Characterisation of the Interaction among Oil-In-Water Nanocapsules and Mucin

Abstract

Mucins are glycoproteins present in all mucosal surfaces and in secretions such as saliva. Mucins are involved in the mucoadhesion of nanodevices carrying bioactive molecules to their target sites in vivo. Oil-in-water nanocapsules (NCs) have been synthesised for carrying N,N′-(di-m-methylphenyl)urea (DMTU), a quorum-sensing inhibitor, to the oral cavity. DMTU-loaded NCs constitute an alternative for the treatment of plaque (bacterial biofilm). In this work, the stability of the NCs after their interaction with mucin is analysed. Mucin type III from Sigma-Aldrich has been used as the mucin model. Mucin and NCs were characterised by the multi-detection asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation technique (AF4). Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and ζ-potential analyses were carried out to characterise the interaction between mucin and NCs. According to the results, loading DMTU changes the conformation of the NC. It was also found that the synergistic interaction between mucin and NCs was favoured within a specific range of the mucin:NC ratio within the first 24 h. Studies on the release of DMTU in vitro and the microbial activity of such NCs are ongoing in our lab.

Preparation and Evaluation of Charge Reversal Solid Lipid Nanoparticles

“…Thus, charge reversal SLN were incubated in the presence and absence of IAP with mucins and the z-average as well as the zeta potential were determined at the B initial time point and after 4 h. As shown in Figure 4, the z-average of the SLN and mucins mixture was 190 nm at the beginning and increased in presence of IAP to 2500 nm after 4 h. No significant change in z-average was observed in mixtures of SLN and mucins without IAP as well as SLN and IAP (p > 0.05) underlining sufficient repulsion between anionic charged SLN and mucins as well as stability of SLN during charge reversion, respectively. The z-average of mucin control samples was within the range of reported hydrodynamic radii throughout the investigated time period [43,44]. Hence, the cationic charge of SLN after IAP induced charge reversion most likely resulted in interactions between SLN and mucins.…”

Biomimetic Nanotechnology Vol. 2

“…The nanostructures can additionally be coated with substances such as chitosan, that react electrostatically with bacterial membranes, providing additional antibacterial activity. In their research article “Characterisation of the interaction among oil-in-water nanocapsules and mucin” [ 6 ], a multinational author team from the University of Leeds (UK) investigate a potential new treatment against biofilms that consists of oil-in-water nanocapsules that are coated with chitosan, and loaded with a quorum-sensing inhibitor. The group analyses the interaction with mucin molecules (in a concentration that is comparable to the one in saliva) and the stability of the nanocapsules via dynamic light scattering and asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation.…”