1: J Control Release. 2007 Apr 23;118(3):294-302. Epub 2006 Dec 29. Helodermin-loaded nanoparticles: Characterization and transport across an in vitro model of the follicle-associated epithelium. des Rieux A, Fievez V, Momtaz M, Detrembleur C, Alonso-Sande M, Van Gelder J, Cauvin A, Schneider YJ, Preat V. Unite de Pharmacie Galenique, Universite catholique de Louvain, Avenue E. Mounier, 73-20, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; Laboratoire de Biochimie cellulaire, Institut des Sciences de la Vie, Universite catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud, 5, 1348 Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium. M cells represent a potential portal for oral delivery of peptides and proteins due to their high endocytosis abilities. An in vitro model of human FAE (co-cultures) was used to evaluate the influence of M cells on the transport of free and encapsulated helodermin - a model peptide - across the intestinal epithelium. M cells enhanced transport of intact helodermin (18-fold, Papp=3x10(-6) cm s(-1)). As pegylation increased nanoparticle transport by M cells, helodermin was encapsulated in 200 nm nanoparticles containing PEG-b-PLA:PLGA 1:1. Stability of the selected formulation was demonstrated in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. M cells increased the transport of helodermin encapsulated in these nanoparticles by a factor of 415, as compared to Caco-2 cells. Transport of free and encapsulated helodermin occurred most probably by endocytosis. In conclusion, M cells improved helodermin transport across the intestinal epithelium, confirming their high potential for oral delivery of peptides. PMID: 17292503 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] Related Links Identification of cell adhesion molecules in the human follicle-associated epithelium that improve nanoparticle uptake into the Peyer's patches. [J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2006] PMID:16914557 Transport of nanoparticles across an in vitro model of the human intestinal follicle associated epithelium. [Eur J Pharm Sci. 2005] PMID:15946828 An improved in vitro model of human intestinal follicle-associated epithelium to study nanoparticle transport by M cells. [Eur J Pharm Sci. 2007] PMID:17291730 Biodegradable nanoparticles containing protein-fatty acid complexes for oral delivery of salmon calcitonin. [J Pharm Sci. 2004] PMID:14705204 Chitosan surface-modified hydroxycamptothecin loaded nanoparticles with enhanced transport across Caco-2 cell monolayer. [J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2006] PMID:17048498