Microenvironment improvement protocol for the sensitive spectrofluorimetric determination of an hepatitis C virus antiviral (Simeprevir): application to human plasma

Simeprevir (SPV) is a powerful antihepatitis C virus agent that was newly introduced into the pharmaceutical market. We here established and validated an easy, simple, and sensitive spectrofluorimetric method for its estimation at λ_em 427 nm (λ_ex 337 nm). The suggested procedure was based on two times enhancement in the original emission of SPV through modifying its microenvironment in buffered aqueous solution by adding Triton X‐100. The relationship between the concentration of SPV and the observed fluorescence intensity was linear in the range 0.06–1.0 μg ml^?1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9997. The limits of detection and quantitation were 21 and 64 ng ml^?1, respectively. The present method was effectively applied to quantify SPV content in pharmaceutical tablets and human plasma spiked with the drug with no interference from tablet excipients or plasma components.     

In vitro susceptibility of human Blastocystis subtypes to simeprevir

Introduction and aimBlastocystis is a common enteric parasite, having a worldwide distribution. Many antimicrobial agents are effective against it, yet side effects and drug resistance have been reported. Thus, ongoing trials are being conducted for exploring anti-Blastocystis alternatives. Proteases are attractive anti-protozoal drug targets, having documented roles in Blastocystis. Serine proteases are present in both hepatitis C virus and Blastocystis. Since drug repositioning is quite trendy, the in vitro efficacy of simeprevir (SMV), an anti-hepatitis serine protease inhibitor, against Blastocystis was investigated in the current study.MethodsStool samples were collected from patients, Alexandria, Egypt. Concentrated stools were screened using direct smears, trichrome, and modified Ziehl-Neelsen stains to exclude parasitic co-infections. Positive stool isolates were cultivated, molecularly subtyped for assessing the efficacy of three SMV doses (100,150, and 200 μg/ml) along 72 hours (h), on the most common subtype, through monitoring parasite growth, viability, re-culture, and also via ultrastructure verification. The most efficient dose and duration were later tested on other subtypes.ResultsResults revealed that Blastocystis was detected in 54.17% of examined samples. Molecularly, ST3 predominated (62%), followed by ST1 (8.6%) and ST2 (3.4%). Ascending concentrations of SMV progressively inhibited growth, viability, and re-culture of treated Blastocystis, with a non-statistically significant difference when compared to the therapeutic control metronidazole (MTZ). The most efficient dose and duration against ST3 was 150 µg/ml for 72 h. This dose inhibited the growth of ST3, ST1, and ST2 with percentages of 95.19%, 94.83%, and 94.74%, successively and viability with percentages of 98.30%, 98.09%, and 97.96%, successively. This dose abolished Blastocystis upon re-culturing. Ultra-structurally, SMV induced rupture of Blastocystis cell membrane leading to necrotic death, versus the reported apoptotic death caused by MTZ. In conclusion, 150 µg/ml SMV for 72 h proved its efficacy against ST1, ST2, and ST3 Blastocystis, thus sparing the need for pre-treatment molecular subtyping in developing countries.