Enhancement of intestinal absorption of 2-methyl cytidine prodrugs.

By Cianetti, Simona; Cooper, Vincent Brett; Attenni, Barbara; Pucci, Vincenzo; Fiore, Fabrizio; Giuliano, Claudio; Laufer, Ralph; Gardelli, Cristina; Monteagudo, Edith; Narjes, Frank; et al
From Drug Delivery (2010), 17(4), 214-222. Language: English, Database: CAPLUS, DOI:10.3109/10717541003667814

The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vivo absorption enhancement of a nucleoside (phosphoramidate prodrug of 2′-methyl-cytidine) anti-viral agent of proven efficacy by means of intestinal permeation enhancers. Natural nucleosides are hydrophilic mols. that do not rapidly penetrate cell membranes by diffusion and their absorption relies on specialized transporters. Therefore, the oral absorption of nucleoside prodrugs and the target organ concn. of the biol. active nucleotide can be limited due to poor permeation across the intestinal epithelium. In the present study, the specificity, concn. dependence, and effect of four classes of absorption promoters, i.e. fatty acids, steroidal detergents, mucoadhesive polymers, and secretory transport inhibitors, were evaluated in a rat in vivo model. Sodium caprate and α-tocopheryl-polyethyleneglycol-1000-succinate (TPGS) showed a significant effect in increasing liver concn. of nucleotide (5-fold). These results suggested that both excipients might be suited in a controlled release matrix for the synchronous release of the drug and absorption promoter directly to the site of absorption and highlights that the effect is strictly dependent on the absorption promoter dose. The feasibility of such a formulation approach in humans was evaluated with the aim of developing a solid dosage form for the peroral delivery of nucleosides and showed that these excipients do provide a potential valuable tool in pre-clin. efficacy studies to drive discovery programs forward.