Nose-to-brain delivery of hyaluronate – FG loop peptide conjugate for non-invasive hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy therapy

• Published in: Journal of controlled release Vol. 307; pp. 76 - 89
• Main Authors: Kim, Yun Seop, Sung, Dong Kyung, Kim, Hyemin, Kong, Won Ho, Kim, Young Eun, Hahn, Sei Kwang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 10.08.2019
• Subjects: Conjugate; FG loop peptide; Hyaluronate; Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy; Nose-to-brain delivery; Conjugate; FG loop peptide; Hyaluronate; Nose-to-brain delivery; Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
• ISSN: 0168-3659; 1873-4995
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2019.06.021

The intranasal drug administration has attracted great interest as a non-invasive route allowing targeted delivery of drugs directly to the brain. However, one of the main issues in nasal drug administration is mucociliary clearance. Hyaluronate (HA) has been widely used as a mucoadhesive excipient for ocular, rectal, and vaginal delivery. Here, FG loop peptide (FGL) was conjugated to HA for improving enzymatic stability and delivery efficiency from the nose to the brain. The successful conjugation of FGL to aldehyde modified HA was confirmed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The outstanding enzymatic stability of HA–FGL conjugate was also corroborated by the GPC. The HA–FGL conjugate showed enhanced binding affinity onto nasal epithelial cells. In addition, in vivo nose-to-brain delivery of HA–FGL conjugate could be visualized by using an IVIS imaging system and fluorescence microscopy. Finally, in vivo therapeutic effect of HA–FGL conjugate was successfully confirmed by histological analysis, transferase-mediated uridine 5-triphosphate-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay, immunofluorescent staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and rotarod tests in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy model animals. [Display omitted] •The intranasal administration is an attractive non-invasive delivery route to the brain.•The conjugation of FG loop (FGL) peptide to hyaluronate (HA) improves its enzymatic stability.•HA–FGL conjugate can be efficiently delivered from the nose to the brain.•HA–FGL conjugate shows a significant therapeutic effect on hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.