Pavel Gershkovich | University of Nottingham (original) (raw)

Papers by Pavel Gershkovich

European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2021

Lipid-based formulations play a significant role in oral delivery of lipophilic drugs. Previous s... more Lipid-based formulations play a significant role in oral delivery of lipophilic drugs. Previous studies have shown that natural sesame oil promotes the intestinal lymphatic transport and oral bioavailability of the highly lipophilic drug cannabidiol (CBD). However, both lymphatic transport and systemic bioavailability were also associated with considerable variability. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that pre-digested lipid formulations (oleic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid with 2-oleoylglycerol, oleic acid with 2-oleoylglycerol and oleic acid with glycerol) could reduce variability and increase the extent of the intestinal lymphatic transport and oral bioavailability of CBD. The in vivo studies in rats showed that pre-digested or purified triglyceride did not improve the lymphatic transport and bioavailability of CBD in comparison to sesame oil. Moreover, the results suggest that both the absorption of lipids and the absorption of co-administered CBD were more efficient following administration of natural sesame oil vehicle compared with pre-digested lipids or purified trioleate. Although multiple small molecule constituents and unique fatty acid compositions could potentially contribute to a better performance of sesame oil in oral absorption of lipids or CBD, further investigation will be needed to identify the mechanisms involved.

Journal of Controlled Release, 2021

The combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) can efficiently suppress HIV replication, but the cess... more The combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) can efficiently suppress HIV replication, but the cessation of cART usually results in viral rebound, mostly due to the presence of viral reservoirs. The mesenteric lymphatic system, including mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), is an important viral reservoir into which antiretroviral drugs poorly penetrate. In this work, we proposed a novel lipophilic ester prodrug approach, combined with oral lipid-based formulation, to efficiently deliver lopinavir (LPV) to the mesenteric lymph and MLNs. A series of prodrugs was designed using an in-silico model for prediction of affinity to chylomicrons (CMs), and then synthesized. The potential for mesenteric lymphatic targeting and bioconversion to LPV in physiologically relevant media was assessed in vitro and ex vivo. Subsequently, LPV and selected prodrug candidates were evaluated for their in vivo pharmacokinetics and biodistribution in rats. Oral co-administration of lipids alone could not facilitate the delivery of unmodified LPV to the mesenteric lymphatic system and resulted in undetectable levels of LPV in these tissues. However, a combination of the lipophilic prodrug approach with lipid-based formulation resulted in efficient targeting of LPV to HIV reservoirs in mesenteric lymph and MLNs. The maximum levels of LPV in mesenteric lymph were 1.6and 16.9-fold higher than protein binding-adjusted IC90 (PA-IC90) of LPV for HIV-1 (140 ng/mL) following oral administration of simple alkyl ester prodrug and activated ester prodrug, respectively. Moreover, the concentrations of LPV in MLNs were 1.1-and 7.2-fold higher than PA-IC90 following administration of simple alkyl ester prodrug and activated ester prodrug, respectively. Furthermore, the bioavailability of LPV was also substantially increased following oral administration of activated ester prodrug compared to unmodified LPV. This approach, especially if can be translated to other antiretroviral drugs, has potential for reducing the size of HIV reservoirs within the mesenteric lymphatic system.

Cancer Drug Resistance, 2019

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and lethal brain tumour-type. The current standard of ... more Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and lethal brain tumour-type. The current standard of care includes Temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy. However, inherent and acquired resistance to TMZ thwart successful treatment. The direct repair protein methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) removes the cytotoxic O6-methylguanine (O 6-MeG) lesion delivered by TMZ and so its expression by tumours confers TMZ-resistance. DNA mismatch repair (MMR) is essential to process O 6-MeG adducts and MMR-deficiency leads to tolerance of lesions, resistance to TMZ and further DNA mutations. In this article, two strategies to overcome TMZ resistance are discussed: (1) synthesis of imidazotetrazine analogues-designed to retain activity in the presence of MGMT or loss of MMR; (2) preparation of imidazotetrazine-nanoparticles to deliver TMZ preferably to the brain and tumour site. Our promising results encourage belief in a future where better prognoses exist for patients diagnosed with this devastating disease.

