Core-shell nanosystems designed for effective oral delivery of polypeptide drugs

The stomach acid degradation, mucus clearance and intestinal epithelial impermeability severely limit the oral delivery of polypeptide drugs. To simultaneously address the three major barriers, novel self-assembled core-shell nanosystems (CA-NPs) were designed. The fabricated shell of citric acid cross-linked carboxymethyl cellulose (CA-CMC) wrapped on core nanoparticles (HA-NPs) maintained the integrity of CA-NPs in the stomach. When CA-NPs passed through the stomach, the CA-CMC shell was gradually degraded to release the core HA-NPs in the intestine. HA-NPs with numerous hydrophilic groups and mannose side chains rapidly penetrated through the mucus layer and efficiently transcellular transported via the glucose transporter (GLUT)-mediated and paracellular transport through reversible opening of tight junctions (TJs) by CA-CMC. The oral bioavailability and therapeutic effects of CA-NPs-loaded polypeptide colistin against Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteremia in mice were significantly increased compared with the native colistin, respectively. Good safety was observed following oral daily delivery for 14 consecutive days. Thus, CA-NPs may offer a promising strategy for the oral delivery of polypeptide drugs.