models-methods-to-evaluate-transport-drug-delivery-systems-across

Models and Methods to Evaluate Transport of Drug Delivery Systems Across Cellular Barriers

Sub-micrometer carriers (nanocarriers; NCs) enhance efficacy of drugs by improving solubility, stability, circulation time, targeting, and release. ...

University of Maryland

Bioavailability of oral drugs, particularly large hydrophilic agents, is often limited by poor adhesion and transport across gastrointestinal (GI) epithelial cells. Drug delivery systems, such as sub-micrometer polymer carriers (nanocarriers, NCs) coupled to affinity moieties that target GI surface markers involved in transport, may improve this aspect. To explore this strategy, we coated 100-nm polymer particles with an antibody to ICAM-1 (a protein expressed on the GI epithelium and other tissues) and evaluated targeting, uptake, and transport in human GI epithelial cells. Fluorescence and electron microscopy, and radioisotope tracing revealed that anti-ICAM NCs specifically bound to cells in culture, were internalized via CAM-mediated endocytosis, trafficked by transcytosis across cell monolayers without disrupting the permeability barrier or cell viability, and enabled transepithelial transport of a model therapeutic enzyme (α-galactosidase, deficient in lysosomal Fabry disease). These results indicate that ICAM-1 targeting may provide delivery of therapeutics, such as enzymes, to and across the GI epithelium.

Rasa Ghaffarian

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