1. A drug delivery system for administration of a pharmaceutically active substance that is a cationic amphiphile by itself and has a solubility per se in water of at least 4 mgml, wherein the drug delivery system comprises nanoparticles smaller than about 50 nm having a solubility in water below 0.1 mgml, said nanoparticles being formed by said substance in association with a sodium salt of the methyl ester of N-all-trans-retinoyl cysteic acid, a sodium salt of methyl ester of N-13-cis-retinoyl cysteic acid, or a combination thereof.
2. A drug delivery system according to claim 1, wherein said nanoparticles have a solubility in water below 0.01 mgml.
3. A drug delivery system according to claim 1, wherein said substance is non-covalently associated with a sodium salt of the methyl ester of N-all-trans-retinoyl cysteic acid, a sodium salt of methyl ester of N-13-cis-retinoyl cysteic acid, or a combination thereof.
4. A drug delivery system according to claim 1, wherein said substance is a cytotoxic or a cytostatic compound.
5. A drug delivery system according to claim 1, wherein said substance is a cytotoxic or cytostatic compound chosen among a protonated form of doxorubicin, mitoxantrone, epirubicin, daunorubicin, idarubicin, topotecan, irinotecan, vinblastine, vincristine, vinorelbine, amsacrine, procarbazine, mechlorethamine, or a combination thereof.
6. A drug delivery system according to claim 4 for use in treatment of cancer.
7. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and the drug delivery system according to claim 1.
8. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 7 in the form of an aqueous solution, a gel, a cream, an ointment, a tablet, a capsule, or a softgel.
9. A method for the preparation of a drug delivery system for administration of at least one pharmaceutically active substance that is a cationic amphiphile by itself and has a solubility per se in water of at least 4 mgml, wherein said substance is combined with a sodium salt of the methyl ester of N-all-trans-retinoyl cysteic acid, a sodium salt of methyl ester of N-13-cis-retinoyl cysteic acid, or a combination thereof to form nanoparticles smaller than about 50 nm having a solubility in water below 0.1 mgml.
10. A method according to claim 9, wherein a sodium salt of the methyl ester of N-all-trans-retinoyl cysteic acid, a sodium salt of methyl ester of N-13-cis-retinoyl cysteic acid, or a combination thereof is non-covalently bound to said substance.
11. A method according to claim 9, wherein said nanoparticles have a solubility in water below 0.01 mgml.
12. A method for the preparation of pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a drug delivery system according to claim 1, wherein said drug delivery system is combined with an amount of about 0.2-10 equivalents, based on the cationic charge of the amphiphile comprised in the drug delivery system, of the methyl ester of N-all-trans-retinoyl cysteic acid, a sodium salt of methyl ester of N-13-cis-retinoyl cysteic acid, or a combination thereof.
13. A method for enhancing the drug efficiency of at least one pharmaceutically active substance that is a cationic amphiphile by itself and has a solubility per se in water of at least 4 mgml, wherein said substance is combined with a sodium salt of the methyl ester of N-all-trans-retinoyl cysteic acid, a sodium salt of methyl ester of N-13-cis-retinoyl cysteic acid, or a combination thereof to form nanoparticles having a solubility in water below 0.1 mgml.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein a sodium salt of the methyl ester of N-all-trans-retinoyl cysteic acid, a sodium salt of the methyl ester of N-13-cis-retinoyl cysteic acid, or a combination thereof is non-covalently bound to said substance.
15. A method according to claim 13, wherein said substance is combined with an excess of about 0.2-10 equivalents of said sodium salt of the methyl ester of N-all-trans-retinoyl cysteic acid, sodium salt of methyl ester of N-13-cis-retinoyl cysteic acid, or combination thereof.
16. A method according to claim 13, wherein said nanoparticles have a solubility in water below 0.01 mgml.
17. A method for increasing the bioavailability of at least one pharmaceutically active substance that is a cationic amphiphile by itself and has a solubility per se in water of at least 4 mgml,
wherein said substance is combined with a sodium salt of the methyl ester of N-all-trans-retinoyl cysteic acid, a sodium salt of the methyl ester of N-13-cis-retinoyl cysteic acid, or a combination thereof to form nanoparticles having a solubility in water below 0.1 mgml.
18. A method according to claim 17, wherein a sodium salt of the methyl ester of N-all-trans-retinoyl cysteic acid, a sodium salt of the methyl ester of N-13-cis-retinoyl cysteic acid, or a combination thereof is non-covalently bound to said substance.
19. A method according to claim 17, wherein said substance is combined with an excess of about 0.2-10 equivalents of said sodium salt of the methyl ester of N-all-trans-retinoyl cysteic acid, sodium salt of methyl ester of N-13-cis-retinoyl cysteic acid, or combination thereof.
20. A method according to claim 17, wherein said nanoparticles have a solubility in water below 0.01 mgml.
21. A method for the treatment of cancer, wherein a drug delivery system according to claim 1 is administered in a therapeutically effective amount to a patient in need of such treatment.
