Zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) is a promising metalloporphyrin with sufficient potency, but has poor solubility and is not absorbed well orally. Intragastric administration of ZnPP microparticles (30 μmol/kg) to 3-day-old mice resulted in a twofold increase in potency and no signs of phototoxicity.
Conclusion: The use of polymeric particulate delivery systems can improve the stability and enhance intestinal absorption of ZnPP, while retaining HO inhibitory potency without photosensitising effects, and thus is potentially useful in treating neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.
Keywords: Bilirubin; Heme oxygenase; Metalloporphyrin; Neonatal jaundice; Phototoxicity.
©2014 Foundation Acta Paediatrica. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.