Transferrin- and transferrin-receptor-antibody-modified nanoparticles enable drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier (BBB)

Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2009 Feb;71(2):251-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2008.08.021. Epub 2008 Sep 5.

Abstract

Human serum albumin (HSA) nanoparticles were manufactured by desolvation. Transferrin or transferrin receptor monoclonal antibodies (OX26 or R17217) were covalently coupled to the HSA nanoparticles using the NHS-PEG-MAL-5000 crosslinker. Loperamide was used as a model drug since it normally does not cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and was bound to the nanoparticles by adsorption. Loperamide-loaded HSA nanoparticles with covalently bound transferrin or the OX26 or R17217 antibodies induced significant anti-nociceptive effects in the tail-flick test in ICR (CD-1) mice after intravenous injection, demonstrating that transferrin or these antibodies covalently coupled to HSA nanoparticles are able to transport loperamide and possibly other drugs across the BBB. Control loperamide-loaded HSA nanoparticles with IgG2a antibodies yielded only marginal effects.

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics / administration & dosage
  • Analgesics / pharmacokinetics
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / chemistry*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Biological Transport
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / chemistry
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Loperamide / administration & dosage
  • Loperamide / pharmacokinetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Nanoparticles*
  • Pain / drug therapy
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry
  • Receptors, Transferrin / immunology
  • Serum Albumin / chemistry
  • Transferrin / chemistry

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Receptors, Transferrin
  • Serum Albumin
  • Transferrin
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Loperamide