Within this study, a novel gastrointestinal patch system was developed and investigated regarding water-absorbing capacity, adhesive properties, in vitro release, unidirectional release and permeation enhancing effect. Water uptake studies revealed that the weight of patch systems with Ch-GSH increased about 44.5 +/- 2.3 mg (127%) after 90 min. This patch system remained even after 180 h on the mucosa and released 49.7 +/- 0.7% of FD(4) within 8 h. A 2.5-fold higher transport of FD(4) can be obtained in contrast to control. In conclusion this patch system could be an interesting possibility for the transport through the intestinal mucosa of macromolecules which will normally be degraded in the intestinal tract.

It was the aim of this study to synthesize and characterize a novel hyaluronic acid-cysteine ethyl ester (HA-Cys) conjugate providing improved mucoadhesive properties and a significantly lowered biodegradation rate. Mediated by carbodiimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide, l-cysteine ethyl ester hydrochloride was covalently attached to hyaluronic acid (HA, hyaluronan) via the formation of an amide bond. The adhesive properties of HA-Cys conjugates were evaluated in vitro on a freshly excised porcine mucosa via the rotating cylinder method. The cohesive properties of the resulting conjugates were evaluated by oxidation experiments. Biodegradability studies were carried out by viscosity measurements and spectrophotometric assays. Release studies were performed with fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextrans (FD) as model compounds. The obtained conjugate displayed 201.3+/-18.7mumol immobilized free thiol groups and 85.7+/-22.3mumol disulfide bonds per gram polymer. Results from the rotating cylinder method showed more than 6.5-fold increase in the adhesion time of HA-Cys versus unmodified HA. In aqueous solutions, the obtained conjugate demonstrated improved cohesive properties. The hydrolysis degree of HA-Cys was lower compared with the corresponding unmodified HA in the framework of viscosity experiments. In addition, the cross-linking process via disulfide bonds additionally reduced the rate of degradation of the new derivative. Cumulative release studies out of matrix tablets comprising HA-Cys and the model compound FD demonstrated a sustained drug release for more than 12h due to in situ formation of inter- and intramolecular disulfide bonds in the thiomer matrix. According to the results of the present study, this novel thiolated polymer seems to represent a promising multifunctional excipient for the development of various drug delivery systems.

The aim of this study was to examine the biodegradability of thiomers and cross-linked thiomers in comparison with unmodified polymers. Disulfide-cross-linked conjugates were prepared by air oxidation at room temperature. Thiomers were investigated by viscosity measurements and spectrophotometric assays. The influence of different factors on the hydrolysis rate, such as the degree of modification of thiomers, structure of the conjugates, pH value of the reaction medium, and the impact of the process of cross-linking were evaluated. Due to the modification, thiolated chitosans degraded 12.9-24.7% less than unmodified chitosan in the framework of viscosity measurements. In addition, the hydrolysis degree of thiolated alginates and modified carboxymethylcelluloses was 25.6-32.4% and 18.4-27.0% lower, respectively, in comparison to the corresponding unmodified polymers. Conjugates with higher coupling rate of thiol groups were degraded even more slowly. Moreover, the cross-linking process via disulfide bonds additionally reduced the rate of thiomer degradation. The range of degradation rates achieved in vitro could be modified by alterations of the contents of thiol and disulfide groups, as well as by suitable design of the polymer structure and ligands used. These results represent helpful basic information for the development of mucoadhesive drug delivery systems, implantable delivery systems and tissue engineering constructs.

It was the aim of this study to investigate the effect of chitosan-4-thiobutylamidine (Ch-TBA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) on the absorption of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and multidrug resistance protein (MRP) substrate saquinavir in vitro and in vivo. Bidirectional transport studies were performed with Caco-2 cell monolayers and additionally with freshly excised rat small intestinal mucosa mounted in Ussing type chambers. Furthermore, a delivery system based on Ch-TBA and GSH was evaluated in vivo in rats. The functional activity of the efflux pumps in Caco-2 cells and rat intestinal mucosa during the experiment was proven by the efflux ratio of saquinavir, which was 6.4 for Caco-2 cells and 2.1 for rat intestinal mucosa, respectively. Ch-TBA and particularly the combination of Ch-TBA with GSH enhanced apical (AP) absorption and decreased the secretory transport of saquinavir. In presence of 0.5% Ch-TBA and 0.5% GSH, the uptake of saquinavir was 1.6-fold improved in Caco-2 monolayer and 2.1-fold improved in rat intestinal mucosa. In vivo, the area under the plasma concentration time curve (AUC) of saquinavir was 1.4-fold and Cmax 1.6-fold increased, in comparison with control. Results of this study showed that Ch-TBA in combination with GSH can be an interesting tool for increasing the oral bioavailability of actively secreted compounds.

