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Mucus-penetrating nanoparticles based on chitosan grafted with various non-ionic polymers: Synthesis, structural
Twana Mohammed M Ways1, Sergey K Filippov2, Samarendra Maji3
1Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimani, 46001 Kurdistan Region, Iraq; Reading School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AD, UK.
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
|July 7, 2022
Summary
Modified chitosan nanoparticles enhance drug delivery by penetrating mucus barriers. Poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) grafting showed the best mucus penetration and diffusivity for improved therapeutic outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Transmucosal drug delivery offers advantages like avoiding first-pass metabolism and rapid action.
- A mucus gel layer on mucosal surfaces acts as a barrier, hindering drug and nanoparticle diffusion, reducing efficacy.
- Developing mucus-penetrating nanoparticles is crucial for overcoming this barrier and improving therapeutic outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and characterize novel chitosan-based nanoparticles for enhanced mucus penetration.
- To investigate the effect of grafting different polymers onto chitosan on nanoparticle properties and mucus diffusion.
- To evaluate the potential of these modified nanoparticles for improved trans-mucosal drug delivery.
Main Methods:
- Chitosan was chemically modified by grafting poly(ethylene glycol), poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate), poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline), or poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone).
- Nanoparticles were prepared using an ionic gelation method with sodium tripolyphosphate.
- Characterization involved dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, small-angle neutron scattering, and nanoparticle tracking analysis.
Main Results:
- Small-angle neutron scattering indicated a high water content and lack of heterogeneous internal structure, suggesting a nanogel model.
- Modified chitosan nanoparticles exhibited greater diffusivity in bovine submaxillary mucin solutions compared to unmodified ones.
- Chitosan nanoparticles grafted with poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) demonstrated the best penetration and diffusivity.
Conclusions:
- Chemically modified chitosan nanoparticles, particularly those grafted with poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone), can effectively penetrate mucus barriers.
- These mucus-penetrating nanoparticles hold significant potential for improving trans-mucosal drug delivery and therapeutic efficacy.
- The nanogel model with low crosslinking density is proposed for these modified nanoparticles.
