Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “PYRROLIDONES”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 487 records · Page 27Linked to original sources

Inhibitory effects of volatile antioxidants found in various beans on malonaldehyde formation in horse blood plasma.

The inhibitory effect of aroma extracts isolated from dried soybeans, mung beans, kidney beans, and azuki beans on malonaldehyde (MA) formation from horse blood plasma oxidized with Fenton's reagent was determined by gas chromatography (GC) coupled with nitrogen-phosphorus detector (NPD). Aroma chemicals such as maltol, eugenol, benzyl alcohol, 1-octen-3-ol, butyrolactone, and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, found in the aroma extracts of beans, were also examined for their inhibitory effect on the same system. Among the four aroma extracts tested, the aroma extract of soybeans exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity. Extracts of soybeans, mung beans, azuki beans, and kidney beans inhibited MA formation by 58%, 47%, 40%, and 23%, respectively, at the level of 400 microg/mL, whereas, alpha-tocopherol and BHT inhibited MA formation by 52% and 70%, respectively, at the same level. Among the tested aroma chemicals, the antioxidant activity decreased in the following order: eugenol>maltol>1-octen-3-ol>benzyl alcohol>butyrolactone>1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone.

Animals↗

Effect of penetration enhancers on the release and skin permeation of bupranolol from reservoir-type transdermal delivery systems.

A reservoir-type transdermal delivery system (TDS) of bupranolol (BPL) was designed and evaluated for different formulation variables like gel reservoirs (made with anionic and nonionic polymers), rate controlling membranes and penetration enhancers on the drug release and in vitro skin permeation kinetics of the devices. Keshary-Chien type diffusion cells and pH 7.4 phosphate buffered saline (PBS) were used for drug release studies and excised rat skin was used as a barrier for permeation experiments. The release rate of BPL from nonionic polymer gel reservoirs [hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC)] was much higher than anionic polymer gel reservoirs [carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na CMC) and sodium alginate)]. Among different rate controlling membranes, Cotran-polyethylene microporous membrane demonstrated highest release rate for BPL than all other membranes. An optimized TDS formulation with HPC gel and Cotran-polyethylene microporous membrane was used to study the effect of penetration enhancers on the release and skin permeation rate of BPL from the TDS. Permeation rates of the devices containing 5% (w/v) pyrrolidone (PY) or 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (MPY) were about 3- and 1.5-fold higher than control (no enhancer, P<0.01) indicating PY to be better penetration enhancer for BPL than MPY. The permeation rates of devices containing partially methylated beta-cyclodextrin (PMbetaCD) and PMbetaCD-BPL complex were about 2.5- and 1.4-fold higher than control (P<0.01). Inclusion of 10 and 30% w/v propylene glycol (PG) in the devices increased the permeation rate by 1.4- and 1.8-fold higher than control (P<0.05). In conclusion, reservoir-type TDS of BPL was developed and penetration enhancers increased the skin permeation of BPL at 4-5 times higher levels than the desired target delivery rate.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Mucoadhesive microspheres prepared by interpolymer complexation and solvent diffusion method.

Mucoadhesive microspheres were prepared to increase gastric residence time using an interpolymer complexation of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) with poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and a solvent diffusion method. The complexation between poly(acrylic acid) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) as a result of hydrogen bonding was confirmed by the shift in the carbonyl absorption bands of poly(acrylic acid) using FT-IR. A mixture of ethanol/water was used as the internal phase, corn oil was used as the external phase of emulsion, and span 80 was used as the surfactant. Spherical microspheres were prepared and the inside of the microspheres was completely filled. The optimum solvent ratio of the internal phase (ethanol/water) was 8/2 and 7/3, and the particle size increased as the content of water was increased. The mean particle size increased with the increase in polymer concentration. The adhesive force of microspheres was equivalent to that of Carbopol. The release rate of acetaminophen from the complex microspheres was slower than the PVP microspheres at pH 2.0 and 6.8.

