Therapeutic efficacy of rebamipide-loaded PLGA nanoparticles coated with chitosan in a mouse model for oral mucositis induced by cancer chemotherapy.

Oral mucositis is one of the most common side effects induced by cancer therapy, and the prevention or rapid treatment of the symptoms of oral mucositis can improve patients' quality of life and reduce the need for treatment interruption. In this study, poly(dl-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles coated with chitosan hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride was used as a carrier of rebamipide, and its usefulness was evaluated using a mouse model for oral mucositis. The surface properties and particle size of this nanoparticle were considered to be advantageous for the treatment of oral mucositis. Positively charged nanoparticles with an average particle diameter of 97.0 ± 36.7 nm were prepared. From the results of the mucin adsorption study using a periodic acid/Schiff colorimetric method, it was confirmed that the mucin adsorptive capacity of chitosan-coated nanoparticles was 2.3 times higher than that of bare nanoparticles. This result was consistent with the results of the oral retention study of chitosan-coated nanoparticles using an in vivo optical imaging system. Therapeutic efficacy of the nanoparticles on oral mucositis was evaluated using a mouse model for oral mucositis induced by cancer chemotherapy. The chitosan-coated nanoparticles administration group significantly decreased the ulcer area at day 9, 11, and 13 compared with the non-treated control group. Moreover, this group significantly shortened the treatment period by 3.6 days compared to the bare nanoparticles administration group. Therefore, it was suggested that rebamipide-loaded PLGA nanoparticles coated with chitosan hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride were beneficial for the treatment of oral mucositis induced by cancer chemotherapy.