Transport of Poly( n-butylcyano-acrylate) nanoparticles across the blood–brain barrier in vitro and their influence on barrier integrity

► Poly( n-butylcyano-acrylate) (PBCA) nanoparticles may be promising drug carriers. ► Influence of PBCA nanoparticles on the integrity of the blood–brain barrier in vitro. ► PBCA nanoparticles lead to a reversible disruption of the BBB in vitro after 4 h. ► Potential application as time-dependent and specific opener of the BBB. In previous studies it was shown that polysorbate 80(PS80)-coated poly( n-butylcyano-acrylate) nanoparticles (PBCA-NP) are able to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) in vitro and in vivo. In order to explore and extend the potential applications of PBCA-NP as drug carriers, it is important to ascertain their effect on the BBB. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of PS80-coated PBCA-NP on the BBB integrity of a porcine in vitro model. This has been investigated by monitoring the development of the transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) after the addition of PBCA-NP employing impedance spectroscopy. Additionally, the integrity of the BBB in vitro was verified by measuring the passage of the reference substances 14C-sucrose and FITC-BSA after addition of PBCA-NP. In this study we will show that the application of PS80-coated PBCA-NP leads to a reversible disruption of the barrier after 4 h. The observed disruption of the barrier could also be confirmed by 14C-sucrose and FITC-BSA permeability studies. Comparing the TEER and permeability studies the lowest resistances and maximal values for permeabilities were both observed after 4 h. These results indicate that PS80-coated PBCA-NP might be suitable for the use as drug carriers. The reversible disruption also offers the possibility to use these particles as specific opener of the BBB. Instead of incorporating the therapeutic agents into the NP, the drugs may cross the BBB after being applied simultaneously with the PBCA-NP.