Adhesives↗

Model analysis of flux enhancement across hairless mouse skin induced by chemical permeation enhancers.

Previous permeant partitioning studies with hairless mouse skin (HMS) in the presence of several chemical skin permeation enhancers have revealed that, when such enhancers induce significant skin permeability coefficient enhancement, it is accompanied by significant enhancement in the equilibrium uptake (partitioning) of the permeant into the intercellular lipid component of the stratum corneum (SC). Particularly, it was found that the 1-alkyl-2-pyrrolidones and the 1-alkyl-2-azacycloheptanones, at aqueous solution concentrations that gave skin permeation enhancement (E) of 10 for corticosterone (CS, the permeant), enhanced the equilibrium uptake of beta-estradiol (E2beta, a surrogate permeant) from the aqueous phase into the intercellular lipids of HMS SC by a factor of 5-7. This finding raised the question of whether this uptake enhancement induced by the permeation enhancer under equilibrium conditions would be essentially the same as that determined kinetically from time-dependent permeation experiments utilizing appropriate SC membrane models and Fick's laws of diffusion to treat the data. HMS transport experiments were conducted with CS as the permeant and 1-octyl-2-pyrrolidone (OP) and 1-hexyl-2-azacyloheptanone (HAZ) as the enhancers. In treating the experimental data, a one-layer skin transport model (SC only) and a two-layer model (SC layer and the epidermis/dermis layer) were both investigated. Both the partition coefficient enhancement (E(K)) and the diffusion coefficient enhancement (E(D)) were deduced from the data treatment. The results showed that when the total transport enhancement of CS was around 11, E(K) was in the range of 6-8 and E(D) was in the range of 1.5-1.9 using both the one-layer and the two-layer models. This E(K) value was found to be in good agreement with the E2beta partition enhancement obtained directly under equilibrium conditions in previous studies. This indicates that (a) the rate-limiting domain for the transport of the lipophilic permeants across HMS and the HMS SC intercellular lipid domain probed in the equilibrium partitioning experiments are essentially the same, and (b) the total flux enhancement (E) of lipophilic permeants across HMS was driven mainly by enhancing the partitioning of the permeant into the rate-limiting domain (E(K)) and secondarily by enhancing the diffusion coefficients (E(D)) of the permeant in the domain. Comparison of the one-layer and two-layer skin model results revealed that non-steady-state transport of lipophilic compounds across HMS was better described by the two-layer model because the dermis/viable epidermis played a significant role in lipophilic permeant binding.

Algorithms↗

Stability of poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) and leuprolide acetate in in-situ forming drug delivery systems.

In-situ forming drug delivery systems are prepared by dissolving a drug and a biodegradable polymer (poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide), PLGA) in a biocompatible organic solvent (In-situ implant, ISI) or further emulsified into an external phase (oil or aqueous solution), resulting in oil-in-oil or oil-in-water emulsions (In-situ forming microparticles, ISM). The chemical stability of PLGA and the drug is a major concern. In this study, the stability of PLGA and leuprolide acetate in the in-situ forming systems and lyophilized sponges was investigated. The degradation of PLGA increased with increasing storage temperature and water content in the biocompatible solvents. A faster degradation occurred in polar protic solvents (2-pyrrolidone, PEG 400, triethyl citrate) than in polar aprotic solvents (N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, DMSO, triacetin, ethyl acetate). The presence of leuprolide acetate significantly accelerated PLGA degradation, especially in solution state. PLGA was stable in oily suspensions at 4 degrees C and degraded only slightly faster than solid powder at 25 degrees C. No interaction between the oils and the PLGA was observed as indicated by an unchanged T(g) of approx. 47 degrees C. PLGA underwent a slight degradation at 4 degrees C after 150 days in water and saturated sodium chloride solution. The degradation was slower in saturated sodium chloride solution than in water at 25 degrees C. Residual acetic acid in lyophilized sponges facilitated the PLGA degradation in contrast to dioxane. Leuprolide acetate did not affect the PLGA stability negatively. However, lidocaine significantly enhanced the polymer degradation in the sponges. Finally, leuprolide acetate was chemically stable in the sponges, the oils and the polymer solutions in suspension state, but unstable (aggregation) when dissolved in the polymer solutions and stored at 25 degrees C and 40 degrees C.

