Low molecular weight quaternised chitosan (11): in vitro assessment of absorption enhancing properties

N-Trimethyl chitosan chloride (TMC; high molecular weight) and N-trimethyl chitosan oligosaccharide (TMO; low molecular weight) with different degrees of quaternisation were synthesised and evaluated for their absorption enhancing properties across mucosal epithelia. These quaternised chitosan derivatives (0.0625% w/v-0.5% w/v) showed a significant decrease in the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) of cultured rabbit tracheal epithelial cell monolayers as compared to the control. The degree of quaternisation and concentration of the compounds influenced the extent of the reduction in TEER. Higher degrees of quaternisation and an increase in the concentration of the compound were associated with a more pronounced reduction in the TEER. The TMO derivatives seemed to be more effective in lowering the TEER of tracheal cell monolayers as compared to the TMC polymers. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) is the main defence mechanism of the respiratory tract and is therefore a useful parameter in evaluating the toxicity of nasally administered drugs and additives. The effect of the synthesised chitosan derivatives on the CBF of human nasal epithelial cells at pH 7.4 was determined by a method based on an analogue contrast enhancement technique. The TMO oligomers exhibited lower inhibition of the CBF of human nasal epithelial cells compared to that of the TMC polymers. It was proposed that this reduced effect on the CBF is due to the lower viscosity and molecular weight of TMO. However, no acute toxicity was found with any of the synthesised chitosan derivatives by means of the CBF tests conducted in this study.