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Study · Not a test of the peptide alone · 2025

3 results

Exploiting the potential of in situ forming liquid crystals: development and in vitro performance of long-acting depots for peptide drug thymosin alpha 1 subcutaneous administration.

Vitek M, Zvonar Pobirk A, Roškar R, Matjaž MG

Drug delivery11 Mar 2025Cited by 1 (Europe PMC)

PMID40066714 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC11899226 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1080/10717544.2025.2460708 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-40066714
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Summary

The fast-growing filed of long-acting depots for subcutaneous (SC) administration holds significant potential to enhance patient adherence to treatment regimens, particularly in the context of chronic diseases. Among them, injectable in situ forming lyotropic liquid crystals (LCCs) consisting of hexagonal mesophases represent an attractive platform due to their remarkable highly ordered microstructure enabling the sustained drug release. These systems are especially relevant for peptide drugs, as their use is limited by their short plasma half-life and inherent poor stability. In this study, we thus aimed to exploit the potential of a liquid crystalline platform for the sustained release of peptide drug thymosin alpha 1 (Tα1), characterized by a short plasma half-life and with that associated twice-weekly SC administration regimen. We initially selected specified ingredients, with ethanol serving to reduce viscosity and stabilize the peptide drug Tα1, lecithin contributing to LCCs formation and stabilization, and glycerol monooleate or glycerol monolinoleate representing the hexagonal LCCs forming matrix material. The selected studied nonaqueous precursor formulations were characterized by suitable rheological properties for SC injection. A convenient and rapid in situ phase transition of precursor formulations to hexagonal LCCs, triggered by water absorption, was successfully accomplished in vitro. Notably, in situ formed LCCs demonstrated sustained release kinetics of the peptide drug Tα1 for up to 2 weeks of in vitro release testing, offering minimized dosing frequency and thus promoting patient adherence. In summary, the newly developed in situ forming liquid crystalline systems represent prospective injectable long-acting depots for SC administration of the peptide drug Tα1.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study3

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone3

In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.

  1. 01LabNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneIn vitro (cell-free)Other

    In vitro, the studied nonaqueous precursor formulations of Tα1 had rheological properties suitable for subcutaneous injection.

    In plain wordsIn lab tests, the thymosin alpha‑1 depot formulations flowed in a way suitable for injection under the skin.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    Not applicableRheological properties of precursor formulations
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    in situ forming liquid crystal depot formulation
    Outcome group
    Formulation, delivery and stability · Pharmacology

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The selected studied nonaqueous precursor formulations were characterized by suitable rheological properties for SC injection.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In this study, we thus aimed to exploit the potential of a liquid crystalline platform for the sustained release of peptide drug thymosin alpha 1 (Tα1), characterized by a short plasma half-life and with that associated twice-weekly SC administration regimen.

    In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.

  2. 02LabNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneIn vitro (cell-free)Other

    In vitro, the precursor formulations changed into hexagonal liquid crystals on water absorption.

    In plain wordsIn lab tests, the thymosin alpha‑1 formulations turned into a liquid crystal gel when they took up water.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    Not applicableIn situ phase transition to hexagonal liquid crystals
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    in situ forming liquid crystal depot formulation
    Outcome group
    Formulation, delivery and stability · Pharmacology

    Source sentences

    Summary
    A convenient and rapid in situ phase transition of precursor formulations to hexagonal LCCs, triggered by water absorption, was successfully accomplished in vitro.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In this study, we thus aimed to exploit the potential of a liquid crystalline platform for the sustained release of peptide drug thymosin alpha 1 (Tα1), characterized by a short plasma half-life and with that associated twice-weekly SC administration regimen.

    In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.

  3. 03LabNot a test of Thymosin alpha-1 aloneIn vitro (cell-free)Pharmacokinetics

    In vitro, the in situ formed liquid crystals released Tα1 in a sustained way for up to 2 weeks.

    In plain wordsIn lab tests, the formulation released thymosin alpha‑1 slowly for up to 2 weeks.

    Peptide
    Thymosin alpha-1
    Outcome
    Not applicableIn vitro release of Tα1
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    in situ forming liquid crystal depot formulation
    Outcome group
    Pharmacokinetics · Pharmacology

    Measurements

    Sustained release duration
    ≤ 2 weeks
    in vitro release testing

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Notably, in situ formed LCCs demonstrated sustained release kinetics of the peptide drug Tα1 for up to 2 weeks of in vitro release testing, offering minimized dosing frequency and thus promoting patient adherence.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In this study, we thus aimed to exploit the potential of a liquid crystalline platform for the sustained release of peptide drug thymosin alpha 1 (Tα1), characterized by a short plasma half-life and with that associated twice-weekly SC administration regimen.

    In this study, Thymosin alpha-1 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Thymosin alpha-1.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 3Current

    10 Oct 2026, 08:19 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 2

    9 Oct 2026, 03:03 UTC

    Study data updated · source update from Europe PMC

  3. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 03:02 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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