Chromatography, Gel↗

Primary explosives: electrostatic discharge initiation, additive effect and its relation to thermal and explosive characteristics.

All explosives, under all conditions must be considered vulnerable to generation, accumulation and discharge of static charge. The low energy static hazards of the order as low as 2-3 mJ need to be guarded against in case of highly sensitive compounds namely primary explosives. The hazard is normally associated with manufacturing and filling operations due to discharge of static charge accumulated on a person supplying energy up to 20 mJ. To reduce the risk associated with static initiation hazard in the processing and handling of the explosives, the electrostatic sensitivity tests can provide an important input regarding electrostatic hazards. This paper presents electrostatic sensitivity data in terms of zero ignition probability data (E(SE0)) of some of the initiatory explosives such as nickel/cobalt hydrazinium nitrate, silver azide, lead azide and mercury salt of 5-nitro tetrazole. Similar data has also been presented for samples coated with polyvinyl pyrrolidone to study its effect on electrostatic sensitivity. The electrostatic spark sensitivity of some conventional and novel made to explain the increased spark sensitivity behavior on the basis of the possible primary explosives has been studied. The electrostatic spark sensitivity of primary explosives decreased in the order of AgN3 = NHN > PbN6 > MNT > CoHN > BNCP. A possible correlation of spark energy with approximation and assumption has been drawn with thermal, detonation and mechanical properties. The polyvinyl pyrrolidone coated samples followed the same order but interestingly with increased spark sensitivity. An attempt has been reasoning of dielectric nature of the materials or exothermic effects of decomposition products of PVP. The present work also reports the electrostatic spark sensitivity of cap compositions.

Explosive Agents↗

Amphiphilic poly-N-vinylpyrrolidones: synthesis, properties and liposome surface modification.

Certain amphiphilic water-soluble polymers including amphiphilic derivatives of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) were found to be efficient steric protectors for liposomes in vivo. In this study, we have tried to develop synthetic pathways for preparing amphiphilic PVP and to investigate the influence of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic blocks on some properties of resulting polymers and polymer-coated liposomes. To prepare amphiphilic PVP with the end stearyl (S) or palmityl (P) residues, amino- and carboxy-terminated PVP derivatives were first synthesized by the free-radical polymerization of vinyl pyrrolidone in the presence of amino- or carboxy-mercaptans as chain transfer agents, and then modified by interaction of amino-PVP with stearoyl chloride or palmitoyl chloride, or by dicyclohexyl carbodiimide coupling of stearylamine with carboxy-PVP. ESR-spectra of the hydrophobic spin-probe, nitroxyl radical N-oxyl-2-hexyl-2-(10-methoxycarbonyl)decyl-4,4'-dimethyl oxazoline, in the presence of amphiphilic PVP demonstrated good accessibility of terminal P- and S-groups for the interaction with other hydrophobic ligands. Spontaneous micellization and low CMC values (in a low micromolar range) were found for amphiphilic PVP derivatives using the pyrene method. In general, S-PVP forms more stable micelles than P-PVP (at similar MW, CMC values for S-PVP are lower than for P-PVP). It was found that amphiphilic PVP incorporated into negatively charged liposomes effectively prevents polycation(poly-ethylpyridinium-4-vinylchloride)-induced liposome aggregation, completely abolishing it at ca. 10 mol% polymer content in liposomes. Additionally, the liposome-incorporated PVP prevents the fluorescence quenching of the membrane-incorporated hydrophobic fluorescent label [N-(4-fluoresceinthiocarbamoyl)dipalmitoyl-PE] by the free polycation. PVP-modified liposomes were loaded with a self-quenching concentration of carboxyfluorescein, and their destabilization in the presence of mouse serum was investigated following the release of free dye. Amphiphilic PVP with MW between 1,500 and 8,000 provides good steric protection for liposomes. The degree of this protection depends on both polymer concentration and molecular size of the PVP block.

