production of these molecules as demanded for commercial purposes is hampered by the heterogeneity of the solid-phase processes and by the low reactivity of high-molecular weight PEGs in solution. A new synthetic procedure based on the recently developed liquid-phase method (HELP), has been set up to overcome these limitations.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998

Polyorganophosphazene microspheres for drug release: polymer synthesis, microsphere preparation, in vitro and in vivo naproxen release.

Microsphere preparation for naproxen slow release was investigated using two newly prepared biodegradable polyorganophosphazenes, derivatized at the phosphorus atoms with phenylalanine ethyl ester and imidazole at molar ratios of 71/29 and 80/20. The polymers were prepared by substitution of the chloride atoms of polydichlorophosphazene with a phenylalanine ethyl ester-imidazole mixture followed, after 7 or 48 h reaction, by the addition of excess imidazole. Three methods of microsphere preparation have been considered: spray-drying, emulsion/solvent evaporation and emulsion/solvent evaporation-extraction. Microparticles obtained by spray-drying were found to possess a narrow distribution size with a mean diameter of 2-5 microm. Their internal structure consisted of a porous or empty core depending upon the solvent used for the preparation. Furthermore the microspheres prepared with this technique rapidly released the entrapped naproxen independently of the used polymer, the drug loading or the preparation process. On the other hand microspheres prepared by solvent evaporation or solvent evaporation-extraction showed a distribution size ranging between 10 and 100 microm. By the appropriate choice of pH and solvent composition of the external phase, naproxen could be entrapped, in these microspheres, with a yield higher of 80%. The polymer composition dictates the in vitro release rate of naproxen from the particles, which was faster when the microspheres were prepared with the polymer at higher imidazole content. In vivo experiments, carried out by subcutaneous implantation in rats of microspheres prepared by solvent evaporation, demonstrated that a constant level of naproxen in plasma could be maintained up to 400 h at a suitable concentration for antinflammatory activity.

Animals↗