Rapamycin loaded TPGS-Lecithins-Zein nanoparticles based on core-shell structure for oral drug administration

Rapamycin as a novel macrolide immunosuppressive agent has been commonly used in organ transplantation owing to its stronger immunosuppressive effect, non-nephrotoxicity and lower side effect. However its drawbacks of low bioavailability and big individual difference remain to be improved in clinical application. Here rapamycin loaded TPGS-Lecithins-Zein nanoparticles (RTLZ-NPs) with core-shell structure were prepared by the phase separation method. The RTLZ-NPs were approximately 190.3 nm in size, with PDI and zeta potential about 0.256 and -19.71 mV respectively. Drug entrapment and loading achieved were about 86.64 and 25.73% respectively. Meanwhile RTLZ-NPs exhibited favorable enzymolysis resistance abilities in gastrointestinal environments and enhanced uptake in Caco-2 cells. The optimum absorption sites of rapamycin in the intestine were duodenum and jejunum as single-pass intestinal perfusion assay. Upon also considering the results of Caco-2 cell assay, it could be speculated that the transport of rapamycin in vivo involved active transport as well as P-glycoprotein (P-gp) based efflux. Finally, the relative oral bioavailability of RTLZ-NPS was 4.33 fold higher than free rapamycin in SD rat. Altogether the designed nanoparticles can be an efficient oral delivery strategy for rapamycin analogues to prevent the attacks from destructive enzymes, reduce cell efflux, increase cell uptake, and then enhance the oral bioavailability.