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H Lennernäs

Publications and source records attributed to H Lennernäs.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of different doses of fentanyl following sublingual administration of a rapidly dissolving tablet to cancer patients: a new approach to treatment of incident pain.

AIMS: It is estimated that two-thirds of cancer patients will at some point during their illness experience breakthrough pain. In this study, the pharmacokinetics of a novel sublingual dosage form of fentanyl developed for breakthrough pain was evaluated. METHODS: Eleven Caucasian patients (seven male and 4 female, aged 34-75 years, median 60 years) with metastatic malignant disease were recruited initially, but three patients withdrew. Prior to the study all patients were on continuous nonfentanyl opiate medication. The study was a double-blind, cross-over trial, consisting of three 1-day treatment periods. A new rapidly dissolving preparation of fentanyl, was administered sublingually in single doses of 100, 200 and 400 microg, respectively, on three separate occasions. Plasma fentanyl concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by noncompartment analysis. Tolerability and the occurrence of adverse events were monitored throughout the study by patient questionnaire. RESULTS: The data from nine subjects who completed at least two periods were used in the analysis of variance. There were no significant differences between doses (100, 200 and 400 microg) for dose adjusted AUC (F = 0.42, P = 0.6660), dose adjusted C(max) (F = 0.08, P = 0.9206) and Tmax (F = 0.94, P = 0.4107). Thus, these parameters showed dose proportionality. The differences (400-100microg) in dose adjusted AUC from the three-period crossover analysis was -0.016 min.ng/ml (t = 0.71, P = 0.8718). Interindividual variability in systemic exposure to fentanyl was fairly small (25-40%), which may be related to a good in vivo biopharmaceutical performance of the sublingual tablet, and a relatively small fraction of the dose being swallowed. The first detectable plasma concentration of fentanyl was observed between 8 and 11 min after administration. t(max) increased from 39.7 +/- 17.4 to 48.7 +/- 26.3 and 56.7 +/- 24.6 min for the 100, 200 and 400 microg doses, respectively. Adverse events were few and did not increase with increasing dose. CONCLUSION: With this rapidly dissolving fentanyl formulation, the first detectable plasma concentration of fentanyl was observed at 8-11 min after administration. The pharmacokinetics of the drug showed dose proportionately. This formulation of fentanyl seemed to be well tolerated by the patients.

Administration, Sublingual↗
PubMed2003

Variable expression of CYP and Pgp genes in the human small intestine.

BACKGROUND: The small intestine is receiving increased attention for its importance in drug metabolism. However, knowledge of the intervariability and regulation of the enzymes involved, cytochrome p450 and P-Glycoproteins (CYP and Pgp), is poor when compared with the corresponding hepatic enzymes. METHODS: The expression of eight different CYP genes and the Pgp were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 51 human duodenum biopsies. And the variability and correlation of expression was analyzed. RESULTS: Extensive interindividual variability was found in the expression of most of the genes. Only CYP2C9, CYP3A4 and Pgp were found in all samples. CYP1A2, CYP2A6 and CYP2E1 exhibited the highest interindividual variability. No strong correlation of expression existed between the genes. But a highly significant correlation was found between CYP2D6/1A2, 2D6/2E1, 1A2/2E1 and 2B6/2C9. Acetylsalicylic acid and omeprazole significantly increased the expression of CYPs 2A6, 2E1 and 3A4, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Extensive interindividual variability is characteristic for the expression of drug-metabolizing CYP and Pgp genes in human duodenum, and external factors such as drugs may further increase the variability. It is possible that the large interindividual variability may lead to variable bioavailability of orally used drugs and hence complicate optimal drug therapy, especially for drugs with a small therapeutic window. Elucidation of factors contributing to clinically important variances warrants further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

The effect of amiloride on the in vivo effective permeability of amoxicillin in human jejunum: experience from a regional perfusion technique.

