Preparation and evaluation of HPMC-based pirfenidone solution in vivo

• Published in: Drug development and industrial pharmacy Vol. 43; no. 1; p. 171
• Main Authors: Yang, Mei, Yang, Yang-Fan, Lei, Ming, Ye, Cheng-Tian, Zhao, Chun-Shun, Xu, Jian-Gang, Wu, Kai-Li, Yu, Min-Bin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 02.01.2017
• Subjects: Administration, Topical; Animals; Aqueous Humor - drug effects; Aqueous Humor - metabolism; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical - methods; Female; Hypromellose Derivatives - administration & dosage; Hypromellose Derivatives - chemical synthesis; Hypromellose Derivatives - pharmacokinetics; Ophthalmic Solutions - administration & dosage; Ophthalmic Solutions - chemical synthesis; Ophthalmic Solutions - pharmacokinetics; Pharmaceutical Solutions - administration & dosage; Pharmaceutical Solutions - chemical synthesis; Pharmaceutical Solutions - pharmacokinetics; Pyridones - administration & dosage; Pyridones - chemical synthesis; Pyridones - pharmacokinetics; Rabbits; Viscosity; ocular drug delivery; rheology; pirfenidone; HPMC-based solution; Anti-scarring
• ISSN: 1520-5762
• DOI: 10.1080/03639045.2016.1230624

Pirfenidone (PFD) has exhibited therapeutic potential in the treatment of cell proliferative disorders. The previously developed 0.5% water-based PFD eye drops by our team exhibited antiscarring effectiveness and ocular safety but with a limit of short half-life and poor bioavailability. To increase bioavailability of the water-based PFD eye drops, we prepared a viscous solution by adding hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC, F4M), which acted as a viscosity-enhancer. Subsequently, we compared the HPMC-based PFD solution with the water-based PFD eye drops. PFD solution with 1% HPMC (w/v) was prepared, and the viscosities at different shear rates were measured to investigate its rheology. PFD concentrations in the tear, aqueous humor, conjunctiva, cornea, and sclerae of New Zealand rabbits were detected at different time points with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) following single instillation of the 0.5% PFD (w/v) water-based eye drops or HPMC-based solution. Compared with the 0.5% water-based PFD eye drops, the HPMC-based solution increased the PFD levels in tears and prolonged the residence time from 10 to more than 20 min (p < .01). Consequently, the concentrations of PFD in aqueous humor, conjunctiva, cornea, and sclera were elevated to varying degrees until 90 min after topical administration. The developed formulation possesses a same readily administration and simple preparation as the PFD eye drops; however, the HPMC-based solution exhibited the higher bioavailability.