Using Gelatin Nanoparticle Mediated Intranasal Delivery of Neuropeptide Substance P to Enhance Neuro-Recovery in Hemiparkinsonian Rats

PLoS One. 2016 Feb 19;11(2):e0148848. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148848. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Purpose: Intranasal administration of phospholipid-based gelatin nanoparticles (GNP) was prepared to investigate the neuro-recovery effects of neuropeptide Substance P (SP) on hemiparkinsonian rats.

Methods: The SP-loaded gelatin nanoparticles (SP-GNP) were prepared by a water-in-water emulsion method and possessed high stability, encapsulating efficiency and loading capacity. PC-12 cells were used to examine the growth enhancement of SP-GNP in vitro by MTT assays and flow cytometry (FCM). The therapeutic effects of SP-GNP on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) induced hemiparkinsonian rats were assessed by quantifying rotational behavior and the levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), phosphorylated c-Jun protein (p-c-Jun) and Caspase-3 (Cas-3) expressed in substantia nigra (SN) region of hemiparkinsonian rats.

Results: PC-12 cells under SP-GNP treatment showed better cell viability and lower degree of apoptosis than those under SP solution treatment. Hemiparkinsonian rats under intranasal SP-GNP administration demonstrated better behavioral improvement, higher level of TH in SN along with much lower extent of p-c-Jun and Cas-3 than those under intranasal SP solution administration and intravenous SP-GNP administration.

Conclusions: With the advantages of GNP and nose-to-brain pathway, SP can be effectively delivered into the damaged SN region and exhibit its neuro-recovery function through the inhibition on JNK pathway and dopaminergic neuron apoptosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Biomarkers
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / drug effects*
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / metabolism*
  • Gelatin / chemistry*
  • Male
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Neurotransmitter Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Neurotransmitter Agents / chemistry
  • Oxidopamine / adverse effects
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy
  • Parkinson Disease / metabolism
  • Parkinson Disease / pathology
  • Parkinson Disease / physiopathology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Substance P / administration & dosage*
  • Substance P / chemistry
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Neurotransmitter Agents
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun
  • Substance P
  • Oxidopamine
  • Gelatin
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
  • Caspase 3

Grants and funding

This research was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81360195, 81301982, 81571392, 81272160, 81302726 and 81460299); Zhejiang Provincial Foundation for Health Department (Grant No. 2015ZDA023 and 2016139678), Key support of high level talent innovation and technology project of Wenzhou (Ying-Zheng Zhao, 2015); Major Scientific Project of Guangdong Province (Grant No. 2012A080201010); Science and Technology Plan Project of Guangzhou, (201508020001). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.