Bioactive Protein and Peptide Release from a Mucoadhesive Electrospun Membrane

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Protein-based biologics are increasingly used but typically administered via injection.
• Oral mucosa drug delivery presents an alternative to injections, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract and first-pass metabolism.
• Existing oral delivery methods lack precise dose control due to salivary flow.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of electrospun mucoadhesive membranes for peptide and protein drug delivery.
• To assess the release kinetics and pharmacological activity of drugs delivered via these membranes.

Main Methods:

• Incorporation of bradykinin and insulin into electrospun membranes using ethanol/water mixtures.
• In vitro drug release studies in buffer.
• Assessment of bradykinin's pharmacological activity using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy to measure intracellular calcium release.

Main Results:

• Rapid release of bradykinin (70% in 1 hour) and slower, dose-dependent release of insulin over 8 hours.
• Membrane-eluted bradykinin demonstrated preserved pharmacological activity, inducing intracellular calcium release in oral fibroblasts.
• Confocal microscopy confirmed the biological activity of membrane-delivered bradykinin.

Conclusions:

• Electrospun mucoadhesive membranes are effective for site-specific delivery of biotherapeutic proteins and peptides to the oral mucosa.
• These membranes offer a viable alternative for both local and systemic drug delivery, potentially replacing injections.
• The study highlights the potential of this technology for advanced biopharmaceutical applications.