Aileen Gibbons

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, L, Ireland (Republic of Ireland)

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Publications (4)20.93 Total impact

  • Article: The effect of liposome encapsulation on the pharmacokinetics of recombinant secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (rSLPI) therapy after local delivery to a guinea pig asthma model.
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    ABSTRACT: Inhaled recombinant Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor (rSLPI) has shown potential for treatment of inflammatory lung conditions. Rapid inactivation of rSLPI by cathepsin L (Cat L) and rapid clearance from the lungs have limited clinical efficacy. Encapsulation of rSLPI within 1,2-Dioleoyl-sn-Glycero-3-[Phospho-L-Serine]:Cholesterol liposomes (DOPS-rSLPI) protects rSLPI against Cat L inactivation in vitro. We aimed to determine the effect of liposomes on rSLPI pharmacokinetics and activity in vitro and after local delivery to the airways in vivo. Transport of DOPS-rSLPI and free-rSLPI across a polarised air-liquid epithelial monolayer was measured. An asthma guinea pig model was administered either DOPS-rSLPI liposomes or free-rSLPI by intratracheal instillation. Apparent permeability (P(app)) of free-rSLPI was significantly higher at 4.9 x 10⁻⁶ cm/s than for DOPS-rSLPI, P(app) of 2.05 x 10⁻⁷ cm/s, confirmed by in vivo studies. Plasma rSLPI concentrations were highest in free-rSLPI-treated animals compared with those treated with DOPS-rSLPI; there also appeared to be a trend for higher intracellular rSLPI content in animals dosed with DOPS-rSLPI compared to free-rSLPI. Eosinophil influx was recorded as a measure of inflammation. Pre-dosing with either free-rSLPI or DOPS-rSLPI prevented inflammatory response to antigen challenge to levels comparable to control animals. Encapsulation of rSLPI in DOPS:Chol liposomes improves stability, reduces clearance and increases residence time in the lungs after local delivery.
    Pharmaceutical Research 06/2011; 28(9):2233-45. · 4.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: A dry powder formulation of liposome-encapsulated recombinant secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (rSLPI) for inhalation: preparation and characterisation.
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    ABSTRACT: Inhaled recombinant secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (rSLPI) has shown potential for the treatment of inflammatory lung conditions. Rapid inactivation of rSLPI by cathepsin L (Cat L) and rapid clearance from the lungs has limited clinical efficacy to date. Previous studies by us have shown that encapsulation of rSLPI within1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-L-serine]/cholesterol (DOPS/Chol) liposomes protects rSLPI against Cat L inactivation in vitro. Liquid DOPS-rSLPI preparations were found to be unstable upon long-term storage and nebulisation. The aim of this study was therefore to develop a method of manufacture for preparing DOPS-rSLPI liposomes as a dry powder for inhalation. DOPS-rSLPI dry powders were lyophilised and subsequently micronised with a novel micronisation aid. The effects of formulation and processing on rSLPI stability, activity, and uniformity of content within the powders were characterised. Using D-mannitol as the micronisation aid, dry powder particles in the inhalable size range (<5 μm) were prepared. By optimising process parameters, up to 54% of rSLPI was recovered after micronisation, of which there was no significant loss in anti-neutrophil elastase activity and no detectable evidence of protein degradation. Aerosolisation was achieved using a dry powder inhaler, and mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) was evaluated after collection in a cascade impactor. Aerosolisation of the DOPS-rSLPI dry powder yielded 38% emitted dose, with 2.44 μm MMAD. When challenged with Cat L post-aerosolisation, DOPS-rSLPI dry powder was significantly better at retaining a protective function against Cat L-induced rSLPI inactivation compared to the aqueous DOPS-rSLPI liposome dispersion and was also more stable under storage.
    AAPS PharmSciTech 09/2010; 11(3):1411-21. · 1.43 Impact Factor
  • Article: Delivery of rSLPI in a liposomal carrier for inhalation provides protection against cathepsin L degradation.
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    ABSTRACT: Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is an endogenous serine protease inhibitor that protects the lungs from excessive tissue damage caused by leukocyte proteases released during inflammation. Recombinant SLPI (rSLPI) has shown potential as a treatment for inflammatory lung conditions. To date, its clinical application has been limited by rapid enzymatic cleavage by cathepsins and rapid clearance from the lungs after inhalation. In this study, rSLPI was encapsulated in 1,2-Dioleoyl-sn-Glycero-3-[Phospho-L-Serine] : Cholesterol (DOPS : Chol) liposomes for inhalation. Incubation of rSLPI with cathepsin L leads to complete loss of activity while encapsulation of rSLPI in DOPS : Chol liposomes retained 92.6% of its activity after challenge with cathepsin L. rSLPI-loaded liposomes were aerosolized efficiently using a standard nebulizer with a minimal loss of activity and stability. This formulation was biocompatible and encapsulation did not appear to diminish access to intracellular sites of action in in vitro cell culture studies. Liposome encapsulation of rSLPI therefore improves stability and potentially reduces the level and frequency of dosing required for therapeutic effect after inhalation.
    Journal of Microencapsulation 11/2008; 26(6):513-22. · 1.55 Impact Factor
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    Article: Secretory leucoprotease inhibitor binds to NF-kappaB binding sites in monocytes and inhibits p65 binding.
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    ABSTRACT: Secretory leucoprotease inhibitor (SLPI) is a nonglycosylated protein produced by epithelial cells. In addition to its antiprotease activity, SLPI has been shown to exhibit antiinflammatory properties, including down-regulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha expression by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in macrophages and inhibition of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation in a rat model of acute lung injury. We have previously shown that SLPI can inhibit LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation in monocytic cells by inhibiting degradation of IkappaBalpha without affecting the LPS-induced phosphorylation and ubiquitination of IkappaBalpha. Here, we present evidence to show that upon incubation with peripheral blood monocytes (PBMs) and the U937 monocytic cell line, SLPI enters the cells, becoming rapidly localized to the cytoplasm and nucleus, and affects NF-kappaB activation by binding directly to NF-kappaB binding sites in a site-specific manner. SLPI can also prevent p65 interaction with the NF-kappaB consensus region at concentrations commensurate with the physiological nuclear levels of SLPI and p65. We also demonstrate the presence of SLPI in nuclear fractions of PBMs and alveolar macrophages from individuals with cystic fibrosis and community-acquired pneumonia. Therefore, SLPI inhibition of NF-kappaB activation is mediated, in part, by competitive binding to the NF-kappaB consensus-binding site.
    Journal of Experimental Medicine 01/2006; 202(12):1659-68. · 13.85 Impact Factor