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Updated: Jan 16, 2026
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Mass-Sensitive Particle Tracking to Characterize Membrane-Associated Macromolecule Dynamics
Published on: February 18, 2022
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Nanoparticles across mucosal barriers: Differentiating mucoadhesion from mucopenetration using single particle
Matteo Tollemeto1, Lasse H E Thamdrup1, Nikos S Hatzakis2
1The Danish National Research Foundation and Villum Foundation's Center IDUN, Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
Summary
Single-particle tracking (SPT) precisely measures nanoparticle movement in mucus, crucial for effective drug delivery. Standardizing SPT methods will enhance the development of mucoadhesive and mucopenetrating nanoparticles for better therapeutic outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Pharmaceutics
Background:
- Mucus barriers present significant challenges for nanoparticle drug delivery systems.
- Achieving a balance between mucoadhesion and mucopenetration is critical for effective drug targeting.
- Existing methods struggle to differentiate between mucoadhesion and mucopenetration dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce single-particle tracking (SPT) as a high-resolution technique for analyzing nanoparticle-mucus interactions.
- To highlight SPT's potential for improving the design of nanoparticle-based mucosal drug delivery systems.
- To address the underutilization of SPT in mucosal nanomedicine due to a lack of standardization.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing single-particle tracking (SPT) to capture and analyze individual nanoparticle trajectories within mucus.
- Correlating ex vivo nanoparticle behavior observed via SPT with in vivo drug delivery outcomes.
- Identifying key parameters for nanoparticle diffusion and interaction dynamics.
Main Results:
- SPT provides detailed insights into nanoparticle diffusion and interaction dynamics within mucus.
- Ex vivo SPT results show strong correlation with in vivo nanoparticle behavior.
- Current methods lack the resolution to clearly distinguish mucoadhesion from mucopenetration.
Conclusions:
- SPT is a powerful, yet underutilized, tool for advancing mucosal nanomedicine.
- Standardized protocols and benchmark materials are essential for routine SPT application.
- Developing standardized nanoparticle test sets will improve reproducibility and accelerate drug delivery innovation.
