Mucoadhesion of latexes. II. Adsorption isotherms and desorption studies.

Adsorption isotherms of poly(styrene) latexes on rat intestinal mucosa were studied under static conditions and analyzed according to different isotherm classifications. Isotherms of latexes with a particle size up to 670 nm had the characteristic shape of a disperse adsorbate on a porous adsorbent. Plateaus were reached at latex concentrations of about 2.5 g/L. The results indicated an increase in adsorption with the size and the hydrophilicity of the latexes. Typically, a surfactant-free carboxylate latex of 230 nm had a plateau of 0.66 g/m2, and a latex of 320 nm with added sodium dodecyl sulfate had a plateau of 0.881 g/m2. Surfactant-free carboxylate latex of 2 microns had a Langmuirian isotherm with a plateau level of 2.616 g/m2, which corresponded to a monolayer of adsorbed particles on the surface of mucosa. Desorption studies showed that the adsorption was irreversible. Adhesion to the mucous gel layer would therefore be limited by the mucus turnover.