Drug Res (Stuttg) 2018; 68(08): 457-464
DOI: 10.1055/a-0573-9132
Original Article
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Solidification of Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Loaded Testosterone Undecanoate: In Vivo and In Vitro Study

Yabing Hua*
1   XuZhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
2   State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
,
Wanqing Li*
3   School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
,
Zhou Cheng
4   School of Yan Bian University, Yanji, Jilin, China
,
Ziming Zhao
1   XuZhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
,
Xiaoxing Yin
1   XuZhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
,
Ying Li
2   State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
,
Jianxu Sun
2   State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
,
Jing Gao
2   State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
,
Hui Zhang
2   State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
,
Aiping Zheng
1   XuZhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
2   State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 24 November 2017

accepted 06 August 2018

Publication Date:
27 March 2018 (online)

Abstract

To enhance the bioavailability of testosterone undecanoate (TU) and overcome the current problem of soft capsules (Andriol Testocaps®), Nano-structured lipid carriers (NLC) for TU was developed. First, suspension of TU-loaded NLC (TU-NLC) was prepared by high pressure homogenization; then adsorbent or a protective agent β-cyclodextrin was used to solidify the suspension through a vacuum system; finally, the solid powder of TU-loaded NLC (solid TU-NLC) was filled into hard capsules. The characteristics of solid TU-NLC, were investigated in vitro and vivo. The particle size of TU-NLC was about 273.3 nm, the potential was 0.156±0.04. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) revealed that the NLC was spherical and uniform. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) suggested the drug had been encapsulated into NLC lipid matrix. The drug release proved that solid TU-NLC showed a higher dissolution in vitro. The CaCO-2 cell permeability showed that solid TU-NLC could enhance trans-membrane absorption of the TU. Moreover, the AUC of solid TU-NLC formulations (4304±550.50 μg/L*min) was higher than commercial product Andriol Testocaps® (3075±372.50 μg/L*min). In conclusion, solid TU-NLC could enhance the rate of dissolution, and had a relatively higher bioavailability than Andriol Testocaps® in vivo Graphical Abstract.