Scientific reports, Jan 6, 2018

Current saliva testing methods rely on cutting edge yet expensive techniques for the detection an... more Current saliva testing methods rely on cutting edge yet expensive techniques for the detection and analysis of genetic material, proteins and biomarkers for clinical use. However, these techniques are limited in scope and often cannot be used with complex food materials. We propose an efficient ex-vivo tool for evaluating biologically relevant interactions between food components and human saliva using sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation (SV-AUC). We evaluated macromolecular content from "unstimulated" (US) and "stimulated" (SS) samples pooled from 5 healthy volunteers. Over 90% of total saliva protein consisted of α-amylase and mucin, and up to 10% was secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA). It was shown that α-amylase concentration increased upon parafilm stimulation, which lead to a decrease in the viscosity of saliva. Then, we used a simple food system (green tea) to evaluate changes in the salivary protein content caused by green tea polyphenols...

European journal of pharmaceutical sciences : official journal of the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jan 30, 2017

The association of lipophilic statins with plasma lipoproteins in the presence of disturbed acid-... more The association of lipophilic statins with plasma lipoproteins in the presence of disturbed acid-base balance can modify the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of these drugs, resulting in alteration in their efficacy and toxicity profiles. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the role of hyperlipidaemia alone or in combination with acidosis/alkalosis in the development and potentiation of statin-induced myotoxicity. Statins association with plasma lipoproteins was examined under conditions of physiological and altered pH levels. The effect of this association on cellular uptake and myotoxicity of statins was also assessed at different pH levels using C2C12 cells that overexpress lipoprotein lipase. Lipophilic simvastatin displayed considerable association with the non-polar lipoprotein fractions (triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and low-density lipoprotein). This association contributed to increased cellular uptake of simvastatin by C2C12 cells through lipoprotein lipase-m...

Molecular Pharmaceutics, 2016

Lipidic formulations (LFs) are increasingly utilized for the delivery of drugs that belong to cla... more Lipidic formulations (LFs) are increasingly utilized for the delivery of drugs that belong to class II of the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS). The current work proposes, for the first time, the combination of in vitro lipolysis and microsomal metabolism studies for the quantitative prediction of human oral bioavailability of BCS II drugs administered in LFs. Marinol and Neoral were selected as model LFs, and their observed oral bioavailabilities (F observed) were obtained from published clinical studies in humans. Two separate lipolysis buffers, differing in the level of surfactant concentrations, were used for digestion of the LFs. The predicted fraction absorbed (F abs) was calculated by measuring the drug concentration in the micellar phase after completion of the lipolysis process. To determine first-pass metabolism (F g •F h), drug depletion studies with human microsomes were performed. Clearance values were determined by applying the "in vitro half-life" approach. The estimated F abs and F g •F h values were combined for the calculation of the predicted oral bioavailability (F predicted). Results showed that there was a strong correlation between F observed and F predicted values only when F abs was calculated using a buffer with surfactant concentrations closer to physiological conditions. The general accuracy of the predicted values suggests that the novel in vitro lipolysis/metabolism approach could quantitatively predict the oral bioavailability of lipophilic drugs administered in LFs.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011

Purpose. To develop an HPLC-UV method for determination of a novel antitrypanosomal compound (OSU... more Purpose. To develop an HPLC-UV method for determination of a novel antitrypanosomal compound (OSU-36) and its ester prodrug (OSU-40) in rat plasma and to apply the method for pharmacokinetic evaluation of both compounds in rats. Methods. Since an attempt to assay for OSU-36 and OSU-40 in non-stabilized plasma resulted in highly non-linear calibration curves and poor sensitivity due to instability of the compounds, the plasma was stabilized using paraoxon and ascorbic acid. The sample treatment included protein precipitation by acetonitrile; evaporation; reconstitution with acetonitrile and filtration. The chromatography conditions included Xterra RP18 3.5µm 4.6X100mm column and gradient mobile phase system of acetonitrile-water. Results. The limits of quantification (LOQ) were 50 ng/mL and 40 ng/mL for OSU-36 and OSU-40, respectively. The intra- and interday precision and accuracies were below 13% for low, medium and high quality control samples for both compounds. While OSU-40 has ...

