Selective permeability of mucus barriers

[Display omitted] •Mucus filters particles based on size and surface chemistry.•Simple descriptors like net charge are inadequate predictors for mucus interaction.•A variety of nanoparticle surface chemistries have been developed for mucus penetration.•Understanding mucus permeability may provide va...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current opinion in biotechnology 2018-08, Vol.52, p.124-133
Main Authors: Witten, Jacob, Samad, Tahoura, Ribbeck, Katharina
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
biochemical mechanisms
biomarkers
Disease
electrostatic interactions
engineering
Health
Humans
hydrogels
hydrophobic bonding
mucus
Mucus - metabolism
nanoparticles
peptides
Permeability
pregnancy
therapeutics
Tissue Engineering
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Summary:[Display omitted] •Mucus filters particles based on size and surface chemistry.•Simple descriptors like net charge are inadequate predictors for mucus interaction.•A variety of nanoparticle surface chemistries have been developed for mucus penetration.•Understanding mucus permeability may provide valuable biomarkers for disease. Mucus is a hydrogel that exhibits complex selective permeability, permitting the passage of some particles while restricting the passage of other particles including important therapeutics. In this review, we discuss biochemical mechanisms underlying mucus penetration and mucus binding, emphasizing the importance of steric, electrostatic, and hydrophobic interactions. We discuss emerging techniques for engineering nanoparticle surface chemistries for mucus penetration as well as recent advances in tuning mucus interactions with small molecule, peptide, or protein therapeutics. Finally, we highlight recent work suggesting that mucus permeability can serve as a biomarker for disease and physiological states such as pregnancy.
ISSN:0958-1669
1879-0429
DOI:10.1016/j.copbio.2018.03.010