Hierarchical nanoengineered surfaces for enhanced cytoadhesion and drug delivery

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Mucosal tissues (nasal, gastrointestinal) offer accessible routes for drug delivery but are protected by mucus.
• The mucus layer poses a significant barrier, trapping most therapeutic macromolecules and devices.
• Previous work established nanoengineered microparticles (NEMPs) for mucus penetration, showing enhanced adhesion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how nanotopography on microparticles affects their adhesion and retention in mucosal tissues.
• To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo performance of nanotopographical modifications for therapeutic delivery devices.
• To explore the potential of nanowire-mediated cytoadhesion for robust drug delivery applications.

Main Methods:

• In vivo studies assessing device retention time on mucosal surfaces.
• In vitro shear flow models using various cell lines to evaluate particle adhesion.
• Characterization of nanowire properties, including surface charge, and their impact on adhesion.
• Analysis of particle loading and elution for drug delivery potential.

Main Results:

• Nanotopography significantly improved device adhesion in vivo, increasing retention time up to tenfold compared to unmodified devices.
• Considerable adhesion was observed in vitro across multiple cell lines, indicating broad applicability.
• Nanowire-mediated adhesion proved robust against variations in nanowire surface charge and cellular characteristics.
• The study presents a novel cytoadhesion mechanism based on physical interactions between nanoengineered surfaces and subcellular structures.

Conclusions:

• Nanotopographical modifications enhance microparticle adhesion and retention in mucosal tissues, overcoming mucus barriers.
• The developed nanoengineered surfaces offer a robust and versatile platform for cytoadhesion and drug delivery.
• These nanoscale adhesive mechanisms have potential applications beyond drug delivery, including tissue engineering and wound healing.