Mucus molecular interactions

Other techniques used for studying molecular interactions between polymers and mucus include ultracentrifugation, surface plasmon resonance, and electromagnetic transduction. " Ilium and coworkers investigated the interaction of chitosan microspheres, using turbidimetric measurements and adsorption studies of mucin to the microspheres. 

It has recently been discussed [61-63] whether the diffusional barrier at the intestinal surface can be accounted for solely by an unstirred water layer. It has been proposed that the mucus layer overlying the enterocytes should be regarded as an important diffusion barrier for uptake of lipid solutes from the luminal contents. The mucus adherent to the rat duodenal wall has been found to be approximately 80 jam thick in the fasted state [64]. The intestinal mucus coat is formed by proteoglycans produced by goblet cells, but so far very little is known about the molecular structure of the mucus layer [65]. The possible interaction between mucus constituents and luminal lipid solutes needs to be investigated in detail, since it might reveal key factors which constitute the diffusional barrier of the small intestine. 

Cationic polymers were probably superior mucoadhesives due to the ability to develop molecular attraction forces by electrostatic interactions with the negative charges of the mucus the polyca-tionic chitosan was investigated as an ophthalmic vehicle. The polymer is biodegradable, biocompatible, and non-toxic. It possesses antimicrobial and wound-healing properties. Moreover, chitosan exhibits a pseudoplastic and viscoelastic behavior. ... 

Rensch H, von Seefeld H. Surfactant-mucus interaction. In Robertson B, van Golde LMG, Batenburg JJ, eds. Pulmonary Surfactant From Molecular Biology to Clinical Practice. Amsterdam Elsevier Science, 1984 203-214. 

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