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Development of fast-dissolving sublingual nanofibers containing allergen and curcumin for immune response modulation in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis

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Abstract

Curcumin (CUR) has been considered a potential therapeutic agent for allergic reactions due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Nanofibers have attracted increasing attention in drug delivery. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined therapeutic effects of curcumin and allergen in nanofiber-based treatments in order to increase the effectiveness of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) efficacy in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis. Nanofibers containing CUR (1.25% and 2.5%) and ovalbumin 2% (OVA) as an allergen were prepared via electrospinning and characterized. BALB/c mice were sensitized with OVA to the induced allergic rhinitis model. SLIT with free and/or nanofibers was carried out. IL-4, INF-γ, and IgE serum levels were measured using ELISA. Splenocyte proliferation was evaluated by the MTT assay. Lung and nasal histological examinations and nasal lavage fluid (NALF) cell counting were carried out. Nanofibers containing 1.25% CUR and 2% OVA were chosen as the optimal formulations. SLIT treatment with the CUR and OVA nanofiber co-administration led to a significantly decreased serum IgE. Nanofiber containing 2.5 µg of CUR/mouse combined with OVA nanofiber showed a significant decrease in IL-4 and an increase in IFN-γ compared to other groups. NALF assessment showed a significant decrease in specific cell and eosinophil counts in the treated nanofiber groups. The histopathological results of NAL in the optimal formulations were near normal, with diminished cellular infiltration and inflammation. Our findings suggest that co-sublingual administration of allergen and CUR nanofibers can be considered as potential immunomodulatory agents.

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Data availability

No datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.

Abbreviations

AR:

Allergic rhinitis

AIT:

Allergen immunotherapy

SLIT:

Sublingual immunotherapy

SCIT:

Subcutaneous immunotherapy

CUR:

Curcumin

OVA:

Ovalbumin

PVP K90:

Povidone polyvinylpyrrolidone K90

IL-4:

Interleukin-4

IFN-γ:

Interferon gamma

IgE:

Immunoglobulin E

NALF:

Nasal lavage fluid

NAL:

Nasal lavage

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

FTIR:

Fourier-transform infrared

SEM:

Scanning electron microscope

DSC:

Differential scanning calorimetry

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

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Funding

This work was supported by the deputy of research at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran, under Grant No. (981631).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Immunology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Bahareh Ansari, Navideh Haghnavaz, Safoora Pordel, MohammadAli Rezaee, Saeideh Sadat Shobeiri, Malihe Moghadam & Mojtaba Sankian

  2. Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Mohammad Reza Abbaspour

  3. School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Ayda Estajy

  4. Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Paramedical, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran

    MohammadAli Rezaee

  5. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran

    Saeideh Sadat Shobeiri

  6. Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad, University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Maryam Hashemi

  7. Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

    Maryam Hashemi

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  1. Bahareh Ansari
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Contributions

M.H. and M.S. designed the study. B.A. and A.S. carried out the experiment with the participation of other authors. B.A. processed the data, performed the analysis, and wrote the manuscript with support from M.H. and M.S. M.M. helped supervise the project. All authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript. The authors declare that all data were generated in-house and that no paper mill was used.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Maryam Hashemi or Mojtaba Sankian.

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Ethical approval

All the animal experiments and handling methods performed in this study were approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee of the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (IR.MUMS.PHARMACY.REC.1399.020).

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Ansari, B., Abbaspour, M.R., Estajy, A. et al. Development of fast-dissolving sublingual nanofibers containing allergen and curcumin for immune response modulation in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-024-03139-y

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