Covalent attachment of apolipoprotein A-I and apolipoprotein B-100 to albumin nanoparticles enables drug transport into the brain.

Apolipoprotein E3, A-I as well as B-100 were covalently attached to human serum albumin nanoparticles via the NHS-PEG-Mal 3400 linker. Loperamide as a model drug was bound to these nanoparticles, and the antinociceptive reaction of these preparations was recorded after intravenous injection in mice by the tail-flick test. After 15 min, all three nanoparticle preparations with the coupled apolipoproteins E3, A-I, and B-100 yielded considerable antinociceptive effects, which lasted over 1 h. The maximally possible effects [MPE] of these preparations amounted to 95%, 65%, and 50%, respectively, and were statistically different from the controls (p<0.02), whereas the loperamide solution achieved no effect. This result demonstrates that more than one mechanism is involved in the interaction of nanoparticles with the brain endothelial cells and the resulting delivery of drugs to the central nervous system.