Drugs in Context, 2015

Because guidelines for treatment dosing and timing vary quite widely, it is perhaps not apparent ... more Because guidelines for treatment dosing and timing vary quite widely, it is perhaps not apparent to the physician what the rationale and the BZD drug levels will be at any given time after the initiation of treatment. In addition, BZD drugs that are used for AWS are metabolized differently (Phase I oxidative

The cannabis plant has had a long history of medicinal use dating thousands of years [1]. The psy... more The cannabis plant has had a long history of medicinal use dating thousands of years [1]. The psychoactive components of the plant are named cannabinoids, the major active ones being delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. In recent years, there has been a social stigma associated with smoking cannabis, and therefore there is a tendency to administer medicinal cannabinoids orally. Two such examples are dronabinol (synthetic delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) and nabilone, which are used in the treatment of anorexia in AIDS patients and cancer chemotherapy-induced nausea respectively. However, the mechanism by which cannabinoids are absorbed following oral administration is currently unknown. Factors indicative for intestinal lymphatic transport of drugs are high lipophilicity and affinity to chylomicrons (CM) [2, 3]. In this research project the potential of lipophilic cannabinoids to be transported to the systemic circulation via intestinal lymphatic transport is assessed. Eight p...

European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics : official journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik e.V, Jan 17, 2015

Human saliva is a biological fluid of great importance in the field of dissolution testing. Howev... more Human saliva is a biological fluid of great importance in the field of dissolution testing. However, until now, no consensus has been reached on its key characteristics relevant to dissolution testing. As a result, it is difficult to select or develop an in vitro dissolution medium to best represent human saliva. In this study, the pH, buffer capacity, surface tension, viscosity and flow rate of both unstimulated (US) and stimulated (SS) human saliva were investigated in order to provide a platform of reference for future dissolution studies using simulated salivary fluids. Age and gender related differences in a sample size of 30 participants for each parameter were investigated. Significant differences were established between US and SS for all characteristics except surface tension. Therefore, the requirement for using two simulated salivary fluids should be considered when developing an oral dissolution model.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2007

A high-fat meal induces transient hyperlipidemia characterized by elevated triglyceride-rich lipo... more A high-fat meal induces transient hyperlipidemia characterized by elevated triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRL) which are composed mainly of chylomicrons. The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of this transient hyperlipidemia on the pharmacodynamics of lipophilic drugs, using DDT as a model compound since it binds extensively to TRL and has a distinct neurotoxic effect. The postprandial hyperlipidemia in rats was induced by oral administration of peanut oil and was monitored by measurement of plasma triglyceride levels. The control group received water instead of oil. The rats received a continuous intravenous infusion of DDT (10 mg/h) until onset of a predefined pharmacodynamic endpoint (facial muscle tremor). Plasma and brain samples were then obtained and assayed for DDT. Rats with postprandial hyperlipidemia required higher dose of DDT to induce onset of facial muscle tremor. At the pharmacodynamic endpoint, oil treated rats had significantly higher concentrations of DDT in plasma and in the chylomicron fraction, but DDT brain concentrations were the same in both groups. In conclusion, a high-fat meal induces postprandial hyperlipidemia that may significantly alter the pharmacological profile of lipophilic compounds that bind to TRL. This is due to alteration of the distribution characteristics of the lipophilic compound through its association with postprandial lipoproteins. However, this pharmacokinetic phenomenon did not affect the concentration-effect relationship at the site of action in the brain.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2012

International journal of pharmaceutics, Jan 8, 2009

To develop an oral formulation of Amphotericin B (AmpB) with: (A) medium chain triglycerides, fat... more To develop an oral formulation of Amphotericin B (AmpB) with: (A) medium chain triglycerides, fatty acids and nonionic surfactants as a self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS); or (B) glyceryl mono-oleate (Peceol) with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-phospholipids. SEDDS formulations were prepared by simple mixing at 40 degrees C. Peceol/DSPE-PEG-lipid formulations were prepared by solvent evaporation. Parameters evaluated included: miscibility, solubility and emulsion droplet size after incubation in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) or simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) via dynamic light scattering. The stability of AmpB in Peceol/DSPE-PEG was evaluated in SGF and SIF. Phase stability of AmpB in Peceol+/-DSPE-PEG following thermal cycling was evaluated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Aspergillus fumigatus (2.9-3.45 x 10(7) colony forming units per mL [CFU]) or Candida albicans (3-3.65 x 10(6) CFU per mL) were injected via the jugular vein; 48 h later male albino Sprague-Dawley rats ...

