Journal of Modern Biotechnology Research

In oral drug administration, nano drug delivery systems possess excellent potential in various aspects including promoting drug stability and improving oral bioavailability. The ability of nano-drug delivery systems to penetrate oral absorption barrier is closely related to their size, charge, shape, and relevant properties. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles have been extensively studied in oral drug delivery. To explore the influence of sizes, charges, and shapes of PLGA nanoparticle on their ability to cross the intestinal barrier, emulsion solvent evaporation and film-stretching methods were employed to prepare PLGA nanoparticles with the aforementioned properties. Their particle size, zeta potential, morphology, storage stability, and fluorescence leakage in simulated mucus were verified, and their ability to cross simulated mucus layer and their cellular uptake capacity in Caco-2 cells were evaluated in vitro. The PLGA nanoparticles exhibited the aforementioned different properties, along with good storage stability and negligible fluorescence leakage. The ability to cross the mucus layer and the cellular uptake capacity are directly related to these properties. Size, charge, and shape are important parameters in the design of nanoparticles, and relevant research could provide information for the rational design of oral nanoparticles.

Oral administration; PLGA nanoparticles; Particle size; Electric charge; Shape