ABSTRACT
Buccal delivery seems to be a very promising administration route for macromolecular drugs. Here, we explored the potential of cationic polymethacrylate nanoparticles (NPs) as a carrier system for the buccal delivery of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). LMWH-loaded NPs were prepared by emulsification solvent diffusion method and the NPs were analyzed for their physiochemical properties, rheological evaluations and ex vivo transport studies across buccal mucosa. The prepared LMWH-loaded NPs showed a mean diameter between 400 and 500nm with unimodal size distribution with negative surface charge. Viscosity measurements revealed a positive rheological synergism between the prepared NPs and mucin when mixed under physiological conditions. After 4h, about 6.3±0.9% of LMWH was released in case of using Eudragit® RS (ERS); while Eudragit® RL (ERL) NPs released only 3.0±0.3 % of its LMWH content and this incomplete release was slightly ameliorated in the presence of mucin reaching to 7.2±0.3 % and 4.8±0.3 % for ERS and ERL, respectively. The ex-vivo permeability of heparin through the buccal mucosa was significantly increased after using polymetharylate NPs while no heparin permeation was detected from free heparin solution. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) imaging indicated the mucoadhesive properties of the polymetharylate NPs where the drug-free NPs were detected in the superficial layers of buccal mucosa. LMWH-loaded NPs had less mucoadhesive properties showing significant deeper penetration of the mucosa. The results indicated that mucoadhesive cationic polymethacrylate NPs offer a possible approach for the buccal delivery of heparin.
Subject(s)
Cations/chemistry , Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight/administration & dosage , Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight/chemistry , Mouth Mucosa/metabolism , Nanoparticles/chemistry , Polymethacrylic Acids/chemistry , Acrylic Resins/chemistry , Adhesives/administration & dosage , Adhesives/chemistry , Administration, Buccal , Animals , Drug Carriers/chemistry , Drug Delivery Systems/methods , Drug Liberation , Mucins/chemistry , Particle Size , Permeability , Polymers/chemistry , Swine , ViscosityABSTRACT
Nanoparticles (NPs) are currently used as drug delivery systems for numerous therapeutic macromolecules, e.g. proteins or DNA. Based on the preparation by double emulsion solvent evaporation a sponge-like structure was postulated entrapping hydrophilic drugs inside an internal aqueous phase. However, a direct proof of this hypothesized structure is still missing today. NPs were prepared from different polymers using a double-emulsion method and characterized for their physicochemical properties. Combining ion milling with field emission scanning electron microscopy allowed to cross section single NP and to visualize their internal morphology. The imaging procedure permitted cross-sectioning of NPs and visualization of the internal structure as well as localizing drugs associated with NPs. It was observed that none of the model actives was encapsulated inside the polymeric matrix when particle diameters were below around 470 nm but predominantly adsorbed to the particle surface. Even at larger diameters only a minority of particles of a diameter below 1 µm contained an internal phase. The properties of such drug loaded NPs, i.e. drug release or the observations in cellular uptake or even drug targeting needs to be interpreted carefully since in most cases NP surface properties are potentially dominated by the 'encapsulated' drug characteristics.
