Polysaccharide nanogel delivery of a TNF-α and RANKL antagonist peptide allows systemic prevention of bone loss

We report here a nanogel-mediated peptide drug delivery system. Low stability is a major drawback towards clinical application of peptide drugs. The W9-peptide, a TNF-alpha and RANKL antagonist, was used as a model for testing the feasibility of cholesterol-bearing pullulan (CHP)-nanogel as the drug delivery system. We found CHP-nanogel could form complex with the W9-peptide and prevents its aggregation in vitro. Murine bone resorption model using low dietary calcium was used to investigate the in vivo effect. Two-time-injection of 24 mg/kg W9-peptide per day with or without CHP-nanogel was given for 7 days. Thereafter, radiological, and histological assessments were performed. The injections of the W9-peptide (24 mg/kg) with CHP-nanogel prevented the reduction in bone mineral density whereas the same dose without CHP-nanogel could not show any inhibitory effect. Histomorphometric analysis of tibiae showed significant decrease of osteoclast number and surface in CHP-W9 complex treated group and the levels of urinary deoxypyridinoline reflected these decrease of bone resorption parameters. Taken together these data shows that CHP-nanogel worked as a suitable carrier for the W9-peptide and it prevented aggregation and increased the stability of the W9-peptide. This study reveals the feasibility of CHP-nanogel-mediated peptide delivery in preventing bone resorption in vivo. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V.