Tissue distribution of borneol-modified ganciclovir-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles in mice after intravenous administration

Abstract

The main purpose of this research was to prepare borneol-modified and non-borneol ganciclovir-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) to study whether borneol could enhance the transport of ganciclovir (GCV) incorporated in SLN to the brain in mice after their intravenous administration. Ganciclovir injection (GCV-inj) was selected as a control. The SLNs were prepared using a modified microemulsion method. Pharmacokinetic and biodistribution studies were conducted in kunming mice after intravenous administration of GCV-inj, GCV solid lipid nanoparticles without borneol (GCV-SLN), and three types of GCV solid lipid nanoparticles containing different ratios of borneol (GCVb-SLN). It was found that, in plasma, the area under the concentration–time curve (AUC0∼t) for GCVb-SLN and GCV-SLN was greater than that for the GCV-inj. In the brain, the AUC0∼t of GCVb-SLN was significantly increased compared with that of a GCV-inj and GCV-SLN. In the other mouse tissues, the peak concentration of GCV achieved was always lower after the injection of any of the four types of SLN than after the commercial injection. These results indicate that GCV-SLN modified with borneol enhances the transport of ganciclovir to the brain. Therefore, SLN modified with borneol is a potential delivery system for transporting drugs to the central nervous system (CNS).