22. A method for the treatment of cancer, wherein a pharmaceutical composition according to claim 7 in the form of an aqueous solution, a gel, a cream, an ointment, a tablet, a capsule, or a softgel, is administered in a therapeutically effective amount to a patient in need of such treatment.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A system for testing a device, comprising:
a processor in a automatic test operable to:
execute a plurality of test instructions, the plurality of test instructions operable to test a device; the automatic tester not configured to have a radio frequency module;
a test assembly including a high speed data (HSD) module and a radio frequency (RF) module operable to generate a plurality of test signals associated with the plurality of test instructions; and
an interface apparatus coupled to the processor comprising a plurality of connectors operable to communicate the plurality of test signals from the test assembly to the device under test.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of test signals comprises a radio frequency signal and a high speed digital signal.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein:
the plurality of test signals comprises a radio frequency signal and a high speed digital signal; and
the plurality of connectors comprises a first connector operable to communicate the radio frequency signal and a second connector operable to communicate the high speed digital signal.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface apparatus comprises a coupling plane, the coupling plane comprising the plurality of connectors arranged in a plurality of rows.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein:
the interface apparatus has an annular shape with an inner edge and an outer edge; and
a portion of the plurality of connectors is arranged in a curved line between the inner edge and the outer edge.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the the radio frequency module and the high speed data module are located at a test assembly comprising a movable rack, the movable rack operable to transport the test assembly from a first location to a second location.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the the radio frequency module and the high speed data module are located at a test assembly comprising a movable rack, the movable rack operable to move the test assembly from a first height to a second height.
8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a test head coupled to the interface apparatus and operable to apply the plurality of test signals to the device.
9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of test modules coupled to the processor, the plurality of test modules operable to transmit the plurality of test signals to the interface apparatus.
10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a handler coupled to the interface apparatus and operable to automatically position the device substantially proximate to the interface apparatus.
11. An interface apparatus for communicating a plurality of signals, comprising:
a plurality of first connectors, each first connector operable to communicate a test signal comprising a radio frequency signal generated by a radio frequency module; and
a plurality of second connectors operable to communicate a test signal comprising a high speed data signal generated by a high speed data module.
12. The interface apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a coupling plane, the coupling plane comprising the plurality of first connectors and the plurality of second connectors arranged in a plurality of rows.
13. The interface apparatus of claim 11, wherein:
the interface apparatus has an annular shape with an inner edge and an outer edge; and
a portion of the plurality of connectors is arranged in a curved line between the inner edge and the outer edge.
14. A method for testing a device, comprising:
executing a plurality of test instructions in a processor in an automatic tester not having a radio frequency module and a high speed data module, the plurality of test instructions operable to test a device;
generating a plurality of test signals associated with the plurality of test instructions in a test assembly including a radio frequency module and a high speed data module; and
communicating the plurality of test signals to the device using an interface apparatus, the interface apparatus comprising a plurality of connectors, each connector operable to communicate at least one signal of the plurality of test signals.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of test signals comprises a radio frequency signal and a high speed digital signal.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of test signals comprises a radio frequency signal and a high speed digital signal, and further comprising:
communicating the radio frequency signal at a first connector of the plurality of connectors; and
communicating the high speed digital signal at a second connector of the plurality of connectors.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein the interface apparatus comprises a coupling plane, the coupling plane comprising the plurality of connectors arranged in a plurality of rows.
18. The method of claim 14, wherein:
the interface apparatus has an annular shape with an inner edge and an outer edge; and
a portion of the plurality of connectors is arranged in a curved line between the inner edge and the outer edge.
19. A system for testing a device, comprising:
a processor in an automatic tester, which does not include a radio frequency module and a high speed data module, operable to execute a plurality of test instructions, the plurality of test instructions operable to test a device; and
a test assembly including a high speed data (HSD) module and a radio frequency (RF) module operable to generate a plurality of test signals associated with the plurality of test instructions, the plurality of test signals comprising a radio frequency signal and a high speed digital signal, located at a test assembly comprising a movable rack, the movable rack operable to transport the test assembly from a first location to a second location; and move the test assembly from a first height to a second height;
an interface apparatus coupled to the processor and operable to communicate the plurality of test signals to the device, the interface apparatus comprising a coupling plane, the coupling plane comprising a plurality of connectors arranged in a plurality of rows, the interface apparatus having an annular shape with an inner edge and an outer edge, a portion of the plurality of connectors arranged in a curved line between the inner edge and the outer edge, each connector of the plurality of connectors operable to communicate at least one signal of the plurality of test signals, the plurality of connectors comprising a first connector operable to communicate the radio frequency signal and a second connector operable to communicate the high speed digital signal;
a plurality of test modules coupled to the processor, the plurality of test modules operable to transmit the plurality of test signals to the interface apparatus;
a test head coupled to the interface apparatus and operable to apply the plurality of test signals to the device; and
a handler coupled to the interface apparatus and operable to automatically position the device substantially proximate to the interface apparatus.