The purpose of this human intestinal perfusion study (in vivo) was twofold. Firstly, we aimed to determine the effective in vivo jejunal permeability (P(eff)) of amoxicillin and to classify it according to the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS). Secondly, we investigated the acute effect of amiloride on the jejunal P(eff) of amoxicillin. Amoxicillin, a beta-lactam antibiotic, has been reported to be absorbed across the intestinal mucosa by both passive diffusion and active transport. A regional single-pass perfusion of the jejunum was performed using a Loc-I-Gut perfusion tube in 14 healthy volunteers. Each perfusion lasted for 200 min and was divided into two periods of 100 min each. The concentration of amoxicillin entering the jejunal segment was 300 mg/l in both periods, and amiloride, an inhibitor of the Na+/H+ exchanger, was added at 25 mg/l in period 2. The concentrations of amoxicillin and amiloride in the outlet jejunal perfusate were measured with two different HPLC-methods. Antipyrine and [14C]PEG 4000 were added as internal standards to the perfusion solution. Amiloride had no significant effect on the jejunal P(eff) of amoxicillin. The human in vivo jejunal P(eff) for amoxicillin was 0.34+/-0.11 x 10(-4) and 0.46+/-0.12 x 10(-4) cm/s in periods 1 and 2, respectively. The high jejunal P(eff) for amiloride was 1.63+/-0.51 x 10(-4) cm/s which predicts an intestinal absorption of more than 90%. Following the BCS amoxicillin was classified as a low P(eff) drug, and amiloride had no acute effect on the in vivo jejunal P(eff) of amoxicillin.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

The influence of caprate on rectal absorption of phenoxymethylpenicillin: experience from an in-vivo perfusion in humans.

The aim of this in-vivo perfusion study in humans was to investigate the influence of a penetration enhancer, sodium caprate, on the rectal absorption of phenoxymethylpenicillin and antipyrine. Six subjects, 3 male and 3 female, were included in two separate studies using perfusion solution of different pH (T1 and T2, respectively). Each in-vivo rectal perfusion investigation lasted for 200 min and consisted of two periods of 100 min, the first serving as a control, and sodium caprate being added in the second period in both T1 and T2. The concentrations of phenoxymethylpenicillin, antipyrine and sodium caprate in the outlet perfusate were assayed by HPLC, as was the plasma concentrations of phenoxymethylpenicillin. At pH 6.0 (0-100 min) the fraction absorbed (f(abs)) and effective permeability (P(eff)) of phenoxymethylpenicillin were 0.3% and 0.06 x 4 cm s(-1), respectively, and remained unaffected by the addition of sodium caprate. When the same subjects were perfused at pH 7.4, the f(abs) and P(eff) of phenoxymethylpenicillin were 2.4% and 0.11 x 10(-4) cm s(-1) (0-100 min), respectively, also remaining unchanged by addition of sodium caprate (100-200 min). It was possible to determine the plasma AUC of phenoxymethylpenicillin after addition of sodium caprate in three subjects at both pHs; this was in the range of 14.0-62.8 and 56.4-231 (min micromol L(-1)) at pH 6.0 and 7.4, respectively. Interestingly, there was a correlation between P(eff) for sodium caprate and the individual plasma AUC and C(max) of phenoxymethyl-penicillin, which indicates that the permeability of the enhancer in the tissue upon which it should act is crucial for achieving an effect. The f(abs) and the P(eff) of antipyrine were not affected at either pH when sodium caprate was added to the perfusion solution. In conclusion, the plasma pharmacokinetics of phenoxymethylpenicillin suggested a slightly increased rectal absorption at pH 7.4 in subjects where sodium caprate was transported into the rectal tissue. However, the increased P(eff) for phenoxymethylpenicillin wastoo small to detectfrom the outlet perfusate, which suggests that sodium caprate alone has a limited effect on the permeability in-vivo across the rectal epithelium when it is presented in a solution.

Administration, Rectal↗
PubMed2001

CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and MDR1 in human small and large intestinal cell lines suitable for drug transport studies.

The aim of this study was to find a cell culture model of the intestinal epithelium for use in studies of CYP3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism of drugs and also for studies of the interplay between CYP3A4 metabolism and P-glycoprotein efflux. For this purpose, the expression of CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and MDR1 mRNA was studied in three cell lines of the normal human intestinal epithelium and three transformed cell lines of colonic (Caco-2) origin. Surprisingly, only transformed cell lines were induced by 1alpha,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 (D3) to express high amounts of CYP3A4. In contrast to the original findings for this model, the monolayer integrity was maintained during D3 treatment. Levels of CYP3A mRNA expression in Caco-2 and TC7 cells differed dramatically. The highest levels of CYP3A4 and lowest levels of CYP3A5 mRNA expression were observed in D3 treated Caco-2 cells of high passage numbers, resulting in a CYP3A4/3A5 expression ratio greater than fourfold higher than that seen in TC7 cells. Functional studies, using the CYP3A probe testosterone, showed that CYP3A activity was completely absent only in uninduced Caco-2 cells. After D3 induction, high levels of the metabolite were produced in both cell lines (149.4 +/- 12.3 and 86.5 +/- 3.8 pmol 6beta-OH testosterone/min/mg cellular protein from 75 microM testosterone in Caco-2 and TC7 cells, respectively). The maximum velocity (Vmax) and the apparent Michaelis constant (Km) for the 6beta-hydroxylation of testosterone by CYP3A4 in intact Caco-2 monolayers were similar to those obtained from human intestinal microsomes. Only minor changes in P-glycoprotein activity were observed when the metabolically stable P-glycoprotein substrate celiprolol was used. In conclusion, these results show that the features of the generally available Caco-2 cell line from American Type Culture Collection make it suitable for studies of CYP3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism and also for studies of the interplay between CYP3A4 and drug efflux mechanisms.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed2001