Zoom Image

* Yabing Hua and Wanqing Li contributed equally to this study


 
  • References

  • 1 Ali A, Altug T, Suleyman Y. et al. Serum testosterone level, testosterone replacement treatment, and prostate cancer. Advances in Urology, 2013,(2013-9-18) 2013; 2013: 275945
  • 2 Bassil N, Alkaade S, Morley JE. The benefits and risks of testosterone replacement therapy: A review. Therapeutics & Clinical Risk Management 2009; 5: 427-448
  • 3 Surampudi P, Swerdloff RS, Wang C. An update on male hypogonadism therapy. Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 2014; 15: 1247
  • 4 Zirkin BR, Tenover JL. Aging and declining testosterone: past, present, and hopes for the future. Journal of Andrology 2012; 33: 1111-1118
  • 5 Surampudi PN, Wang C, Swerdloff R. Hypogonadism in the aging male diagnosis, potential benefits, and risks of testosterone replacement therapy. International Journal of Endocrinology, 2012, (2012-3-14) 2012; 2012: 625434
  • 6 Lee A, Rubinow K, Clark RV. et al. Pharmacokinetics of modified slow-release oral testosterone over 9 days in normal men with experimental hypogonadism. Journal of Andrology. 2012; 33: 420-426
  • 7 Yin A, Alfadhli E, Htun M. et al. Dietary fat modulates the testosterone pharmacokinetics of a new self-emulsifying formulation of oral testosterone undecanoate in hypogonadal men. Journal of andrology 2012; 33: 1282-1290
  • 8 Bouloux PM, Legros JJ, Elbers JM. et al. Effects of oral testosterone undecanoate therapy on bone mineral density and body composition in 322 aging men with symptomatic testosterone deficiency: A 1-year, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study. The aging male: the official journal of the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male 2013; 16: 38-47
  • 9 Davidson DW, O'Carroll R, Bancroft J. Increasing circulating androgens with oral testosterone undecanoate in eugonadal men. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry 1987; 26: 713-715
  • 10 Nieschlag E, Mauss J, Coert A. et al. Plasma androgen levels in men after oral administration of testosterone or testosterone undecanoate. Acta Endocrinologica. 1975; 79: 366-374
  • 11 Geere G, Jones J, Atherden SM. et al. Plasma androgens after a single oral dose of testosterone undecanoate. Archives of Disease in Childhood 1980; 55: 218-220
  • 12 Yin AY, Htun M, Swerdloff RS. et al. Reexamination of pharmacokinetics of oral testosterone undecanoate in hypogonadal men with a new self-emulsifying formulation. Journal of Andrology 2012; 33: 190-201
  • 13 Köhn FM, Schill WB. A new oral testosterone undecanoate formulation. World Journal of Urology 2003; 21: 311
  • 14 Meuleman EJ, Legros JJ, Bouloux PM. et al. Effects of long-term oral testosterone undecanoate therapy on urinary symptoms: Data from a 1-year, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging trial in aging men with symptomatic hypogonadism. The aging male: The official journal of the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male 2015; 18: 157-163
  • 15 Heurtault B, Saulnier P, Pech B. et al. Physico-chemical stability of colloidal lipid particles. Biomaterials 2003; 24: 4283-4300
  • 16 Fang JY, Fang CL, Liu CH. et al. Lipid nanoparticles as vehicles for topical psoralen delivery: Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) versus nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC). European Journal of Pharmaceutics & Biopharmaceutics Official Journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft Fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik E V 2008; 70: 633-640
  • 17 Doktorovová S, Araújo J, Garcia ML. et al. Formulating fluticasone propionate in novel PEG-containing nanostructured lipid carriers (PEG-NLC). Colloids & Surfaces B Biointerfaces 2010; 75: 538-542
  • 18 Souto EB, Wissing SA, Barbosa CM. et al. Evaluation of the physical stability of SLN and NLC before and after incorporation into hydrogel formulations. European Journal of Pharmaceutics & Biopharmaceutics 2004; 58: 83-90
  • 19 Zhang W, Li X, Ye T. et al. Design, characterization, and in vitro cellular inhibition and uptake of optimized genistein-loaded NLC for the prevention of posterior capsular opacification using response surface methodology. Int J Pharm 2013; 454: 354-366
  • 20 Souto EB, Müller RH. Lipid Nanoparticles: Effect on bioavailability and pharmacokinetic changes. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology 2010; 197: 115
  • 21 Aditya NP, Macedo AS, Doktorovova S. et al. Development and evaluation of lipid nanocarriers for quercetin delivery: A comparative study of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), and lipid nanoemulsions (LNE). LWT - Food Science and Technology 2014; 59: 115-121
  • 22 Beloqui A, Solinís MÁ, Rodríguezgascón A. et al. Nanostructured lipid carriers: Promising drug delivery systems for future clinics. Nanomedicine Nanotechnology Biology & Medicine 2015; 12: 143
  • 23 Weber S, Zimmer A, Pardeike J. Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLN) and Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLC) for pulmonary application: A review of the state of the art. European Journal of Pharmaceutics & Biopharmaceutics Official Journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft Fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik E V 2013; 86: 7
  • 24 Tian Z, Yi Y, Yuan H. et al. Solidification of Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) onto pellets by fluid-bed coating: Preparation, in vitro characterization and bioavailability in dogs. Powder Technology 2013; 247: 120-127
  • 25 Tewa-Tagne P, Briançon S, Fessi H. Preparation of redispersible dry nanocapsules by means of spray-drying: Development and characterisation. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 2007; 30: 124
  • 26 Pardeike J, Weber S, Haber T. et al. Development of an itraconazole-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) formulation for pulmonary application. Int J Pharm 2011; 419: 329-338
  • 27 Song SH, Lee KM, Kang JB. et al. Improved skin delivery of voriconazole with a nanostructured lipid carrier-based hydrogel formulation. Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin 2014; 62: 793
  • 28 Namvaran A, Fazeli M, Farajnia S. et al. Apoptosis and caspase 3 pathway role on anti-proliferative effects of scrophulariaoxy sepala methanolic extract on caco-2 cells. Drug Research 2017; 67: 547-552
  • 29 Gurav SD, Gilibili RR, Jeniffer S. et al. Pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and identification of putative metabolites of JI-101 – a novel triple kinase inhibitor in rats. Arzneimittel-Forschung 2012; 62: 27-34
  • 30 Muchow M, Maincent P, Müller RH. et al. Testosterone undecanoate – increase of oral bioavailability by nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC). Journal of Pharmaceutical Technology & Drug Research 2013; 2: 4
  • 31 Wei L, Ji Y, Gong W. et al. Preparation, physical characterization and pharmacokinetic study of paclitaxel nanocrystals. Drug Development & Industrial Pharmacy 2014; 41: 1
  • 32 Puglia C, Damiani E, Offerta A. et al Evaluation of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) and nanoemulsions as carriers for UV-filters: Characterization, in vitro penetration and photostability studies. European journal of pharmaceutical sciences: official journal of the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences 2014; 51: 211-217
  • 33 Teeranachaideekul V, Souto EB, Junyaprasert VB. et al. Cetyl palmitate-based NLC for topical delivery of Coenzyme Q(10) – development, physicochemical characterization and in vitro release studies. European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics: Official journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik eV 2007; 67: 141-148
  • 34 Alkassas R. Development of solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers for improving ocular delivery of acyclovir. Drug Development & Industrial Pharmacy 2013; 39: 508
  • 35 Artursson P, Karlsson J. Correlation between oral drug absorption in humans and apparent drug permeability coefficients in human intestinal epithelial (Caco-2) cells. Biochemical & Biophysical Research Communications 1991; 175: 880-885
  • 36 Muchow M, Maincent P, Müller RH. et al. Production and characterization of testosterone undecanoate-loaded NLC for oral bioavailability enhancement. Drug Development & Industrial Pharmacy 2011; 37: 8-14
  • 37 Shackleford DM, Faassen WA, Houwing N. et al. Contribution of lymphatically transported testosterone undecanoate to the systemic exposure of testosterone after oral administration of two andriol formulations in conscious lymph duct-cannulated dogs. Journal of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics 2003; 306: 925-933