Abstract:

BACKGROUND: N-trimethyl chitosan as a transdermal enhancer can affect the permeability of oral drugs through the intestinal mucosa.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the modulation effects of N-trimethyl chitosan chloride on the permeability of etoposide across different intestinal membranes.
METHODS: The permeability of etoposide via rat intestinal membranes was evaluated by an in vitro diffusion chamber system after the membranes were isolated from the intestine in rats with or without the co-administration of 10% N-trimethyl chitosan chloride. The concentration of etoposide in the receptor was determined by the high performance liquid chromatography.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: With co-administration of N-trimethyl chitosan chloride at a low concentration, the absorptive directed transport of etoposide was significantly increased while its secretory directed transport was decreased. It might be possible to improve the absorption of P-glycoprotein mediated drugs by co-administration of N-trimethyl chitosan chloride at a low concentration, therefore to improve the oral bioavailability of these drugs.