In vitro metabolism of opioid tetrapeptide agonists in various tissues and subcellular fractions from rats.

The metabolism of three mu-selective opioid tetrapeptide agonists, Tyr-D-Arg-Phe-Nva-NH(2) (TArPN), Tyr-D-Arg-Phe-Phe-NH(2) (TArPP), and Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Phe-NH(2) (TAPP), was investigated in different rat tissues. High metabolic activity (<20% peptide remaining after 30 min) was found against the three peptides in the kidney homogenate and against TArPN in spleen homogenate. Low metabolic activity (>80% peptide remaining after 30 min) was found for all peptides in brain homogenate and plasma, and for TArPN and TArPP in blood. The other tissue homogenates, prepared from the small and large intestine, liver and lung, all exhibited intermediate metabolic activity (20-80% peptide remaining after 30 min) against the peptides. In all tissues investigated, the tetrapeptides were metabolized at the C-terminal amide by deamidation.A further in depth metabolic investigation was performed in subcellular fractions isolated from three tissues (small intestine, liver and kidney). In the liver, the deamidation was predominantly localized to the mitochondrial/lysosomal fraction, while hydrolysis at the N-terminal Tyr residue was the major metabolic pathway in the microsomal/brush-border membrane fraction from the kidney and small intestine.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Direct estimation of the in vivo dissolution of spironolactone, in two particle size ranges, using the single-pass perfusion technique (Loc-I-Gut) in humans.

AIM: The objective of this in vivo dissolution study was to investigate the usefulness of the Loc-I-Gut technique for differentiating between the in vivo dissolution rate of two particle sizes of spironolactone, and to compare these in vivo results with corresponding in vitro data. METHODS: The study included six volunteers, and consisted of three sequential parts (I, II, III). In parts I and III the in vivo dissolution was measured directly by perfusing a semi-open segment in the proximal jejunum. In part II, a solution of spironolactone was administered orally, and the plasma concentration time profile was followed for 48 h. The in vitro dissolution was measured using flow-through cells and different dissolution media simulating human gastrointestinal fluids. RESULTS: A difference in in vivo dissolution rate of the two different particle sizes was observed, based on perfusion data. This difference was not pronounced in the relative bioavailability of spironolactone administered in two different particle sizes. The relative bioavailability was dependent on the bile acid concentration in vivo. In vitro, dissolution rate of the smaller particles was improved at fasted state bile acid concentrations, while the larger particles were only significantly affected at fed state bile acid concentrations. CONCLUSION: In vivo dissolution studies discriminated between the dissolution rate of the two different particle sizes of spironolactone, based on the perfusate samples. The lack of difference in relative bioavailability, might be explained by the insufficient wash-out of particles after ending the perfusion, reabsorption of surface active ingredients along the GI tract, relatively small difference in particle size and the large inter- and intra-individual differences in pharmacokinetic variables.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2001

Human jejunal permeability of two polar drugs: cimetidine and ranitidine.

PURPOSE: To determine the human jejunal permeability of cimetidine and ranitidine using a regional jejunal perfusion approach, and to integrate such determinations with previous efforts to establish a baseline correlation between permeability and fraction dose absorbed in humans for soluble drugs. METHODS: A sterile multi-channel perfusion tube, Loc-I-Gut, was inserted orally and positioned in the proximal region of the jejunum. A solution containing cimetidine or ranitidine and phenylalanine, propranolol, PEG 400, and PEG 4000 was perfused through a 10 cm jejunal segment in 6 and 8 subjects, respectively. RESULTS: The mean Peff (+/- se) of cimetidine and ranitidine averaged over both phases were 0.30 (0.045) and 0.27 (0.062) x 10(-4) cm/s, respectively, and the differences between the two were found to be statistically insignificant. The mean permeabilities for propranolol, phenylalanine, and PEG 400 averaged over both phases and studies were 3.88 (0.72), 3.36 (0.50), and 0.56 (0.08) x 10(-4) cm/s, respectively. The differences in permeability for a given marker were not significant between phases or between the two studies. CONCLUSIONS: The 10-fold lower permeabilities found for cimetidine and ranitidine in this study, compared to propranolol and phenylalanine, appear to be consistent with their less than complete absorption in humans.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Effects of cholesterol and model transmembrane proteins on drug partitioning into lipid bilayers as analysed by immobilized-liposome chromatography.

