title: Effects of particle size and surface modification on cellular uptake and biodistribution of polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of the particle size and surface coating on the cellular uptake of the polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery across the physiological drug barrier with emphasis on the gastrointestinal (GI) barrier for oral chemotherapy and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for imaging and therapy of brain cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Various sizes of commercial fluorescent polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs) (viz 20 50, 100, 200 and 500 nm) were modified with the d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1,000 succinate (vitamin E TPGS or TPGS). The size, surface charge and surface morphology of PS NPs before and after TPGS modification were characterized. The Caco-2 and MDCK cells were employed as an in vitro model of the GI barrier for oral and the BBB for drug delivery into the central nerve system respectively. The distribution of fluorescent NPs after i.v. administration to rats was analyzed by the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The in vitro investigation showed enhanced cellular uptake efficiency for PS NPs in both of Caco-2 and MDCK cells after TPGS surface coating. In vivo investigation showed that the particle size and surface coating are the two parameters which can dramatically influence the NPs biodistribution after intravenous administration. The TPGS coated NPs of smaller size (< 200 nm) can escape from recognition by the reticuloendothelial system (RES) and thus prolong the half-life of the NPs in the blood system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TPGS-coated PS NPs of 100 and 200 nm sizes have potential to deliver the drug across the GI barrier and the BBB.
authors: Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Block E5, 02-11 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore, 117576, Singapore.
authors: Sneha A
authors: SA
authors: Kulkarni
authors: Si-Shen
authors: SS
authors: Feng
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004285:Dogs; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000502:physiology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D061985:Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells; D008297:Male; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013499:Surface Properties; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011137:Polystyrenes; D014810:Vitamin E; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C014225:tocophersolan