POLYDOPAMINE NANOPARTICLES AS A MUCOPENETRATIVE DRUG DELIVERY NANOCARRIER FOR BLADDER CANCER TREATMENT

Abstract

Urine voiding and the mucus layer on the urothelium surface are the main challenges for intravesical drug delivery. This results in low drug permeability and a high recurrence rate. We believe that mucopenetrative particles could potentially solve the clinical challenge and enhance drug uptake. In this study, we developed a biocompatible mucopenetrative nanoparticle loaded with a photosensitizer drug for dual combination therapy.

Interest in polydopamine (PDA) stems from their hydrophilic and zwitterionic properties as well as their ability for photothermal therapy (PTT) upon laser irradiation. We observed that PDA did not actively interact with the mucus and enabled mucopenetration. In addition, we successfully developed a facile two-step method which does not require the use of core templates to load a hydrophobic photosensitizer drug capable of photodynamic therapy (PDT) within PDA nanoparticles while maintaining the intrinsic surface properties of PDA for mucopenetration. Furthermore, integrity of the bladder surface was maintained in the presence of PDA nanoparticles. These results encourage further development of PDA surfaces nanoparticles as mucopenetrative drug carriers for improved drug and gene delivery to mucosal surfaces.