MODIFICATION OF THE BODY DISTRIBUTION OF POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE) NANOPARTICLES IN RATS BY COATING WITH SURFACTANTS

The body distribution of surfactant-coated and non-coated poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles with a size of 131 ± 30 nm was determined in rats. A series of poloxamers/poloxamines, polysorbates as well as polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35) were tested. No direct correlation was found between the body distribution pattern obtained and the contact angles of the surfactant solutions on PMMA. Nevertheless, all surfactants reduced the liver accumulation and increased the uptake in other parts of the body. Poloxamer 338 and poloxamine 908 were especially effective in reducing the liver uptake to a value of below 30% of the dose and maintaining significantly higher blood levels up to an increase factor of 103 for up to 6 h. The experiments also showed that spleen uptake is not a result of liver spillover because spleen concentrations reached values up to 50% of the total dose whereas at the same time only 25% was found in the liver. The uptake of nanoparticles in non-RES organs such as heart, GI tract, ovary, kidneys, muscles and brain was significantly increased with all surfactants. © 1990.