Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1424011 Journal of Controlled Release 2014 11 Pages PDF
Abstract

To date, the role of nanoparticle surface hydrophobicity has not been investigated quantitatively in relation to pulmonary biocompatibility. A panel of nanoparticles spanning three different biomaterial types, pegylated lipid nanocapsules, polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) and polystyrene nanoparticles, were characterized for size, surface charge, and stability in biofluids. Surface hydrophobicity of five nanoparticles (50–150 nm) was quantified using hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) and classified using a purpose-developed hydrophobicity scale: the HIC index, range from 0.00 (hydrophilic) to 1.00 (hydrophobic). This enabled the relationship between the nanomaterial HIC index value and acute lung inflammation after pulmonary administration to mice to be investigated. The nanomaterials with low HIC index values (between 0.50 and 0.64) elicited little or no inflammation at low (22 cm2) or high (220 cm2) nanoparticle surface area doses per animal, whereas equivalent surface area doses of the two nanoparticles with high HIC index values (0.88–0.96) induced neutrophil infiltration, elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and adverse histopathology findings. In summary, a HIC index is reported that provides a versatile, discriminatory, and widely available measure of nanoparticle surface hydrophobicity. The avoidance of high (HIC index > ~ 0.8) surface hydrophobicity appears to be important for the design of safe nanomedicines for inhalation therapy.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (108 K)Download as PowerPoint slide

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Materials Science Biomaterials
Authors
, , , , , , , , , ,