Interaction of Chitosan, a Natural Polymer Used in Nanodrug/gene Delivery, with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Abstract

Chitosan is one of the most important natural polymers used as a dietary weight-loss supplement in world, especially in Japan and china. The binding of bile acids to dietary fibers like chitosan in the small intestine has been proposed as a main mechanism for the reduction of blood cholesterol levels. In this article we suggest the possibility that chitosan at high dose reduces the gastrointestinal absorption of water-insoluble drugs like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin and piroxicam, but not water-soluble drugs, by diminishing the surfactant-like effect of bile acids. A beneficial effect of chitosan as a food supplement is the reduction of plasma cholesterol and triglycerides due to its ability to bind dietary lipids in the stomach before they are absorbed through the digestive system into the bloodstream and also interruption of the enterohepatic bile acid circulation that is base of interaction of this supplement with NSAIDs when use together. In the present study, we examined the effect of chitosan on the gastrointestinal absorption profiles of the water-insoluble drugs. This study provides an idea that chitosan can interfere with the intestinal absorption of NSAIDs via direct binding to NSAIDs or decreasing the dissolution of these drugs within GI lumen due to fecal excretion of bile acids.