Lipophilic compound absorption

Krishna, G. Chen, K.-J. Lin, C.-C. Nomeir, A. A., Permeability of lipophilic compounds in drug discovery using in-vitro human absorption model, Caco-2, Int. J. Pharm. 222, 77-89 (2001). 

Dosing techniques, such as intramuscular, intradermal, subcutaneous, and intra-peritoneal administration, can be used for the ferret. Care needs to be taken, however, when administering lipophilic compounds by the subcutaneous or intradermal routs, to avoid inadvertently injecting compounds into the ferret s thick layer of subcutaneous fat, which can result in poor absorption (Moody et al., 1985). 

Generally, the stratum corneum is considered to be the rate limiting layer of the skin with regard to transdermal drug absorption. However, for the invasion of very lipophilic compounds, the bottleneck moves from the stratum corneum down to the viable, very hydrophilic layer of the epidermis, due to substances reduced solubility in this rather aqueous layer [14],... 

Only predictive for a part of absorption process Membrane retention of lipophilic compounds Dependent on lipid composition and pH... 

Many companies have tried to develop peptidic renin inhibitors. Unfortunately these are rather large molecules and not unexpectedly poor absorption was often observed. The role of physicochemical properties has been discussed for this class of compounds. One of the conclusions was that compounds with higher lipophilicity were better absorbed from the intestine [29]. Absorption and bile elimination rate are both MW-dependent. Lower MW results in better absorption and less bile excretion. The combined influence of molecular size and lipophilicity on absorption of a series of renin inhibitors can be seen from Figure 1.7. The observed iso-size curves are believed to be part of a general sigmoidal relationship between permeability and lipophilicity [30-31] (for further details see Chapter 3). 

Moderate values (0 ) are favorable for absorption by passive diffusion. Any lipophilic compound may be taken up by micellular solubilization but this mechanism may be of particular importance for highly lipophilic compounds (Log P > 4), particularly those that are poorly soluble in water (1 mg/1 or less) that would otherwise be poorly absorbed. 

Absorption of orally administered, relatively lipophilic compounds, such as estrone or estradiol, occurs mainly in the intestine. The bacteria that colonize the gut are, however, particularly adept at converting those compounds by attack at the 17 position to very water-soluble derivatives that defy absorption. Alkylation of that position avoids this catabolic pathway and consequently enhances bioavailability on oral administration. The reaction of 17-keto steroids with nucleophiles illustrates the high degree of stereospecifity that is maintained in many steroid reactions approach of that carbonyl group from the (3 face is virtually forbidden by the presence of the adjacent 18 methyl. The reaction products consequently consist of almost pure isomers from attack at the a face. Reaction of estradiol with lithium acetylide thus gives ethynylestradiol (9-2) [9] the corresponding alkylation of estradiol 3-methyl ether (9-1) leads to mestranol (9-3) [10]. Both compounds are potent orally active... 

The importance of the physicochemical characteristics of compounds has already been alluded to in the previous two chapters. Thus, lipophilicity is a factor of major importance for the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of foreign compounds. Lipophilic compounds are more readily absorbed, metabolized, and distributed, but more poorly excreted, than hydrophilic compounds. 

Their mode of appearance in the lumen of the intestine is rather complicated and involves activation of trypsinogen secretion by enterokinase. Once trypsin is formed it activates chymotrypsinogen. Pancreatic lipase is also secreted into the lumen with the pancreatic fluid. The digestion process of fatty acids by their lipase-mediated hydrolysis is completed by bile salts, which are also secreted in the duodenum and are crucial for micellization of lipophilic compounds. The micelles formed in the duodenum enable the absorption of hydro-phobic drugs such as steroids. They pose, however, a serious constraint for the stability of drug delivery carriers such as liposomes and emulsions. 

The layer of water adjacent to the absorptive membrane of the enterocyte is essentially unstirred. It can be visualized as a series of water lamellas, each progressively more stirred from the gut wall toward the lumen bulk. For BCS class 2 compounds the rate of permeation through the brush border is fast and the diffusion across the unstirred water layer (UWL) is the rate-limiting step in the permeation process. The thickness of the UWL in human jejunum was measured and found to be over 500 pm [3]. Owing to its thickness and hydrophilicity, the UWL may represent a major permeability barrier to the absorption of lipophilic compounds. The second mechanism by which the UWL functions act as a barrier to drug absorption is its effective surface area. The ratio of the surface area of the UWL to that of the underlying brush border membrane is at least 1 500 [4], i.e., this layer reduces the effective surface area available for the absorption of lipophilic compounds and hence impairs its bioavailability. 

The knowledge and rationale accumulated thus far regarding the lipid-based formulation approach for enhancing oral absorption of lipophilic compounds have been presented in this section. Additional comprehensive review articles are also recommended [44—46],... 

The majority of orally administered drugs gain access to the systemic circulation by direct absorption into the portal blood. However, highly lipophilic compounds may reach the systemic blood circulation via the intestinal lymphatic system. The overall bioavailability of... 

Azone (laurocapram) is used extensively as a transdermal permeation enhancer, and has also found use in buccal drug delivery. It is a lipophilic surfactant in nature (Figure 10.4). Permeation of salicylic acid was enhanced by the pre-application of an Azone emulsion in vivo in a keratinized hamster cheek pouch model [35]. Octreotide and some hydrophobic compounds absorption have also been improved by the use of Azone [36], Azone was shown to interact with the lipid domains and alter the molecular moment on the surface of the bilayers [37], In skin it has been proposed that Azone was able to form ion pairs with anionic drugs to promote their permeation [38],... 

Concomitant intake of food enhances drug absorption, most likely by increasing the degree of gastric dissolution, and decreasing the first-pass effect of spironolactone. The latter effect is possibly due to the secretion of bile acids in response to a meal serving that serves to enhance dissolution of the lipophilic compound [74]. 

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