Animals↗

Ibuprofen release from hydrophilic ceramic-polymer composites.

Two composite systems composed of alpha-Al2O3/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP)/ibuprofen or alpha-Al2O3/PMMA/co-vinyl pyrrolidone-methyl methacrylate/ibuprofen were prepared by free radical polymerization. These systems were characterized by spectroscopic techniques and thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses. The hydration behaviour of composites with different hydrophilic characters was analysed after the immersion of the composites in buffered solution at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C. The swelling of the composites depends strongly on the content of the hydrophilic component and is controlled by the presence of the ceramic component. The release of the anti-inflammatory drug, ibuprofen, from the composites in buffered solution was followed by UV spectroscopy and the results obtained indicated that the components of the composites influenced the rate of release of the drug, without the classical 'burst' effect observed frequently with hydrophilic systems.

Aluminum Oxide↗

Rat progastrin processing yields peptides with altered potency at the CCK-B receptor.

Details of prohormone processing patterns are revealed by purification and characterization of molecular forms stored in the tissues where the hormones are expressed. Molecular forms of rat gastrin were purified from antral extracts by gel permeation, anion exchange, and reverse-phase HPLC. Amidated and glycine-extended gastrins were detected with specific antisera and their structures determined by mass spectrometry. In rats, the only form shorter than gastrin-17 observed contained 16 amino acids. These data suggest that two enzymes process the amino terminus of gastrin-17. Pyrrolidone carboxylic acid peptidase removes the amino terminal pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (pyroGlu), forming gastrin-16. In mammals other than rat, gastrin-16 is then cleaved by dipeptidyl peptidase IV to form gastrin-14. In rat, this reaction does not take place because of proline residues Pro(2)-Pro(3)- in gastrin-16. Gastrin-16 is found in sulfated and nonsulfated forms and comprises 28% of the total gastrin immunoreactivity. Glycine-extended forms of gastrin-16 and gastrin-17 comprises 45% of the total gastrin immunoreactivity. The sulfated forms of gastrin-16 and gastrin-17 bind to the CCK-B receptor transfected into CHO cells with 10-fold higher affinity than the nonsulfated forms of these peptides. Therefore, processing of rat progastrin may modulate the expression of gastrin biological activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Preparation and in vitro release studies of ibuprofen-loaded films and microspheres made from graft copolymers of poly(L-lactic acid) on acrylic backbones.

The present article describes the preparation of films of various thickness and microspheres from new resorbable graft copolymers of polyacrylic (methyl methacrylate, MMA, or methyl acrylate, MA), or polyvinylic (vinyl pyrrolidone, VP) chains and poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) side blocks charged with 15-20% of ibuprofen (IBU) (a non-steroidic antiinflammatory agent). In the case of MMA-LLA and MA-LLA graft copolymers the release of IBU in buffered solution is modulated by the flexibility of the copolymer chains in a first step of one to two days and in a second step by the diffusive properties of the system as well as by the biodegradation of the polymers. The VP-PLLA graft copolymers are highly hydrophilic and the release of IBU is modulated by the diffusion of the drug through the swollen system. Specific interactions between the IBU molecules and the pyrrolidone rings also participate in the kinetic behaviour of the release process.

Acrylates↗

Determination of 5-hydroxy-N-methylpyrrolidone and 2-hydroxy-N-methylsuccinimide in human urine.