We have analysed how cholesterol and transmembrane proteins in phospholipid bilayers modulate drug partitioning into the bilayers. For this purpose we determined the chromatographic retention of drugs on liposomes or proteoliposomes entrapped in gel beads. The drug retention per phospholipid amount (the capacity factor Ks) reflects the drug partitioning. Cholesterol in the bilayers decreased the Ks value and hence the partitioning into the membrane in proportion to the cholesterol fraction. On average this cholesterol effect decreased with increasing temperature. Model transmembrane proteins, the glucose transporter GLUT1 and bacteriorhodopsin, interacted electrostatically with charged drugs to increase or decrease the drug partitioning into the bilayers. Bacteriorhodopsin proteoliposomes containing cholesterol combined the effects of the protein and the cholesterol and approached the partitioning properties of red blood cell membranes. For positively charged drugs the correlation between calculated intestinal permeability and log Ks was fair for both liposomes and bacteriorhodopsin-cholesterol proteoliposomes. Detailed modeling of solute partitioning into biological membranes may require an extensive knowledge of their structures.

Bacteriorhodopsins↗
PubMed2000

Stability and in vitro metabolism of dipeptide model prodrugs with affinity for the oligopeptide transporter.

One approach to increase drug stability and to facilitate oral absorption of low bioavailability drugs may be to design oligopeptide ester prodrugs which are stable in the gastrointestinal tract, are transported via the oligopeptide transporter, and finally release the parent drug molecule into the blood circulation and/or by its site of action. In these kinds of prodrugs the ester linkage may be broken by pH dependent and/or enzyme catalyzed hydrolysis. The objective of the present study was to investigate the degradation mechanism and rate of the model compounds Glu(OBzl)-Sar, D-Glu(OBzl)-Ala and Asp(OBzl)-Sar in aqueous solution and in relevant biological media and to compare these results with those of our previous study of D-Asp(OBzl)-Ala. Furthermore, the resulting aqueous stability and in vitro metabolism data are related to our previous affinity data to evaluate if Glu-Sar, D-Glu-Ala, and Asp-Sar have potential as pro-moieties in these kinds of prodrugs. The degradation rates follow first-order kinetics, show maximun stability at pH 4-5 with maximum half-lives for Asp(OBzl)-Sar, Glu(OBzl)-Sar, and D-Glu(OBzl)-Ala of 115 h, 30 days and 152 days, respectively. The stability was dependent on buffer concentration, temperature, pH, and ionic strength. In biological media such as 80% human plasma, human gastric juice and intestinal fluid, and 10% rat jejunal homogenate at 37 degrees C, the half-lives were greater than 1 h except for the hydrolysis of Glu(OBzl)-Sar in 10% rat jejunal homogenate, where the half-life was approximately 16 min. All the stabilized dipeptides may have potential as drug carriers targeting hPepT1.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Dissolution of hydrocortisone in human and simulated intestinal fluids.

PURPOSE: To compare solubility and dissolution rate of hydrocortisone in aspirated human intestinal fluids (HIFs) with simulated intestinal fluids (SIFs) and buffer. METHODS: Solubility and flux from a rotating disk of hydrocortisone were measured. The bile salt content, pH and osmotic pressure were determined in HIFs. RESULTS: In fasted state the solubility of hydrocortisone was higher in HIFs than in the buffer and SIFs. The flux of hydrocortisone in HIFs was similar to the flux in the buffer but lower than the flux in SIFs at fasted state. Addition of intestinal surfactants in SIFs increased solubility and flux at both fasted and fed state. The increase in solubility was caused by micelle formation in SIFs. The increase in flux may partly be explained by increased solubility. The bile salt content of the HIFs did not correlate with the solubility or the flux but pH in the HIFs seems to have some effect on the components of the HIFs resulting in increased solubility. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to perform comparable dissolution tests in HIFs and SIFs. The lack of correlation between the results in HIFs and the bile salt content may be explained by the relatively low lipophilicity of the model drug.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗
PubMed2000

Investigations of the in-vitro metabolism of three opioid tetrapeptides by pancreatic and intestinal enzymes.

