Table 3 Commonly used methods of developing mucus-penetrating systems
Material/characteristic | Type of system | Proposed mechanism of action |
|---|---|---|
PEG | Mucus-penetrating | Reduced electrostatic interactions from densely packed neutrally charged surface |
Poloxamer/Pluronic | Mucus-penetrating | Reduced electrostatic interactions from densely packed neutrally charged surface |
Virus-mimicking | Mucus-penetrating | Reduced exposure of hydrophobic groups, reduced electrostatic interactions from net neutrally charged surface |
Zwitterionic | Mucus-penetrating | Reduced exposure of hydrophobic groups, reduced electrostatic interactions from net neutrally charged surface |
Mucolytic enzyme release | Mucolytic | Disulfide bond cleavage within the area of enzyme release |
Mucolytic enzyme surface conjugation | Mucolytic | Disulfide bond cleavage at the site of nanoparticle-mucus interaction |