Self-assembled membrane-polymer nanoparticles of top-notch tissue tolerance for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Abstract

Controlled release technology has continuously attracted attention as a strategy to deliver active agents to specific internal body regions with attendant cost-effectiveness among other intriguing merits. Here, drug-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized for ultimate application in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), leveraging the benefits of controlled release strategy. To achieve this, eggshell membranes (ESMs) were extracted and combined with chitosan (CHS) to rationally obtain self-assembled CHS–ESM NPs that served as a novel nanocarrier to effectively compartmentalize a GERD-therapeutic drug famotidine (FTD) and form self-assembled FTD@CHS–ESM NPs. Advantageously, the proof-of-concept FTD@CHS–ESM NPs offer superlative tissue tolerance. The cumulative FTD release is 89% after 12 h at pH 1.2, suggesting the capability of FTD@CHS–ESM NPs for effectual controlled drug release; a testimonial of the effective compartmentalization of FTD in the nanocarrier. Furthermore, the release of FTD from the FTD@CHS–ESM NPs is best described by Higuchi square root model, in a non-Fickian diffusional release mechanism (n\u2009=\u20090.584 and 0.582 in pH 1.2 and pH 6.8, respectively). The drug release system demonstrated in this work, therefore, holds strong promise for the oral nanomedical treatment of GERD in vivo, and promotes the rational synthesis of organic-based biocompatible nanomaterials for biomedical application.