6 research outputs found
Hyaluronic Acid Molecular Weight-Dependent Modulation of Mucin Nanostructure for Potential Mucosal Therapeutic Applications
This study investigates
the effects of different molecular weight hyaluronic acids (HAs) on
the mucosal nanostructure using a pig stomach mucin hydrogel as a
mucosal barrier model. Microparticles (1.0 μm) and nanoparticles
(200 nm) were used as probes, and their movement in mucin was studied
by a three-dimensional confocal microscopy-based particle tracking
technique and by Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) after addition
of high-molecular weight (900 kDa) and low-molecular weight (33 kDa)
HA. This demonstrated a molecular weight-dependent HA modulation of
the mucin nanostructure with a 2.5-fold decrease in the mobility of
200 nm nanoparticles. To further investigate these mechanisms and
to verify that the natural viscoelastic properties of mucus are not
undesirably altered, rheological measurements were performed on mucin
hydrogels with or without HA. This suggested the observed particle
mobility restriction was not attributed to alterations of the natural
mucin cohesive and viscoelastic properties but, instead, indicates
that the added high-molecular weight HA primarily modulates the mucin
nanostructure and mesh size. This study, hereby, demonstrates how
mucus nanostructure can be modulated by the addition of high-molecular
weight HA that offers an opportunity to control mucosal pathogenesis
and drug delivery