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Biomedical subjects

Josef Kiermaier

Publications and source records attributed to Josef Kiermaier.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Development of a spray congealing process for the preparation of insulin-loaded lipid microparticles and characterization thereof.

A spray congealing process for the preparation of protein-loaded microparticles was developed. The influence of the process parameters atomization pressure and spraying temperature on particle size and process yield was investigated by experimental design. The employed spray congealing technique enabled the production of microparticles with yields ranging from 79% to 95% and median particle sizes (d(0.5)) from 182.2 to 315 microm. Insulin lipid microparticles could be prepared without any loss of insulin during the preparation process and the protein stability was not affected by the spray congealing process as investigated by HPLC-MS analysis. The stability of insulin encapsulated in lipid microparticles under release conditions over 28 days was assessed by investigating the residual insulin content. Starting after 3 days of release, a continuous increase of desamidoinsulin in the remaining particles of up to 7.5% after 28 days was observed. An additional degradation product was detected by HPLC and HPLC-MS analysis and identified as a covalent insulin dimer by MALDI-ToF. The microparticles did not show a burst release and testing the insulin lipid microparticles in a fibrin gel chondrocyte culture revealed that the released insulin was bioactive and had a significant effect on chondrocyte extracellular matrix production.

Cartilage↗

Micronization of insulin by high pressure homogenization.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to establish the high pressure homogenization of proteins in non-aqueous suspension as an alternative method for classical micronization strategies and to investigate the effect of high pressure on protein stability and bioactivity. METHODS: The influence of drug loading, homogenization pressure and cycles on particle size reduction was investigated by experimental design using a Box Behnken matrix with insulin as a model compound. Particle size measurements were performed by laser light scattering. Protein stability was investigated by HPLC and HPLC-MS analysis and the bioactivity of insulin was tested in a chondrocyte proliferation assay. For investigations into the effect of temperature on protein stability, insulin was micronized in molten lipid at 75 degrees C in one cycle at 1,000 bar. RESULTS: Within one homogenization cycle at 1,500 bar, the particle size of insulin could be reduced from 15.8 to 7.3 microm, six cycles resulted in a particle size of 3.7 microm d(0.5) (50% of the particles are smaller than the indicated value). Evaluation of the response surface diagram revealed that the homogenization pressure had the highest impact on micronization efficiency, followed by the number of homogenization cycles. Protein stability was maintained during the micronization process as well as bioactivity. Micronization at elevated temperature (75 degrees C) had no effect on protein stability. CONCLUSION: High pressure homogenization of protein suspensions can be used as an alternative method for the micronization of proteins without affecting protein stability or bioactivity.

Algorithms↗

Bioavailability of opipramol from a film-coated tablet, a sugar-coated tablet and an aqueous solution in healthy volunteers.

Opipramol (4-[3-(5H-dibenz[b,f]-azepine-5-yl)-propyl]-1-piperazine-ethanol dihydrochloride, CAS 315-72-0) is regarded as an anxiolytic compound with antidepressant properties, and it is one of the most frequently prescribed psychotropic drugs in Germany. In two open, randomized cross-over studies in 20 (study 1) and 18 (study II) healthy volunteers, the relative bioavailability of 50 mg opipramol-2HCl from a sugar-coated tablet was compared with an aqueous solution, and of 100 mg opipramol-2HCl from a newly developed film-coated tablet was compared with the sugar-coated tablet. The concentrations of opipramol were determined in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with photometric detection. The mean dose corrected kinetic parameters of opipramol were similar after administration of all formulations. The peak concentrations of opipramol were 13-15 ng ml-1 (study I) and 28 ng ml-1 (study II). They were achieved after 3 h. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve was about 170 ng ml-1 h (study I) and about 320 ng ml-1 h (study II). The terminal plasma half-life was 11 h. Bioequivalence was proven between sugar-coated tablet and aqueous solution, and between film-coated tablet and sugar-coated tablet, respectively. In addition, in study II the plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetic parameters of the metabolites opipramol N-oxide and deshydroxyethyl opipramol were determined.

Adult↗

Peptide acylation by poly(alpha-hydroxy esters).

PURPOSE: Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres were investigated concerning the possible acylation of incorporated peptides. METHODS: Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and salmon calcitonin (sCT) were encapsulated into PLA and PLGA microspheres. Peptide integrity was monitored by HPLC-MS analysis during microsphere degradation for four weeks. sCT fragmentation with endoproteinase Glu-C was used for identifying modified amino acids. Peptide stability in lactic acid solutions was investigated to elucidate possible mechanisms for preventing peptide acylation. RESULTS: Both peptides were acylated by lactic and glycolic acid units inside degrading microspheres in a time-dependent manner. After 21 days, 60% ANP and 7% sCT inside PLA microspheres were acylated. Fragmentation of sCT with endoproteinase Glu-C revealed that besides the N-terminal amine group, lysine, tyrosine or serine are further possible targets to acylation. Stability studies of the peptides in lactic acid solutions suggest that oligomers are the major acylation source and that lower oligomer concentration and higher pH substantially decreased the reaction velocity. CONCLUSIONS: The use of PLA and PLGA for drug delivery needs substantially more circumspection. As, according to FDA standards. the potential hazards of peptide acylation products need to be assessed, our findings may have significant implications for products already on the market. Techniques to minimize the acylation reaction are suggested.

Acylation↗