Translational Research, 2014

Statins are lipid-lowering drugs used widely to prevent and treat cardiovascular and coronary hea... more Statins are lipid-lowering drugs used widely to prevent and treat cardiovascular and coronary heart diseases. These drugs are among the most commonly prescribed medicines intended for long-term use. In general, statins are well tolerated. However, muscular adverse effects appear to be the most common obstacle that limits their use, resulting in poor patient compliance or even drug discontinuation. In addition, rare but potentially fatal cases of rhabdomyolysis have been reported with the use of these drugs, especially in the presence of certain risk factors. Previous reports have investigated statin-induced myotoxicity in vivo and in vitro using a number of cell lines, muscle tissues, and laboratory animals, in addition to randomized clinical trials, observational studies, and case reports. None of them have compared directly results from laboratory investigations with clinical observations of statin-related muscular adverse effects. To the best of our knowledge this is the first review article that combines laboratory investigation with clinical aspects of statin-induced myotoxicity. By reviewing published literature of in vivo, in vitro, and clinically relevant studies of statin myotoxicity, we aim to translate this important drug-related problem to establish a clear picture of proposed mechanisms that explain the risk factors and describe the diagnostic approaches currently used for evaluating the degree of muscle damage induced by these agents. This review provides baseline novel translational insight that can be used to enhance the safety profile, to minimize the chance of progression of these adverse effects to more severe and potentially fatal rhabdomyolysis, and to improve the overall patient compliance and adherence to long-term statin therapy.

Translational Research, 2009

Although abdominal surgery is a routine procedure in clinical practice and in preclinical investi... more Although abdominal surgery is a routine procedure in clinical practice and in preclinical investigation, little is known regarding its effect on the intestinal absorption of drugs. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of abdominal surgery on the intestinal absorption of highly lipophilic compounds with different absorption mechanisms following oral administration. The 2 compounds that were tested were biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS) class 2 model lipophilic cannabinoid derivatives, dexanabinol and PRS-211,220. Although dexanabinol is mostly absorbed via passive diffusion to the portal blood, PRS-211,220 is absorbed mostly via lymphatic transport. In this work, we compared the absorption of these compounds after abdominal surgery in rat with the absorption data obtained from naïve animals. The outcomes of this investigation showed that the abdominal surgery mostly affected the absorption process on the preenterocyte level, as indicated by the 2-fold increase in the extent of intestinal absorption of dexanabinol, which is a compound with a low degree of intestinal lymphatic transport. However, the lymphatic transport was not affected by the surgical procedure as evident by the absence of change in the extent of absorption of PRS-211,220, which is transported to the systemic circulation mainly by intestinal lymphatics. In conclusion, abdominal surgery can significantly affect the intestinal absorption of lipophilic drugs; however, intestinal lymphatic transport seems to be less affected by the abdominal surgery.

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2010

Purpose: To develop an oral formulation of amphotericin B (AmB) that is stable at the temperature... more Purpose: To develop an oral formulation of amphotericin B (AmB) that is stable at the temperatures of WHO Climatic Zones 3 and 4 (30-43uC) and to evaluate its efficacy in a murine model of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Methods: The stability testing of four novel oral lipid AmB formulations composed of mono-and di-glycerides and pegylated esters (iCo-010 to iCo-013) was performed over 60 d and analyzed by HPLC-UV. In addition, the four formulations were incubated 4 h in fasted-state simulated intestinal fluid. AmB concentration was measured spectrophotometrically and emulsion droplet diameter was assessed by dynamic light scattering. Antileishmanial activity of iCo-010 was evaluated at increasing oral doses (2.5 to 10 mg/kg) in a murine model of VL. Results: AmB stability in the lipid formulation (iCo-010) was .75% over 60 days. After 4 h in fasted-state simulated intestinal fluid, AmB concentration was .95%. iCo-010 demonstrated significant efficacy when orally administered to VLinfected mice bid for five days (inhibition of 99%, 98%, and 83% at 10, 5 and 2.5 mg/kg compared to the vehicle control). In addition, the qd dose of 20 mg/kg provided 96% inhibition compared to the vehicle control. Conclusions: The oral AmB formulation iCo-010 is stable at the temperatures of WHO Climatic Zones 3 and 4 (30-43uC). iCo-010 showed excellent antileishmanial activity at both 10 mg/kg po bid for 5 days (,99% reduction in parasitic infection) and 20 mg/kg po qd for 5 days (95% inhibition when compared to control).

