Abstract
In the previous study, we have clarified how the hydrophilic and hydrophobic structures of amphiphilic polymers impact the transport of their micelles (PEEP-PCL, PEG-PCL and PEG-DSPE micelles) in epithelial MDCK cells (Biomaterials 2013, 34: 6284-6298). In this study, we attempt to clarify the behavior of the three micelles in rats. Coumarin-6 loaded micelles were injected into different sections of intestine of rats and observed by confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) or orally administrated and conducted pharmacokinetic study. All of the three kinds of micelles were able to cross the intestinal epithelial cells and enter blood circulation. The PEEP-PCL micelles demonstrated the fastest distribution mainly in duodenum, while the PEGDSPE micelles showed the longest distribution with the highest proportion in ileum of the three. No significant difference was observed among the pharmacokinetic parameters of the three micelles. The results were consistent in the two analysis methods mentioned above, yet there were some differences between in vivo and in vitro results reported previously. It might be the distinction between the environments in MDCK model and intestine that led to the discrepancy. The hydrophobicity of nanoparticles could both enhance uptake and hinder the transport across the mucus. However, there was no intact mucus in MDCK model, which preferred hydrophobic nanoparticles. PEEP was the most hydrophilic material constructing the micelles in the study and its uptake would be increased in rats compared to that in MDCK model, while DSPE was more hydrophobic than the others and MDCK model would be more ideal for its uptake. Considering the inconsistency of the results in the two models, whether the methods researchers were generally using at present were reasonable needs further investigation.
Keywords: Amphiphilic micelles, hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity, in vivo, pharmacokinetic, transport.
Graphical Abstract