RNA nanoparticle distribution and clearance in the eye after subconjunctival injection with and without thermosensitive hydrogels.

Thermodynamically and chemically stable RNA nanoparticles derived from the three-way junction (3WJ) of the pRNA from bacteriophage phi29 DNA packaging motor were examined previously for ocular delivery. It was reported that, after subconjunctival injection, RNA nanoparticles with tri-way shape entered the corneal cells but not the retinal cells, whereas particle with four-way shape entered both corneal and retinal cells. The present study evaluated ocular delivery of RNA nanoparticles with various shapes and sizes, and assessed the effect of thermosensitive hydrogels (poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid); PLGA-PEG-PLGA) for increasing the retention of RNA nanoparticles in the eye. Fluorescence imaging of mouse eyes and fluorescence microscopy of dissected eye tissues from the conjunctiva, cornea, retina, and sclera were performed to determine the distribution and clearance of the nanoparticles in the eyes after subconjunctival injection in vivo. RNA nanoparticles entered the cells of the conjunctiva, cornea, retina, and sclera after subconjunctival delivery. The clearance of RNA pentagon was slower than both RNA square and triangle of the same designed edge length (10nm) in the eye, and the clearance of RNA squares of the longer edge lengths (10 and 20nm) was slower than RNA square of the shorter edge length (5nm), thus indicating that the size could affect ocular pharmacokinetics of the nanoparticles. At 24h after the injection, approximately 6-10% of the fluorescence signal from the larger nanoparticles in the study (RNA square of 20nm edge length and RNA pentagon of 10nm edge length) remained in the eye, and up to 70% of the retinal cells contained the nanoparticles. The results suggest that the larger nanoparticles were "gulped" in conjunctival, corneal, retinal, and scleral cells, similar to the behavior observed in macrophages. Additionally, the combination of RNA nanoparticles with the thermosensitive polymers increased the retention of the nanoparticles in the eye.

Iontophoretic delivery of lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs from lipid nanoparticles across human skin.

The combined effects of iontophoresis and lipid nanoparticles on drug delivery across human epidermal membrane (HEM) were investigated. The delivery of lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs, all trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), salicylate (SA), and acyclovir (ACV), across HEM from lipid nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), was compared in passive and iontophoresis experiments in vitro. Iontophoresis experiments were also performed with synthetic Nuclepore membrane for comparison. Drug distribution in the skin after iontophoretic delivery with the lipid nanoparticles was examined using a model probe rhodamine B base (RhoB). The drug-loaded lipid nanoparticles had average sizes of ∼ 118-169 nm and a negative zeta potential. Iontophoresis did not enhance the delivery of ATRA across HEM from SLN and NLC. However, HEM distribution study of RhoB suggested that lipophilic drugs could be delivered into the deeper layer of the skin following iontophoretic delivery of the drugs from the lipid nanoparticles. Iontophoresis enhanced the delivery of hydrophilic drug SA with the lipid nanoparticles. Similarly, iontophoresis enhanced the delivery of ACV when it was loaded in SLN. These results suggest that lipid nanoparticles are a promising drug delivery method that can be combined with iontophoresis to improve skin delivery of hydrophilic drugs.

Terpene composited lipid nanoparticles for enhanced dermal delivery of all-trans-retinoic acids.

In the present study, terpene composited lipid nanoparticles and lipid nanoparticles were developed and evaluated for dermal delivery of all-trans-retinoic acids (ATRA). Terpene composited lipid nanoparticles and lipid nanoparticles were investigated for size, size distribution, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, photostability, and cytotoxicity. In vitro skin permeation of ATRA lipid formulations were also evaluated. To explore the ability of lipid nanocarriers to target the skin, the distribution of rhodamine B base in the skin was investigated using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The results indicated that the physicochemical characteristics of terpene composited lipid nanoparticles influenced skin permeability. All lipid nanocarriers significantly protected ATRA from photodegradation and were non-toxic to normal human foreskin fibroblast cells in vitro. Solid lipid nanoparticles containing 10% limonene (10% L-SLN) had the highest ATRA skin permeability. Terpene composited SLN and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) showed higher epidermal permeation of rhodamine B across the skin based on CLSM image analysis. Our study suggests that terpene composited SLN and NLC can be potentially used as dermal drug delivery carriers for ATRA.