A method for simultaneous determination of 5-hydroxy-N-methylpyrrolidone and 2-hydroxy-N-methylsuccinimide in urine is described. These compounds are metabolites of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, a powerful and widely used organic solvent. 5-Hydroxy-N-methylpyrrolidone and 2-hydroxy-N-methylsuccinimide were purified from urine by adsorption to a C8 solid-phase extraction column and then elution by ethyl acetate-methanol (80:20). After evaporation, the samples were derivatised at 100 degrees C for 1 h by bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide. Ethyl acetate was then added and the samples were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the electron impact mode. The extraction recovery for 5-hydroxy-N-methylpyrrolidone was about 80% while that for 2-hydroxy-N-methylsuccinimide was about 30%. The intra-day precision for 5-hydroxy-N-methylpyrrolidone was 2-4% and the between-day precision 4-21% (4 and 60 microg/ml). The intra-day precision for 2-hydroxy-N-methylsuccinimide was 4-8% and the between-day precision 6-7% (2 and 20 microg/ml). The detection limit was 0.2 microg/ml urine for both compounds. The method is applicable for analysis of urine samples from workers exposed to N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

Enhanced bleomycin-induced pulmonary damage in mice lacking extracellular superoxide dismutase.

Extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) is highly expressed in the extracellular matrix of lung and vascular tissue. Localization of EC-SOD to the matrix of the lung may protect against oxidative tissue damage that leads to pulmonary fibrosis. This study directly examines the protective role of EC-SOD in a bleomycin model of pulmonary fibrosis and the effect of this enzyme on oxidative protein fragmentation. Mice null for ec-sod display a marked increase in lung inflammation at 14 d post-bleomycin treatment as compared to their wild-type counterparts. Hydroxyproline analysis determined that both wild-type and ec-sod null mice display a marked increase in interstitial fibrosis at 14 d post-treatment, and the severity of fibrosis is significantly increased in ec-sod null mice compared to wild-type mice. To determine if the lack of EC-SOD promotes bleomycin-induced oxidative protein modification, 2-pyrrolidone content (as a measure of oxidative protein fragmentation at proline residues) was assessed in lung tissue from treated mice. 2-Pyrrolidone levels in the lung hydrolysates from ec-sod null mice were increased at both 7 and 14 d post-bleomycin treatment as compared to wild-type mice, indicating EC-SOD can inhibit oxidative fragmentation of proteins in this specific model of oxidative stress.

Animals↗

Effect of high population density environment on skin barrier function in mice.

Previous reports have demonstrated that stressful stimuli markedly influenced physiological conditions and homeostasis. In this study, we examined the influence of high population density environment on barrier function and water retention property of skin in mice. Overcrowding stress induced dramatic body weight reduction and significant increase in adrenal gland weight. Macroscopic skin appearance showed moderate exfoliation and slight wrinkle formation in the stress group. Moreover epidermis hyperplasia not concomitant with inflammatory reactions such as infiltration of immunocytes and vasodilation was observed in the skin from the stress group. Skin surface conductance in the stress group was significantly lower than in the control group. On the other hand, transepidermal water loss in the stress group increased significantly, compared to the control group. Moreover, transdermal penetration of indomethacin and nicotinic acid amide was enhanced significantly. These results suggest that overcrowding stress induced impairment of barrier function and water retention property. To elucidate the mechanism of overcrowding stress-induce dry skin, contents of ceramide and pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, which are the important compounds contributing to those functions were evaluated. Both of them in stratum corneum declined significantly in the stress group. Taken together, these results demonstrate that overcrowding stress induced dry skin, and that the impairment of barrier function and water retention property correlated with decrease in ceramide and pyrrolidone carboxylic acid.

Adrenal Glands↗

Probing the interaction of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) with platinum nanocrystals by UV-Raman and FTIR.

The vibrational spectra of platinum nanoparticles (2.4-9 nm) capped with poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) were investigated by deep UV-Raman and FTIR spectroscopy and compared with those of pure PVP. Raman spectra of PVP/Pt show selective enhancement of C=O, C-N, and CH2 vibrational modes attributed to the pyrrolidone ring. Selective enhancement of ring vibrations is attributed both to the resonance Raman effect and SERS chemical enhancement. A red shift of the PVP carbonyl frequency on the order of 60 cm-1 indicates the formation of strong >C=O-Pt bonds. It is concluded that PVP adheres to the nanoparticles through a charge-transfer interaction between the pyrrolidone rings and surface Pt atoms. Heating the Pt nanoparticles under reducing conditions initiates the decomposition of the capping agent, PVP, at a temperature 100 degrees C below that of pure PVP. Under oxidizing conditions, both PVP/Pt and PVP degrade to form amorphous carbon.

