Development and In Vitro Evaluation of a Mucoadhesive Oral Deliverv System for Antisense Oliaonucleotides

It was the aim of this study to develop an oral phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide (PS-ODN) drug delivery system and to evaluate its properties in vitro. Results demonstrated that the 16-mer phosphorothioate oligonucleotide used was completely stable towards enzymatic degradation by secreted and membrane bound intestinal enzymes. Permeation studies with freshly excised intestinal mucosa showed a comparatively high uptake of the PS-ODN with an apparent permeability coefficient (P_app) of 8.35 ± 1.24 x 10^-6 cm/sec. The PS-ODN was incorporated in a poly(acrylic acid)-cysteine carrier matrix system exhibiting high cohesive and mucoadhesive properties. Release studies demonstrated that a controlled and sustained PS-ODN release out of this delivery system could be achieved. Because of these features, the dosage form developed within this study seems to represent a promising novel tool for oral PS-ODN delivery.