Cheerios Effect Inspired Microbubbles as Suspended and Adhered Oral Delivery Systems

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Microfluidics

Background:

• Oral drug administration is crucial for medical treatment.
• Developing effective drug microcarriers for extended duration and improved absorption is a significant challenge.
• Existing methods for fabricating drug delivery systems lack stability and controllability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel microfluidic electrospray microbubble carrier for durable oral drug delivery.
• To leverage the Cheerios effect for enhanced drug suspension and adhesion in the stomach.
• To demonstrate the potential of these microbubbles for long-term oral administration and improved therapeutic outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of hollow microbubbles using a microfluidic electrospray technique.
• Investigation of the Cheerios effect for microbubble suspension and adhesion in gastric environments.
• Loading dexamethasone into the microbubbles for oral administration in a murine model.
• Evaluation of drug release kinetics and therapeutic efficacy in treating lupus erythematosus.

Main Results:

• The developed microbubble carriers exhibit stability and controllability, outperforming conventional methods.
• The microbubbles effectively float in gastric juice and adhere to the stomach wall, mimicking the Cheerios effect.
• Dexamethasone-loaded microbubbles remained adhered to the murine stomach for over 1 day.
• Significant therapeutic effects were observed in treating lupus erythematosus, demonstrating improved drug absorption and duration.

Conclusions:

• The novel microfluidic electrospray microbubble system offers a promising platform for durable oral drug delivery.
• The Cheerios effect-inspired adhesion mechanism enhances drug residence time and absorption in the stomach.
• This technology holds significant potential for long-term oral administration of various therapeutic agents.