Application of carbon nanotubes as the carriers of the cannabinoid, 2-arachidonoylglycerol: Towards a novel treatment strategy in colitis

AimsTreatment of colitis has remained a major clinical challenge. The cannabinoid, 2-arachidonoyglycerol (2-AG), has shown beneficial effects in colitis, however, poor solubility or rapid hydrolysis may limit its efficiency. According to the high biocompatibility of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and their ability for controlled drug delivery, we aimed to prepare multi-walled CNTs-2-AG (MWCNTs-2-AG) complex in order to improve the pharmacological profile of 2-AG and evaluate the therapeutic potential of this nanocomplex in a rat model of colitis.Materials and methodsAminated MWCNTs-2-AG complex was prepared using acidified MWCNTs and then characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In vitro cytotoxicity of MWCNTs was evaluated. Colitis was induced by colonic instillation of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) and the effects of 2-AG solution and various types of MWCNTs on the colonic tissue damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress were evaluated.Key findingsAminated MWCNTs and MWCNTs-2-AG complex exhibited significantly lower cytotoxicity than acidified MWCNTs. Once daily intrarectal application of MWCNTs-2-AG complex (containing 2 mg/kg of 2-AG) 2 days before and 8 days after the induction of colitis effectively reduced the macroscopic and microscopic injuries, malondialdehyde, tumour necrosis factor-α, and interlukin-1β concentrations, and myeloperoxidase activity. While, free 2-AG (2 mg/kg), and acidified or aminated MWCNTs showed no beneficial effects.SignificanceAmino-functionalized MWCNTs appear as the suitable carriers for 2-AG which provide a sustained concentration for this cannabinoid leading to the promising therapeutic effects in the experimental colitis.