Pharmaceutical Research, 2012

Atherosclerosis, the gradual formation of a lipid-rich plaque in the arterial wall is the primary... more Atherosclerosis, the gradual formation of a lipid-rich plaque in the arterial wall is the primary cause of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Hypercholesterolemia, elevated circulating cholesterol, was identified as a key risk factor for CAD in epidemiological studies. Since the approval of Mevacor in 1987, the primary therapeutic intervention for hypercholesterolemia has been statins, drugs that inhibit the biosynthesis of cholesterol. With improved understanding of the risks associated with elevated cholesterol levels, health agencies are recommending reductions in cholesterol that are not achievable in every patient with statins alone, underlying the need for improved combination therapies. The whole body cholesterol pool is derived from two sources, biosynthesis and diet. Although statins are effective at reducing the biosynthesis of cholesterol, they do not inhibit the absorption of cholesterol, making this an attractive target for adjunct therapies. This report summarizes the efforts to target the gastrointestinal absorption of cholesterol, with emphasis on specifically targeting the gastrointestinal tract to avoid the off-target effects sometimes associated with systemic exposure.

Lipids in Health and Disease, 2011

Background Invasive fungal infections such as candidiasis constitute an increasingly important me... more Background Invasive fungal infections such as candidiasis constitute an increasingly important medical problem. Drugs currently used for the treatment of candidiasis include polyenes (such as Amphotericin B) and azoles. Amphotericin B (AmpB) presents several limitations such as its nephrotoxicity and limited solubility. We have developed two novel lipid-based AmpB formulations which in vivo show less nephrotoxicity and enhanced solubility compared to Fungizone™ a commercial AmpB formulation. The purpose of this study was to determine the cytotoxicity of Fungizone™, Ambisome™ and two novel AmpB formulations (iCo-009 and iCo-010) against Candida albicans, human kidney (293T) cells and monocytic (THP1) cells. Methods Cell cytotoxicity to the AmpB formulations was evaluated by MTS and LDH assays. In vitro anti-Candida albicans activity was assessed after a 48 h drug incubation. Results None of the AmpB formulations tested showed cytotoxicity against 293T cells. In the case of THP1 cells...

Lipids in Health and Disease, 2009

The aim of this work was to assess the effect of chronic administration of protonated nanostructu... more The aim of this work was to assess the effect of chronic administration of protonated nanostructured aluminosilicate (NSAS) on the plasma cholesterol levels and development of atherosclerotic lesions in Apolipoprotein (ApoE) deficient mice fed a high cholesterol and high fat diet. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) deficient mice were divided into the following treatment groups: protonated NSAS 1.4% (w/w), untreated control and 2% (w/w) stigmastanol mixed with highcholesterol/high-fat diet. Animals were treated for 12 weeks, blood samples were withdrawn every 4 weeks for determination of plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels. At the end of the study the aortic roots were harvested for assessment of atherosclerotic lesions. NSAS at 1.4% (w/w) and stigmastanol at 2% (w/w) treatment groups showed significant decreases in plasma cholesterol concentrations at all time points relative to the control animals. The lesion sum area in 1.4% (w/w) NSAS and 2% (w/w) stigmastanol groups were significantly less from the control animals. In conclusion, in this study, the effectiveness of chronic administration of protonated NSAS material in the reduction of plasma cholesterol levels and decrease in development of atherosclerotic lesions was demonstrated in Apo-E deficient mice model.