Biomacromolecules, Vol.16, No.8, 2282-2287, 2015
Nanocarrier for Oral Peptide Delivery Produced by Polyelectrolyte Complexation in Nanoconfinement
The hydrophilic peptide YY (PYY) is a promising hormone-based antiobesity drug. We present a new concept for the delivery of PYY from pH-responsive chitosan-based nanocarriers. To overcome the drawbacks while retaining the merits of the polyelectrol-yte complex (PEC) method, we propose a one-pot approach for the encapsulation of a hydrophilic peptide drug in cross-linked PEC nanocarriers. First, the hydrophilic peptide is encapsulated via polyelectrolyte complexation within water-in-oil miniemulsion droplets. In a second step, the PEC surface is reinforced by controlled interfacial cross-linking. PYY is efficiently encapsulated and released upon pH change. Such nanocarriers and, in general, for the oral delivery of protein drugs. are promising candidates for the fight against obesity