Bilosomes and Niosomes for Enhanced Intestinal Absorption and In Vivo Efficacy of Cytarabine in Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Overview

Journal Pharmaceuticals (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Chemistry

Date 2025 Jan 8

PMID 39770414

Authors

Abdelrahman R Said

Mona F Arafa

Walaa A El-Dakroury

Sultan Alshehri

Gamal M El Maghraby

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background/objectives: The objective was to develop and evaluate niosomes and bilosomes for enhanced intestinal absorption; hence, oral bioavailability.

Results: CTR-loaded niosomes and bilosomes with vesicle sizes of 152 and 204.3 nm were successfully prepared with acceptable properties. The presence of bile salts increased the zeta potential of bilosomes. The recorded entrapment efficiency of cytarabine was acceptable for such a hydrophilic drug. CTR-bilosomes showed a pH-dependent drug release pattern with preferred release in pH 6.8. Intestinal absorption behavior indicated a site-dependent CTR absorption pattern with unfavorable absorption in the distal intestine. Niosomal and bilosomal formulations enhanced intestinal absorption parameters with evidence for a predominant paracellular absorption mechanism that bypasses intestinal barriers. The investigation of the anti-leukemic effect of niosomal and bilosomal formulations indicated that both formulations ameliorated the blood parameters, reflecting significant improvement in leukemia treatment compared with the drug solution. Pathological examination of blood films revealed decreased blast cells in peripheral blood in groups treated with tested formulations.

Methods: Tested formulations were prepared according to the pro-concentrate method and characterized for particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, and in vitro release. CTR-loaded niosomes and bilosomes were evaluated for enhanced intestinal absorption utilizing the single-pass in situ intestinal perfusion method in rabbits, and the anti-leukemic effect was assessed using the benzene-induced leukemia model in rats.

Conclusions: This study introduced surfactant vesicles for enhanced oral bioavailability of CTR.

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