Chitosan-N-Acetyl Cysteine Conjugates: In Vitro Evaluation of Permeation Enhancing and P-Glycoprotein Inhibiting Properties

Abstract

This study evaluated three chitosan-N-acetyl cysteine (CAC) conjugates of increasing molecular mass as a valuable tool to improve the absorption of drugs by assessing its permeation enhancing effect regarding the active P-gp substrate rhodamine-123 in comparison to the trans- and paracellular marker FD 4 both in rat intestine and Caco 2 monolayers. Additional LDH and MTT cytotoxicity tests have attested a non-toxic profile to CAC, which can consequently be seen as a safe and promising novel drug carrier with the ability to enhance drug absorption and to inhibit P-gp efflux transporters.

Keywords :

• Chitosan-N-acetyl Cysteine
• Cytotoxicity
• FD 4
• P-gp
• Rhodamine 123