The metabolism of three opioid tetrapeptides, Tyr-D-Arg-Phe-Nva-NH2, Tyr-D-Arg-Phe-Phe-NH2 and Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Phe-NH2, was investigated in the presence of pure pancreatic enzymes (trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase, carboxypeptidase A and carboxypeptidase B), as well as in the presence of pure carboxylesterase and aminopeptidase N. The cleavage patterns of the pure pancreatic enzymes were then compared with those found in rat and human jejunal fluid. Metabolism was also studied in homogenates from different intestinal regions (duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon) and in enterocyte cytosol from rats. The effect of various protease inhibitors was investigated in the jejunal homogenate. The parent peptides were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography and metabolites were identified by means of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Of the pure enzymes, the quickest hydrolysis of the peptides was observed for the pancreatic enzymes chymotrypsin, trypsin and carboxypeptidase A. In most cases they formed the corresponding deamidated tetrapeptides (chymotrypsin and trypsin) or tripeptides with a missing C-terminal amino acid (carboxypeptidase A). Regional differences in intestinal metabolism rates were found for all three peptides (P < 0.001), with the highest rates observed in jejunal and/or colonic homogenates. The deamidated tetrapeptides were formed both in rat intestinal homogenates and in enterocyte cytosol. Metabolism in the jejunal homogenate was markedly inhibited by some serine and combined serine and cysteine protease inhibitors. In conclusion, the C-terminal amide of these tetrapeptides did not fully stabilise them against intestinal deamidase and carboxypeptidase activities. The significant hydrolysis of the peptides by pure chymotrypsin, trypsin and carboxypeptidase A showed that lumenal pancreatic proteases might be a clear metabolic obstacle in oral delivery even for small peptides such as these tetrapeptides.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Enantiometric separation of verapamil and norverapamil using Chiral-AGP as the stationary phase.

Simultaneous enantiomeric separation of verapamil and its main metabolite norverapamil was achieved using Chiral-AGP as the stationary phase. The optimized chromatographic system was obtained using statistical experimental design with partial least squares as regression method. The three variables studied were buffer pH, content of acetonitrile and column temperature. A high buffer pH favors enantioselectivity as well as the selectivity between (S)-verapamil and (R)-norverapamil. The concentration of the organic modifier in the mobile phase was a compromise as a high content of acetonitrile decreased enantioselectivity but increased the selectivity mentioned above. Increased column temperature increased the separation between (S)-verapamil and (R)-norverapamil with only a slight decrease in enantioresolution.

Calcium Channel Blockers↗
PubMed1999

Absorption of L-DOPA from the proximal small intestine studied in the rhesus monkey by positron emission tomography.

Positron emission tomography (PET) seems to be a valuable method for the understanding of intestinal absorption mechanisms, for simultaneous quantitation of absorption rate and distribution kinetics to the tissues of interest after oral drug delivery. PET was evaluated in three Rhesus monkeys for quantitation of the absorption rate from the gastrointestinal tract and the distribution kinetics into different organs. To obtain optimal standardized conditions for the measurement of absorption the drug was administered via a naso-duodenal catheter directly to the absorption site in the proximal small intestine. l-DOPA was used as study drug given in a suspension together with carbidopa and the radiomarker l-[beta-11C]DOPA. The l-DOPA suspension was given into the duodenum without and after administration of a suspension of six l-amino acids (120 mM) in order to investigate any interaction on the intestinal absorption and distribution of l-DOPA into the liver and brain tissue. Intestinal absorption was in general minor during the first study period and higher together with administered l-amino acids. The somewhat contradictory result with increased absorption when amino acids were present in the intestinal lumen, may be a consequence of increased intestinal motility initiated by the nutrient load.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

A comparison between direct determination of in vivo dissolution and the deconvolution technique in humans.

