title: Development and in vitro evaluation of slippery nanoparticles for enhanced diffusion through native mucus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the mucus-penetrating properties of neutral nanoparticles comprising poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(allylamine) (PAM).
  
  
  METHODS
  PAA and PAM nanoparticles were prepared on the basis of ionic interactions between the two polymers. Nanoparticles were characterized by particle size as well as surface charge. The cytotoxicity was examined via resazurin and lactate dehydrogenase assays. Using a modified Ussing chamber with mucus, the diffusion properties of obtained neutral nanoparticles were compared with control particles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The obtained PAA-PAM nanoparticles demonstrated no significant cytotoxicity and displayed smooth and spherical surfaces, a particle size range of 200 nm and ζ-potential of 0.9 mV. The diffusion efficiency of neutral nanoparticles was 2.5- and 1.8-fold higher than PAM and PAA nanoparticles, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taking enhanced mucus-penetrating properties into account, neutral nanoparticles were shown to be very promising in drug delivery via mucus membranes of different cavities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Institute of Pharmacy, Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80/82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Laffleur
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hintzen
authors.forename: Gul
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shahnaz
authors.forename: Deni
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rahmat
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leithner
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernkop-Schnürch
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004058:Diffusion; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D011073:Polyamines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D011073:Polyamines; C063994:polyallylamine; C006903:carbopol 940