Overcoming Barriers Associated with Oral Delivery of Differently Sized Fluorescent Core‐Shell Silica Nanoparticles

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. e2305937 - n/a
• Main Authors: Erstling, Jacob A., Bag, Nirmalya, Gardinier, Thomas C., Kohle, Ferdinand F. E., DomNwachukwu, Naedum, Butler, Scott D., Kao, Teresa, Ma, Kai, Turker, Melik Z., Feuer, Grant B., Lee, Rachel, Naguib, Nada, Tallman, James F., Malarkey, Henry F., Tsaur, Lieihn, Moore, William L., Chapman, Dana V., Aubert, Tangi, Mehta, Saurabh, Cerione, Richard A., Weiss, Robert S., Baird, Barbara A., Wiesner, Ulrich B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2024; Wiley-VCH Verlag; Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
• Subjects: Animals; Caco-2 Cells; Caco‐2 permeability; Chemical Sciences; Drug Carriers - chemistry; Epithelium; Fluorescence; Food additives; Humans; imaging fluorescence correlation spectroscopy; Material chemistry; Materials science; Mice; Mucus; mucus diffusion; nanoparticle oral delivery; nanoparticle pill formulation; Nanoparticles; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Polyethylene glycol; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Silicon dioxide; Silicon Dioxide - chemistry; mucus diffusion; Caco-2 permeability; imaging fluorescence correlation spectroscopy; nanoparticle oral delivery; nanoparticle pill formulation
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202305937

Oral delivery, while a highly desirable form of nanoparticle‐drug administration, is limited by challenges associated with overcoming several biological barriers. Here, the authors study how fluorescent and poly(ethylene glycol)‐coated (PEGylated) core‐shell silica nanoparticles sized 5 to 50 nm interact with major barriers including intestinal mucus, intestinal epithelium, and stomach acid. From imaging fluorescence correlation spectroscopy studies using quasi‐total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, diffusion of nanoparticles through highly scattering mucus is progressively hindered above a critical hydrodynamic size around 20 nm. By studying Caco‐2 cell monolayers mimicking the intestinal epithelia, it is observed that ultrasmall nanoparticles below 10 nm diameter (Cornell prime dots, [C’ dots]) show permeabilities correlated with high absorption in humans from primarily enhanced passive passage through tight junctions. Particles above 20 nm diameter exclusively show active transport through cells. After establishing C’ dot stability in artificial gastric juice, in vivo oral gavage experiments in mice demonstrate successful passage through the body followed by renal clearance without protein corona formation. Results suggest C’ dots as viable candidates for oral administration to patients with a proven pathway towards clinical translation and may generate renewed interest in examining silica as a food additive and its effects on nutrition and health. Interactions between poly(ethylene glycol)‐coated (PEGylated) core‐shell silica nanoparticles (5–50) nm and major barriers associated with oral delivery are studied. Ultrasmall nanoparticles (<10 nm) rapidly diffuse through intestinal mucus, passively permeate intestinal epithelial cell layers, and are found in mouse urine after oral gavage. Together with earlier in vivo results, suggest these nanoparticles are promising candidates for oral administration.