Polyethylenimine–Poly(lactic-<i>co</i>-glycolic acid)<sub>2</sub> Nanoparticles Show an Innate Targeting Ability to the Submandibular Salivary Gland via the Muscarinic 3 Receptor
Junchao Xu, Kaiwei Wan, Hui Wang, Xinghua Shi, Jing Wang, Yi Zhong, Chao Gao, Yinlong Zhang, Guangjun Nie
Abstract
study, suggesting that a ligand-receptor interaction between PEI and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype 3 (M3 receptor) contributed to this affinity. Docking computation for the molecular binding mode between PEI segments and M3 receptor indicated the way they interacted was similar to that of the FDA-approved specific M3 receptor antagonist, tiotropium. The key amino acids mediated this specific interaction between PEI-PLGA nanoparticles and M3 receptor were identified via a simulated alanine mutation study. This work demonstrates the unique characteristic of PEI-PLGA nanoparticles, which may be useful for the development of muscarinic receptor targeted nanomedicines and should be taken into consideration when PEI-based nanoparticles are applied in gene delivery.