Flowing through Gastrointestinal Barriers with Model Nanoparticles: From Complex Fluids to Model Human Intestinal Epithelium Permeation

Most nanomaterial-based medicines are intravenously appliedsinceoral administration comprises challenging-related biological obstacles,such as interactions with distinct digestive fluids and their transportthrough the intestinal barrier. Moreover, there is a lack of nanoparticle-basedstudies that faithfully consider the above-cited obstacles and boostoral-administered nanomedicines' rational design. In this study,the physicochemical stability of fluorescent model silica nanoparticles(f-SiO(2)NPs) passing through all simulated gastrointestinalfluids (salivary, gastric, and intestinal) and their absorption andtransport across a model human intestinal epithelium barrier are investigated.An aggregation/disaggregation f-SiO(2)NPs process is identified,although these particles remain chemically and physically stable afterexposure to digestive fluids. Further, fine imaging of f-SiO(2)NPs through the absorption and transport across the human intestinalepithelium indicates that nanoparticle transport is time-dependent.The above-presented protocol shows tremendous potential for decipheringfundamental gastrointestinal nanoparticles' evolution and cancontribute to rational oral administration-based nanomedicine design.