In vitro evaluation of a protective nasal spray: Measurements of mucoadhesion and reconstructive barrier properties towards a tracheobronchial reconstruct

Upper respiratory tract infections represent a common acute illness. Inflammation due to local infections could be managed by mucosal protection due to mechanical barrier. This strategy represents an innovative approach other than pharmacological treatment, which may concur to reduced antibiotic use.A disrupted barrier could be restored by application of substances interacting with the mucus layer that covers the mucosa and exert intrinsic barrier properties.Aim of the present paper was to evaluate the restoration of a barrier disrupted by inflammation, by means of a medical device designed for nasal application (nasal spray, NS formulation). The NS components were characterized by means of metabolomic analysis. NS formulation was characterized for mucoadhesion by an inclined plane method. Its barrier properties were assayed towards inflamed EpiAirway™ (MatTek Corporation, Ashland, USA), a 3D organotypic substrate exposed to interleukin 13 (IL-13), to induce goblet cell inflammation, a condition common in the pathogenesis of upper airway diseases. NS formulation showed good mucoadhesion and biocompatibility towards EpiAirway. It was able to restore epithelial integrity and the native and physiological barrier properties. Histological analysis confirmed the capability of NS formulation to reestablish barrier properties of cell substrates.

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