This study was aimed at improving certain properties of pectin by introduction of thiol moieties on the polymer. Thiolated pectin was synthesized by covalent attachment of cysteine. Pectin-cysteine conjugate was evaluated for its ability to be degraded by pectinolytic enzyme. The toxicity profile of the thiolated polymer in Caco-2-cells, its permeation enhancing effect and its mucoadhesive and swelling properties were studied. Moreover insulin-loaded hydrogel beads of the new polymer were examined for their stability in simulated gastrointestinal conditions and their drug release profile. The new polymer displayed 892.27+/-68.68 mumol thiol groups immobilized per g polymer, and proved to have retained its biodegradability, upon addition of Pectinex Ultra SPL in-vitro, determined by viscosity measurements and titration method. Pectin-cysteine showed no severe toxicity in Caco-2 cells, as tested by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays. Moreover, the synthesized polymer exhibited a relative permeation enhancement ratio of 1.61 for sodium fluorescein, compared to unmodified pectin. Pectin-cysteine conjugate exhibited approximately 5-fold increased in in-vitro adhesion duration and significantly improved cohesive properties. Zinc pectin-cysteine beads showed improved stability in simulated gastrointestinal media; however, insulin release from these beads followed the same profile as unmodified zinc pectinate beads. Due to favourable safety and biodegradability profile, and improved cohesive and permeation-enhancing properties, pectin-cysteine might be a promising excipient in various transmucosal drug delivery systems.

Cystine-knot microproteins exhibit several properties that make them highly interesting as scaffolds for oral peptide drug delivery. It was therefore the aim of the study to evaluate the novel clinically relevant cystine-knot microprotein McoEeTI regarding its potential for oral delivery. Additionally, based on the gained results, important features of McoEeTI were improved. Enzymatic degradation was caused by chymotrypsin, trypsin and porcine small intestinal juice whereas McoEeTI was stable towards elastase, membrane bound proteases, pepsin and porcine gastric juice. Only minor McoEeTI degradation was observed during a 24h incubation period in rat plasma. In the presence of various physiological ions about 50% of McoEeTI formed di- and/or trimers. P(app) value of McoEeTI was determined to be (7.4+/-0.4)x10(-6)cm/s. Sodium caprate and polycarbophil-cysteine (PCP-Cys) had no beneficial effect on McoEeTI permeation, whereas the utilization of a chitosan-thiobutylamidine (Chito-TBA) system improved McoEeTI permeation 3-fold. Enzymatic stability could be strongly improved by the utilization of Bowman-Birk-Inhibitor (BBI) as well as PCP-Cys. In conclusion, this study indicates that McoEeTI represents a promising candidate as a novel scaffold for oral peptide drug delivery.

Several polymers have been reported to modulate drug absorption by inhibition of intestinal P-glycoprotein (P-gp). The aim of the present study was to provide a direct in vivo comparison of delivery systems based on Pluronic P85, Myrj 52 and chitosan-4-thiobutylamidine (Ch-TBA) in vivo in rats, using rhodamine-123 (Rho-123) as representative P-gp substrate. Furthermore, the postulated low molecular mass P-gp inhibitors 6-mercaptopurine and reduced glutathione (GSH) were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, the permeation enhancing effect of 6-mercaptopurine, GSH, Pluronic P85, Myrj 52, and the combination of Ch-TBA with GSH was evaluated by using freshly excised rat intestinal mucosa mounted in Ussing-type diffusion chambers. In comparison to buffer only, Rho-123 transport in presence of 100mum 6-mercaptopurine, 0.5%(w/v) GSH, 0.5%(w/v) Pluronic P85, 0.5%(w/v) Myrj 52 and the combination of 0.5%(w/v) Ch-TBA/ 0.5%(w/v) GSH, was 2.1, 1.6, 1.9, 1.8, 3.0-fold improved, respectively. In vivo in rat, enteric-coated tablets based on Pluronic P85, Myrj 52 or Ch-TBA/GSH increased the area under the plasma concentration time curve (AUC(0-12)) of Rho-123 1.6-fold, 2.4-fold, 4.3-fold, respectively, in comparison to control only. Contrariwise, the low molecular mass excipients 6-mercaptopurine and GSH showed no significant effect in vivo at all. This in vivo study showed that polymeric P-gp inhibitors and especially the delivery system based on thiolated chitosan significantly increased the oral bioavailability of P-gp substrate Rho-123.