Carbon↗

The effects of absorbed water on the properties of amorphous mixtures containing sucrose.

PURPOSE: To measure the water vapor absorption behavior of sucrose-poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and sucrose-poly(vinyl pyrrolidone co-vinyl acetate) (PVP/VA) mixtures, prepared as amorphous solid solutions and as physical mixtures, and the effect of absorbed water on the amorphous properties, i.e., crystallization and glass transition temperature, Tg, of these systems. METHODS: Mixtures of sucrose and polymer were prepared by co-lyophilization of aqueous sucrose-polymer solutions and by physically mixing amorphous sucrose and polymer. Absorption isotherms for the individual components and their mixtures were determined gravimetrically at 30 degrees C as a function of relative humidity. Following the absorption experiments, mixtures were analyzed for evidence of crystallization using X-ray powder diffraction. For co-lyophilized mixtures showing no evidence of crystalline sucrose, Tg was determined as a function of water content using differential scanning calorimetry. RESULTS: The absorption of water vapor was the same for co-lyophilized and physically mixed samples under the same conditions and equal to the weighted sums of the individual isotherms where no sucrose crystallization was observed. The crystallization of sucrose in the mixtures was reduced relative to sucrose alone only when sucrose was molecularly dispersed (co-lyophilized) with the polymers. In particular, when co-lyophilized with sucrose at a concentration of 50%, PVP was able to maintain sucrose in the amorphous state for up to three months, even when the Tg was reduced well below the storage temperature by the absorbed water. CONCLUSIONS: The water vapor absorption isotherms for co-lyophilized and physically mixed amorphous sucrose-PVP and sucrose-PVPNA mixtures at 30 degrees C are similar despite interactions between sugar and polymer which are formed when the components are molecularly dispersed with one another. In the presence of absorbed water the crystallization of sucrose was reduced only by the formation of a solid-solution, with PVP having a much more pronounced effect than PVP/VA. The effectiveness of PVP in preventing sucrose crystallization when significant levels of absorbed water are present was attributed to the molecular interactions between sucrose, PVP and water.

Absorption↗

Effective inhibition of mannitol crystallization in frozen solutions by sodium chloride.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to study the possibility of preventing mannitol crystallization in frozen solutions by using pharmaceutically acceptable additives. METHODS: Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and low-temperature X-ray diffractometry (LTXRD) were used to characterize the effect of additives on mannitol crystallization. RESULTS: DSC screening revealed that salts (sodium chloride, sodium citrate, and sodium acetate) inhibited mannitol crystallization in frozen solutions more effectively than selected surfactants, alpha-cyclodextrin, polymers, and alditols. This finding prompted further studies of the crystallization in the mannitol-NaCl-water system. Isothermal DSC results indicated that mannitol crystallization in frozen solutions was significantly retarded in the presence of NaCl and that NaCl did not crystallize until mannitol crystallization completed. Low-temperature X-ray diffractometry data showed that when a 10% w/v mannitol solution without additive was cooled at 1 degrees C/min, the crystalline phases emerging after ice crystallization were those of a mannitol hydrate as well as the anhydrous polymorphs. In the presence of NaCl (5% w/v), mannitol crystallization was suppressed during both cooling and warming and occurred only after annealing and rewarming. In the latter case however, mannitol did not crystallize as the hydrate, but as the anhydrous delta polymorph. At a lower NaCl concentration of 1% w/v, the inhibitory effect of NaCl on mannitol crystallization was evident even during annealing at temperatures close to the Tg' (-40 degrees C). A preliminary lyophilization cycle with polyvinyl pyrrolidone and NaCl as additives rendered mannitol amorphous. CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of additives in inhibiting mannitol crystallization in frozen solutions follows the general order: salts > alditols > polyvinyl pyrrolidone > alpha-cyclodextrin > polysorbate 80 approximately polyethylene glycol approximately poloxamer. The judicious use of additives can retain mannitol amorphous during all the stages of the freeze-drying cycle.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗

The mechanism of aubstrate eecognition of pyroglutamyl-peptidase I from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens as determined by X-ray crystallography and site-directed mutagenesis.

Pyroglutamyl-peptidase is able to specifically remove the amino-terminal pyroglutamyl residue protecting proteins or peptides from aminopeptidases. To clarify the mechanism of substrate recognition for the unique structure of the pyrrolidone ring, x-ray crystallography and site-directed mutagenesis were applied. The crystal structure of pyroglutamyl-peptidase bound to a transition state analog inhibitor (Inh), pyroglutaminal, was determined. Two hydrogen bonds were located between the main chain of the enzyme and the inhibitor (71:O.H-N:Inh and Gln71:N-H.OE:Inh), and the pyrrolidone ring of the inhibitor was inserted into the hydrophobic pocket composed of Phe-10, Phe-13, Thr-45, Ile-92, Phe-142, and Val-143. To study in detail the hydrophobic pocket, Phe-10, Phe-13, and Phe-142 were selected for mutation experiments. The k(cat) value of the F10Y mutant decreased, but the two phenylalanine mutants F13Y and F142Y did not exhibit significant changes in kinetic parameters compared with the wild-type enzyme. The catalytic efficiencies (k(cat)/K(m)) for the F13A and F142A mutants were less than 1000-fold that of the wild-type enzyme. The x-ray crystallographic study of the F142A mutant showed no significant change except for a minor one in the hydrophobic pocket compared with the wild type. These findings indicate that the molecular recognition of pyroglutamic acid is achieved through two hydrogen bonds and an insertion in the hydrophobic pocket. In the pocket, Phe-10 is more important to the hydrophobic interaction than is Phe-142, and furthermore Phe-13 serves as an "induced fit" mechanism.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Evaluation of solid dispersions of Clofazimine.

Clofazimine (CLF) was formulated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as a solid solid dispersion (SSD) to increase the aqueous solubility and dissolution rate of the drug. Different molecular weights of PEG (1500, 4000, 6000, and 9000 Da) and PVP (14,000 and 44,000 Da) were used in different drug:carrier weight ratios (1:1, 1:5, and 1:9) and their effect on the dissolution performance of the drug was evaluated in USP Type 2 apparatus using 0.1 N HCl medium. The dissolution rate was compared with corresponding physical mixtures, a currently marketed soft gelatin capsule product, and free CLF. The effect of different methods of preparation (solvent/melt) on the dissolution rate of CLF was evaluated for PEG solid dispersions. Saturation solubility and phase solubility studies were carried out to indicate drug:carrier interactions in liquid state. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to indicate drug:carrier interactions in solid state. Improvement in the drug dissolution rate was observed in solid dispersion formulations as compared to the physical mixtures. The dissolution rate improved with the decreasing weight fraction of the drug in the formulation. Polyvinyl pyrrolidone solid dispersion systems gave a better drug release profile as compared to the corresponding PEG solid dispersions. The effect of molecular weight of the PEG polymers did not follow a definite trend, while PVP 14,000 gave a better dissolution profile as compared to PVP 44,000. Improvement in saturation solubility of the drug in the solid dispersion systems was noted in all cases. Further, IR spectroscopy indicated drug:carrier interactions in solid state in one case and XRD indicated reduction in the crystallinity of CLF in another. It was concluded that solid-dispersion formulations of Clofazimine can be used to design a solid dosage form of the drug, which would have significant advantages over the currently marketed soft gelatin capsule dosage form.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