Gold Nanoparticles for Enhanced Skin Permeation of a Protein Drug

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the effect of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) stabilized by citrate ions (Ci-AuNPs) and chitosan (CS-AuNPs) on skin permeation of a protein drug, albumin-fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugate (FITC-BSA). Ci-AuNPs and CS-AuNPs were prepared by the Turkevich method and microwave-assisted method, respectively. The particle size, surface charge, and morphology of the AuNPs were investigated. The skin permeation study through the porcine skin, skin permeation pathway, and the safety of the AuNPs were examined using vertical Franz diffusion cells, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and MTT assay, respectively. AuNPs had a spherical shape with size ranging in a nano-scale (<100 nm). Ci-AuNPs exhibited negatively charged surfaces, while CS-AuNPs were positive. A co-delivery of FITC-BSA with CS-AuNPs showed approximately 3.5-fold greater permeability than the FITC-BSA alone. Interestingly, no significant improvement was observed from Ci-AuNPs co-delivery. The CLSM visualization suggested that the delivery of the model protein was enhanced through the transepidermal pathway. Furthermore, the CS-AuNPs presented no significant cytotoxicity toward normal human fibroblasts. Above all, the developed CS-AuNPs were proposed to be safe and effective nanosystem as a skin permeation enhancer for the transdermal delivery of proteins. Keywords: Gold nanoparticles, Chitosan, Skin permeation enhancer, Protein, Transdermal delivery