In recent years thiolated polymers (thiomers) have appeared as a promising new tool in oral drug delivery. Thiomers are obtained by the immobilisation of thio-bearing ligands to mucoadhesive polymeric excipients. By the formation of disulfide bonds with mucus glycoproteins, the mucoadhesive properties of thiomers are up to 130-fold improved compared with the corresponding unmodified polymers. Owing to the formation of inter- and intramolecular disulfide bonds within the thiomer itself, matrix tablets and particulate delivery systems show strong cohesive properties, resulting in comparatively higher stability, prolonged disintegration times and a more controlled drug release. The permeation of hydrophilic macromolecular drugs through the gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa can be improved by the use of thiomers. Furthermore, some thiomers exhibit improved inhibitory properties towards GI peptidases. The efficacy of thiomers in oral drug delivery has been demonstrated by various in vivo studies. A pharmacological efficacy of 1%, for example, was achieved in rats by oral administration of calcitonin tablets comprising a thiomer. Furthermore, tablets comprising a thiomer and pegylated insulin resulted in a pharmacological efficacy of 7% after oral application to diabetic mice. Low-molecular-weight heparin embedded in thiolated polycarbophil led to an absolute bioavailability of >/= 20% after oral administration to rats. In these studies, formulations comprising the corresponding unmodified polymer had only a marginal or no effect. These results indicate drug carrier systems based on thiomers appear to be a promising tool for oral delivery of hydrophilic macromolecular drugs.

PURPOSE: It was the aim of this study to synthesize and characterize a novel chitosan-glutathione (GSH) conjugate providing improved mucoadhesive and permeation-enhancing properties. METHODS: Mediated by carbodiimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide, glutathione was covalently attached to chitosan via the formation of an amide bond. The adhesive properties of chitosan-GSH conjugate were evaluated in vitro on freshly excised porcine mucosa via tensile studies and the rotating cylinder method. The cohesive properties and stability of the resulting conjugate were evaluated by disintegration test and by oxidation experiments, respectively. The permeation-enhancing effect of the chitosan-GSH/GSH system was evaluated in Ussing chambers by using rhodamine 123 as model compound. RESULTS: The obtained conjugate displayed 265.5 mumol immobilized free thiol groups and 397.9 micromol disulfide bonds per gram polymer. Because of the formation of disulfide bonds within the polymer, the stability of matrix tablets could be strongly improved. In tensile studies, the total work of adhesion of the conjugate was determined to be 9.9-fold increased in comparison to unmodified chitosan. Results from the rotating cylinder method showed more than 55-fold increase in the adhesion time of thiolated chitosan vs. unmodified chitosan. In addition, the conjugate in combination with GSH displayed a 4.9-fold higher permeation-enhancing effect compared with unmodified chitosan. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the improved mucoadhesive and cohesive properties, and the strong permeation-enhancing effect of the chitosan-GSH conjugate/GSH system, the novel thiolated chitosan seems to represent a promising multifunctional excipient for various drug delivery systems.

The aim of this study was to establish improved reaction conditions for the synthesis of chitosan-thioethylamidine (Ch-TEA) conjugate and to evaluate the properties of the obtained Ch-TEA conjugate. The influence of different factors on the coupling reaction, such as concentration of chitosan solution, employment of reducing agent and deprotection of S-acetyl groups, was evaluated. The cohesive properties and stability of the obtained conjugate were evaluated by disintegration test and by oxidation experiments, respectively. The adhesive properties of Ch-TEA conjugate were evaluated in vitro on freshly excised porcine mucosa via tensile studies and the rotating cylinder method. The permeation-enhancing effect of Ch-TEA conjugate was evaluated in Ussing-type chambers by using rhodamine 123 as model compound. The resulting conjugate displayed 225 micromol immobilized free thiol groups and 102 micromol disulfide bonds per gram polymer. The degree of modification depends mostly on the chitosan concentration employed and the deprotection of S-acetyl groups with hydroxylamine. During oxidation studies the amount of thiol groups decreased by 61%. Disintegration studies of tablets comprising Ch-TEA demonstrated stability for 48 h. In tensile studies, the total work of adhesion of the conjugate was determined to be 5.1-fold increased in comparison to unmodified chitosan. Results from the rotating cylinder method showed more than a 13-fold increase in the adhesion time of thiolated chitosan versus unmodified chitosan. The apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) of the system 0.5%(w/v) Ch-TEA conjugate with 5%(w/v) glutathione was calculated to be 5.35 x 10(-8)cm/s, while the Papp value of the system 0.5%(w/v) unmodified chitosan was 1.73 x 10(-8)cm/s. These features should render Ch-TEA useful as an excipient for various drug delivery systems.