Posted by The work aims to develop mucoadhesive and thermo-responsive in situ gelling systems, using hydrophobically-modified hydroxypropyl-methyl cellulose (Sangelose, SG) and beta-cyclodextrin derivatives (RAMEB and HPBCD), for preventing viral respiratory infections.
Eight SG/CD systems with varying CD concentrations were evaluated for rheological properties, mucoadhesiveness, spreadability and sprayability via nasal devices; cytotoxicity was in vitro investigated on reconstituted nasal epithelia. Additionally, droplet size distribution and spray deposition were assessed for the most promising systems.
The addition of β-CD derivatives to SG solution was responsible for a rapid sol-gel transition within a physiological temperature range (29–34 °C). SG/CD systems were characterized by a prevalence of the elastic properties on the viscous ones at 37 °C, functional to the formation of a protective gel barrier on the mucosa. The most promising systems showed sprayability and spreadability suitable for nasal administration, while in vitro tests demonstrated their non-toxicity. All the sprays were characterized by droplets with size >100 μm, functional to avoid droplet exhalation or lung deposition; spray deposition studies confirmed uniform distribution across nasal turbinates, crucial for trapping inhaled particles.
Gaia Zucca, Mariasofia Perucchini, Barbara Vigani, Caterina Valentino, Virginia Patterlini, Giulia Climani, Davide D’Angelo, Fabio Sonvico, Luisa Muratori, Andrea Civra, David Lembo, Marco Ruggeri, Giuseppina Sandri, Silvia Rossi (2025) Development of a nasal spray based on cyclodextrin/hydrophobically-modified hydroxypropyl-methyl cellulose for the prevention of viral respiratory infections. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 299, 140024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.140024