Semi-mechanistic pharmacokinetic modeling of lipid core nanocapsules: Understanding quetiapine plasma and brain disposition in a neurodevelopmental animal model of schizophrenia

Abstract

This study investigated plasma and brain disposition of quetiapine lipid core nanocapsules (QLNC) in naive and schizophrenic (SCZ-like) rats and developed a semimechanistic model to describe changes in both compartments following administration of the drug in solution (FQ) or nanoencapsulated. QLNC (1 mg/ml) presented 166 6 39 nm, low polydispersity, and high encapsulation (93.0% 6 1.4%). A model was built using experimental data from total and unbound plasma and unbound brain concentrations obtained by microdialysis after administration of single intravenous bolus dose of FQ or QLNC to naive and SCZ-like rats. A two-compartment model was identifiable both in blood and in brain with a bidirectional drug transport across the blood-brain barrier (CLin and CLout). SCZ-like rats' significant decrease in brain exposure with FQ (decrease in CLin) was reverted by QLNC, showing that nanocarriers govern quetiapine tissue distribution. Model simulations allowed exploring the potential of LNC for brain delivery.