Protein self-assemblies in the form of ordered supramolecular structures such as particulates hold great potential as new biomaterials. However, research in this field is rarely conducted under physiologically relevant conditions but such studies are crucially needed to unravel the potential use of particulates and other amyloid structures in health sciences. In this study, particulates of α-lactalbumin (ALA) were prepared at different stages of maturation by thermal incubation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNative mucus is heterogeneous, displays high inter-individual variation and is prone to changes during harvesting and storage. To overcome the lack of reproducibility and availability of native mucus, commercially available purified mucins, porcine gastric mucin (PGM) and mucin from bovine submaxillary gland (BSM), have been widely used. However, the question is to which extent the choice of mucin matters in studies of their interaction with polymers as their composition, structure and hence physicochemical properties differ.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOromucosal administration is an attractive non-invasive route. However, drug absorption is challenged by salivary flow and the mucosa being a significant permeability barrier. The aim of this study was to design and investigate a multi-layered nanofiber-on-foam-on-film (NFF) drug delivery system with unique properties and based on polysaccharides combined as i) mucoadhesive chitosan-based nanofibers, ii) a peptide loaded hydroxypropyl methylcellulose foam, and iii) a saliva-repelling backing film based on ethylcellulose.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProtein-based materials have found applications in a wide range of biomedical fields because of their biocompatibility, biodegradability and great versatility. Materials of different physical forms including particles, hydrogels, films, fibers and microneedles have been fabricated e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe sublingual mucosa is an attractive route for drug delivery, although challenged by a continuous flow of saliva that leads to a loss of drug by swallowing. It is of great benefit that drugs absorbed across the sublingual mucosa avoid exposure to the harsh environment of the gastro-intestinal lumen; this is especially beneficial for drugs of low physicochemical stability such as therapeutic peptides. In this study, a two-layered hybrid drug delivery system was developed for the sublingual delivery of the therapeutic peptide desmopressin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNicotine replacement therapy (NRT) formulations for oromucosal administration induce a delayed rise in nicotine blood levels as opposed to the immediate nicotine increase obtained from cigarette smoking, this being a shortcoming of the therapy. Here, we demonstrate that α-lactalbumin/polyethylene oxide (ALA/PEO) electrospun nanofibers constitute an efficient oromucosal delivery system for fast-onset nicotine delivery of high relevance for acute dosing NRT applications. , nicotine-loaded nanofibers showed fast disintegration in water, with a weight loss up to 40% within minutes, and a faster nicotine release (26.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMucoadhesive chitosan-based electrospun nanofibers are promising candidates for overcoming challenges associated with sublingual drug delivery, yet studies focusing on evaluating the mucoadhesive properties of nanofibers for sublingual administration are limited. The aim was to elucidate the mucoadhesive properties of chitosan/polyethylene oxide (PEO) nanofibers focusing on how the degree of deacetylation (DDA, 53-96 %) of chitosan influenced their morphological and mucoadhesive properties. The mechanism of mucoadhesion was explained by the intermolecular interactions of chitosan with mucin from bovine submaxillary glands using quartz-crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring and by adhesion of the nanofibers to ex vivo porcine sublingual mucosa.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe effect of the degree of supersaturation (DS) on absorption of the model drugs indomethacin and tadalafil was elucidated in a single-pass intestinal perfusion (SPIP) model in rats. In addition, the performance of the precipitation inhibitor (PI) hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) was evaluated when added at a concentration of 0.1% (w/v) to fasted state simulated intestinal fluid (FaSSIF and FaSSIF) used as perfusion medium.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMany oral mucosal conditions cause considerable and prolonged pain that to date has been difficult to alleviate via topical delivery, and the use of injection causes many patients dental anxiety and needle-prick pain. Therefore, developing a noninjectable drug delivery system as an alternative administration procedure may vastly improve the health and wellbeing of these patients. Recent advances in the development of mucoadhesive electrospun patches for the direct delivery of therapeutics to the oral mucosa offer a potential solution, but as yet, the release of local anesthetics from this system and their uptake by oral tissue have not been demonstrated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFElectrospinning of neat chitosan is currently achieved by using strong acids or organic solvents, which limits the use of chitosan nanofibers as biocompatible scaffolds for drug delivery and tissue engineering. The aim was to elucidate the effect of specific acids generally recognized as safe (GRAS) on the properties of electrospun chitosan-based nanofibers. Electrospinning chitosan in dilute acetic acid or succinic acid with polyethylene oxide resulted in white and separated nanofibers, whereas nanofibers electrospun in dilute citric acid were transparent and interconnected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFColloids Surf B Biointerfaces
February 2019
We have successfully encapsulated two proteins, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and p53, in chitosan-tripolyphosphate (TPP) nanoparticles at various pH values from 5.5 to 6.5 and delivered the particles to human melanoma cells.
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