Synthesis, physicochemical characterisation and biological activity of anandamide/ɛ-polycaprolactone nanoparticles obtained by electrospraying

IET Nanobiotechnol. 2020 Feb;14(1):86-93. doi: 10.1049/iet-nbt.2019.0108.

Abstract

Drug encapsulation in nanocarriers such as polymeric nanoparticles (Nps) may help to overcome the limitations associated with cannabinoids. In this study, the authors' work aimed to highlight the use of electrospraying techniques for the development of carrier Nps of anandamide (AEA), an endocannabinoid with attractive pharmacological effects but underestimated due to its unfavourable physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties added to its undesirable effects at the level of the central nervous system. The authors characterised physicochemically and evaluated in vitro biological activity of anandamide/ɛ-polycaprolactone nanoparticles (Nps-AEA/PCL) obtained by electrospraying in epithelial cells of the human proximal tubule (HK2), to prove the utility of this method and to validate the biological effect of Nps-AEA/PCL. They obtained particles from 100 to 900 nm of diameter with a predominance of 200-400 nm. Their zeta potential was -20 ± 1.86 mV. They demonstrated the stable encapsulation of AEA in Nps-AEA/PCL, as well as its dose-dependent capacity to induce the expression of iNOS and NO levels and to decrease the Na+/K+ ATPase activity in HK2 cells. Obtaining Nps-AEA/PCL by electrospraying would represent a promising methodology for a novel AEA pharmaceutical formulation development with optimal physicochemical properties, physical stability and biological activity on HK2 cells.

MeSH terms

  • Arachidonic Acids / chemistry*
  • Arachidonic Acids / pharmacology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chemical Phenomena
  • Drug Stability
  • Electrochemical Techniques
  • Endocannabinoids / chemistry*
  • Endocannabinoids / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / toxicity
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • Polyesters / chemistry*
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides / chemistry*
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides / pharmacology
  • Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / metabolism

Substances

  • Arachidonic Acids
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Polyesters
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides
  • polycaprolactone
  • Nitric Oxide
  • NOS2 protein, human
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase
  • anandamide