Drugs and gene carrier particles that rapidly move through mucous barriers
The invention generally relates to polymeric particles suitable for transporting bioactive agents across mucosal barriers. The invention also relates to methods of making and using those polymeric particles.
1. A polymeric particle comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable polymer core, a bioactive agent, and a surface-altering agent disposed on the surface of the core, wherein the surface-altering agent enhances the average rate at which the particle moves in mucus by at least 5-fold compared to the same particle except without a surface-altering agent disposed on the surface,
wherein the surface-altering agent reduces the overall charge on the surface of the polymeric particle and enhances the hydrophilicity of the surface of the polymeric particle compared to the same particle except without a surface-altering agent disposed on the surface,
wherein the surface-altering agent comprises polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 2-3kDa, and
wherein the polymeric particle is less than about 1 micron in diameter.
2. The polymeric particle of claim 1 , wherein the bioactive agent is encapsulated in the polymer core.
3. The polymeric particle of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable polymer core comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of: a poly (D,L-lactic-co-glycolic) acid, polyethylenimine, dioleyltrimethylammoniumpropane/dioleyl -sn-glycerolphosphoethanolamine, poly(anhydrides), and a polymer formed from clinically approved monomers.
4. The polymeric particle of claim 1 , wherein the bioactive agent is a therapeutic agent or an imaging agent.
5. The polymeric particle of claim 4 , wherein the therapeutic agent is a DNA, an RNA, a small molecule, a peptidomimetic, or a protein.
6. The polymeric particle of claim 1 , wherein the bioactive agent is a diagnostic agent.
7. The polymeric particle of claim 4 , wherein the imaging agent further comprises a detectable label.
8. The polymeric particle of claim 1 further comprising an adjuvant.
9. The polymeric particle of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric particle is less than 200nm in diameter.
10. The polymeric particle of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric particle passes through mucus at a greater rate than a polystyrene particle of the same size.
11. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the polymeric particle of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
12. An inhaler comprising the polymeric particle of claim 1 .
13. The polymeric particle of claim 1 , wherein the average rate at which the particle moves in mucus is at least 10-fold greater than the rate of the same particle except without the surface-altering agent disposed on the surface.
14. The polymeric particle of claim 1 , wherein the polyethylene glycol has a molecular weight of about 2 kDa.
15. The polymeric particle of claim 1 , wherein the polyethylene glycol has a molecular weight of about 3 kDa.
16. The polymeric particle of claim 1 , wherein the polyethylene glycol is attached to polyethyleneimine (PEI).
17. The polymeric particle of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric particle is less than about 500 nm in diameter.
18. A particle comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable core, a bioactive agent, and a surface-altering agent disposed on the surface of the core, wherein the surface-altering agent enhances the average rate at which the particle moves in mucus by at least 5-fold compared to the same particle except without a surface-altering agent disposed on the surface,
wherein the surface-altering agent reduces the overall charge on the surface of the particle and enhances the hydrophilicity of the surface of the particle compared to the same particle except without a surface-altering agent disposed on the surface,
wherein the surface-altering agent comprises polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 2-3 kDa, and
wherein the particle is less than about 1 micron in diameter.
19. The particle of claim 18 , wherein the bioactive agent is encapsulated in the core.
20. The particle of claim 18 , wherein the average rate at which the particle moves in mucus is at least 10-fold greater than the rate of the same particle except without the surface-altering agent disposed on the surface.
21. The particle of claim 18 , wherein the bioactive agent is a DNA, a RNA, a small molecule, a peptidometic, or a protein.
22. The particle of claim 18 , wherein the bioactive agent comprises a siRNA.
23. The particle of claim 18 , wherein the polyethylene glycol has a molecular weight of about 2 kDa.
24. The particle of claim 18 , wherein the polyethylene glycol has a molecular weight of about 3 kDa.
25. The particle of claim 18 , wherein the polyethylene glycol is attached to polyethyleneimine (PEI).
26. The particle of claim 18 , wherein the particle is less than about 500nm in diameter.
27. The particle of claim 18 , wherein the particle is less than about 200nm in diameter.
28. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the particle of claim 18 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.