Sublingual β-Glucan/Vitamin C-loaded nanoparticle-embedded polyethylene oxide nanofibrous mats

Abstract

Nutritional supplements available in various forms provide the consumer with essential molecules demanded for well-being retention. Despite the conveniences provided by oral administration, significant disadvantages such as hepatic first-pass effect, limited absorption, and age-related swallowing problems have been recognized which should be addressed appropriately. Nano-sized biomaterials, which have recently gained popularity in numerous medical fields, have the potential to resolve these problems. In this study, a drug delivery system was designed for sublingual administration and fabricated as β-glucan/vitamin C-loaded chitosan/tripolyphosphate/poly vinylpyrrolidone (CS/TPP/PVP) nanoparticles (DNPs) embedded in polyethylene oxide (PEO) nanofibrous mats (DNFs). The optimum PNP size and DNP size for sublingual administration were obtained as 236 ± 1 nm and 257 ± 1 nm, respectively. The homogenous appearance of DNFs was demonstrated and measured as 783 ± 290 nm using scanning electron microscopy. The synthesized biomaterials were analyzed chemically, 3D-wisely, and thermally. The in vitro drug release kinetics investigation concluded that the sustained drug release of DNP over 15 days proceeded based on the first-order model, and 99.30 % of vitamin C and 99.70 % of β-glucan were released. Neither pure nor drug-loaded samples showed notable cytotoxicity in the 24-h 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol 2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in the L929 cell line. Herein, it has been comprehended that DNF nutritional supplement can be a promising novel supplement dosage form with ease of use, high efficiency, and bioavailability than the conventional methods.