Improved intestinal absorption of water-soluble drugs by acetylation of G2 PAMAM dendrimer nanocomplexes in rat.

In search of an effective and less toxic absorption enhancer, we synthesized primary amine acetylation of generation 2 polyamidoamine (G2 PAMAM) dendrimer (Ac-G2) by the reaction of G2 PAMAM dendrimer with acetic anhydride, and evaluated the effects of Ac-G2 on the intestinal absorption of poorly absorbable water-soluble drugs using an in situ closed-loop method in rats. The results indicated that Ac50-G2 had a greatest absorption enhancing effect for 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (CF) in various acetylation levels of G2 PAMAM dendrimers. Ac50-G2 with various concentrations (0.1-1.0%, w/v) could significantly improve the intestinal absorption of alendronate, CF, and fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextrans (FD4), although they did not enhance the absorption of macromolecular drug of FD10, and the absorption enhancement effect of Ac50-G2 was concentration-dependent. Furthermore, we examined the intestinal membrane damage with or without Ac50-G2. The results displayed Ac50-G2 at lower concentrations (0.1-0.5%, w/v) did not cause any observed toxic effect to the intestinal membranes. These findings suggested Ac50-G2 at lower concentrations (below 0.5%, w/v) might be promising as an effective and safe absorption enhancers to promote the intestinal absorption of poorly absorbable drugs.