Airway mucus penetration and anti-inflammatory effects of charge-tunable nanocarriers in an asthma model

Abstract

In asthma, thick airway mucus blocks drug movement and lowers treatment efficiency. In this study, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) with different surface charges (+20 mV, 0 mV, and −20 mV) were made to test how charge affects mucus transport and anti-inflammatory action. The LNPs had an average size of 160 ± 12 nm and were studied in mice with ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma. Imaging results showed that neutral LNPs spread more evenly in the lungs and stayed for up to 8 hours, while positively and negatively charged ones cleared faster. Measurement of inflammation markers showed that the neutral group lowered IL-4 and IL-13 levels by about 65% (P < 0.001) compared with the positive group. These findings show that neutral charge helps nanoparticles pass through mucus, remain longer in the lungs, and produce stronger anti-inflammatory effects. This work provides a simple way to improve inhaled nanoparticle treatments for asthma and other airway diseases with mucus buildup.