Nanocomposites-Based Targeted Oral Drug Delivery Systems with Infliximab in a Murine Colitis Model

Abstract

Infliximab (IFX), a TNF-α blocking chimeric monoclonal antibody, induces clinical response and mucosal healing in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, systemic administration of this agent causes unwanted side effects. Oral delivery of antibody therapeutics might be an effective treatment strategy for IBD compared to intravenous administration. We developed a colon-specific drug delivery system for the oral administration of IFX using ternary nanocomposite carriers. Nanocomposite carriers consisting of liposomes, aminoclay-coated liposomes (AC-L), Eudragit S100 AC-L (EAC-L) or those carrying IFX (IFX-L, AC-IFX-L, and EAC-IFX-L) were orally administered to mice with dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. We evaluated the effects of nanocomposite carriers on lymphocytes and monocytes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of IBD patients. We studied the therapeutic effects of the nanocomposites themselves and nanocomposites with IFX at target sites in vivo and in vitro . All three carriers had a high encapsulation efficiency, narrow size distribution, and minimal systemic exposure. There was a higher interaction between nanocomposite carriers and monocytes compared to lymphocytes in the PBMC of IBD patients. Orally administered nanocomposite carriers targeted to inflamed colitis minimized systemic exposure. All IFX delivery formulations with nanocomposite carriers had a significantly less colitis-induced body weight loss, colon shortening and histomorphological score, compared to the DSS-treated group. AC-IFX-L and EAC-IFX-L groups showed significantly higher improvement of the disease activity index, compared to the DSS-treated group. In addition, AC-IFX-L and EAC-IFX-L alleviated pro-inflammatory cytokine expressions ( Tnfa , Il1b , and Il17 ). We present orally administered antibody delivery systems which improved efficacy in murine colitis while reducing systemic exposure. These oral delivery systems suggest a promising therapeutic approach for treating IBD.