Relationship Between In Vitro Absorption of Chondroitin Sulfate (CS) and Its Molecular Weight

Abstract

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate if the molecular weight of chondroitin sulfate (CS) has an impact on its absorption in vitro, in a Caco‐2 cell model.MethodsCaco‐2 cells in 24 well plates were incubated for 2 hours with eight CS samples of differing molecular weights (7 kDa – 35 kDa). The amount of CS transported into the basolateral side of the Caco‐2 monolayer was quantitatively determined to calculate the permeability coefficients (Papp).ResultsOf the 8 samples evaluated, four samples had a Papp value of 15 × 10−6 cm sec−1 or higher indicating moderate to high absorption. Two of the four samples with higher Papp values were high molecular weight compounds (~ 35 kDa).ConclusionWithin the molecular weight range used in this experiment, the absorption of CS samples did not have a correlation with their molecular weights but, interestingly, correlation was observed between the absorption and percentage of 6‐sulfated disaccharide in the CS samples.Grant Funding Source: Pharmavite, Inc.