AIM: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the in vivo dissolution of carbamazepine in humans and to compare it with the dissolution estimated by deconvolution of plasma concentrations as well as the in vitro dissolution. METHODS: The in vivo study included six healthy volunteers, and consisted of two sequential parts. In part 1 the dissolution was measured by perfusing a semi-open segment in the proximal jejunum in humans. In part 2 the volunteers were given a solution of carbamazepine orally. In both parts of the study, plasma samples were collected up to 48 h after administration of the dose. The in vitro dissolution was measured in a flow-through cell using dissolution medium with and without the addition of bile acids (3 mM). RESULTS: The direct measured in vivo dissolution profile of carbamazepine and the deconvoluted profile were found to be similar. The two dissolution profiles of carbamazepine obtained in vitro were statistically lower than the two in vivo dissolution profiles. The higher in vivo dissolution rate is probably due to efficient sink conditions as a consequence of the high permeability of carbamazepine and more pronounced intestinal motility. CONCLUSION: The jejunal perfusion system was successfully used for in vivo dissolution measurements of carbamazepine and agreed with the deconvoluted plasma profile regarding rate and extent of dissolution. Single-pass perfusion is therefore a meaningful tool for further studies of in vivo dissolution.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1999

Stability, metabolism and transport of D-Asp(OBzl)-Ala--a model prodrug with affinity for the oligopeptide transporter.

The model prodrug D-Asp(OBzl)-Ala has previously been shown to have affinity and to be transported by the oligopeptide transporter PepT1 expressed in Caco-2 cells. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the aqueous stability of D-Asp(OBzl)-Ala and its in vitro metabolism in different gastrointestinal media arising from rats and humans, as well as in human plasma. The second major aim of the study was to evaluate our previous study in Caco-2 cell culture, by determining the effective intestinal permeability (Peff) of D-Asp(OBzl)-Ala in situ using the single-pass rat perfusion model. The aqueous stability studies show water, general buffer, as well as specific acid and base catalysis of D-Asp(OBzl)-Ala. The degradation of the model prodrug was independent of ionic strength. The half-lives in rat jejunal fluid and homogenate were >3 h. In human gastric and intestinal fluids, the half-lives were >3 h and 2.3+/-0. 03 h, respectively. Using the rat single-pass perfusion technique, the effective jejunal permeability (Peff) of D-Asp(OBzl)-Ala was determined to be high (1.29+/-0.5.10-4 cm/s). The 32 times higher Peff value found in the perfusion model compared to Caco-2 cells is most likely due to a higher functional expression of the oligopeptide transporter. Rat jejuna Peff was reduced by approximately 50% in the presence of well known oligopeptide transporter substrates, such as Gly-Sar and cephalexin. It may be that D-Asp(OBzl)-Ala is primarily absorbed intact by the rat jejunal oligopeptide transporter, since the stability in the intestinal homogenate and fluids was rather high (t1/2>2.3 h).

Algorithms↗
PubMed1999

Chitosans as absorption enhancers of poorly absorbable drugs. 3: Influence of mucus on absorption enhancement.

Chitosans are potent nontoxic absorption enhancers after nasal administration but their effects on the intestinal epithelium in vivo has not been studied in detail. In this study, the effects of chitosans with varying molecular weights and degrees of acetylation on the absorption of a poorly absorbed model drug (atenolol) were studied in intestinal epithelial cell layers with or without a mucus layer and in an in situ perfusion model of rat ileum. The effects of the chitosans on epithelial morphology and release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) into the perfusate were investigated in the in situ model. The chitosans had pronounced effects on the permeability of mucus-free Caco-2 layers and enhanced the permeation of atenolol 10- to 15-fold, with different absorption kinetics for different chitosans, in accordance with previous results. In contrast, enhancement of atenolol absorption through rat ileum was modest. LDH release from the tissues perfused with chitosans did not increase, indicating that the chitosans were used at nontoxic concentrations. Morphological examination of the perfused ileal tissues revealed more mucus discharge from the tissues exposed to chitosans than from controls, which suggested that the discharged mucus may inhibit the binding of chitosan to the epithelial surface and hence decrease the absorption-enhancing effect. This hypothesis was supported by studies with intestinal epithelial HT29-H goblet cells covered with a mucus layer. The binding of chitosan to the epithelial cell surface and subsequent absorption-enhancing effects were significantly reduced in mucus-covered HT29-H cultures. When the mucus layer was removed prior to the addition of chitosan, the cell surface binding and absorption-enhancing effects of the chitosans were increased. We conclude that the modest absorption-enhancing effects of unformulated chitosan solutions in the perfused rat ileum are a result of the mucus barrier in this tissue. This effect may be overcome by increasing the local concentrations of both chitosan and drug, i.e,. through formulation of the chitosan into a particulate dosage form.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