Efficient mucosal delivery of optical contrast agents using imidazole-modified chitosan

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology Diagnostics

Background:

• Topical delivery of diagnostic agents like antibodies and nanosensors for early cancer detection is hindered by mucosal barriers.
• Efficient delivery of macromolecules and nanoparticles through mucosal tissues remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel topical delivery system for enhancing the mucosal permeation of optical contrast agents.
• To investigate the potential of chitosan-IAA as a permeation enhancer for noninvasive cancer diagnostics.

Main Methods:

• Development of an imidazole-functionalized chitosan conjugate (chitosan-IAA).
• Assessment of chitosan-IAA's effect on mucosal permeability using confocal microscopy with various contrast agents (small molecules, antibodies, gold nanoparticles).
• Evaluation of targeted antibody delivery and discrimination between normal and malignant oral biopsies.

Main Results:

• Chitosan-IAA significantly and reversibly enhanced mucosal permeability for optical contrast agents.
• Delivery occurred via paracellular or combined routes, dependent on agent size.
• Specific labeling and discrimination of cancerous oral tissues were achieved using targeted antibodies co-administered with chitosan-IAA.

Conclusions:

• Chitosan-IAA is a promising topical permeation enhancer for mucosal delivery of optical diagnostic agents.
• This approach facilitates noninvasive early detection of cancer and precancer through enhanced contrast agent delivery.