Mucopenetration study of solid lipid nanoparticles containing magneto sensitive iron oxide

n most chronic respiratory diseases, excessive viscous airway secretions oppose a formidable permeation barrier to drug delivery systems (DDSs), with a limit to their therapeutic efficacy for the targeting epithelium. Since mucopenetration of DDSs with slippery technology (i.e. PEGylation) has encountered a reduction in the presence of sticky and complex airway secretions, our aim was to evaluate the relevance of magnetic PEGylated Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (mSLNs) for pulling them through chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) airway secre tions. Thus, COPD sputum from outpatient clinic, respiratory secretions aspirated from high (HI) and low (LO) airways of COPD patients in acute respiratory insufficiency, and porcine gastric mucus (PGM) were investigated for their permeability to mSLN particles under a magnetic field. Rheological tests and mSLN adhesion to airway epithelial cells (AECs) were also investigated. The results of mucopenetration show that mSLNs are permeable both in COPD sputum and in PGM, while HI and LO secretions are always impervious. Parallel rheological results show a different elastic property, which can be associated with different mucus mesostructures. Finally, adhesion tests confirm the role of the magnetic field in improving the interaction of SLNs with AECs. Overall, our results reveal that mesostructure is of paramount importance in determining the mucopenetration of magnetic SLNs.