Thiolation of polycarbophil enhances its inhibition of intestinal brush border membrane bound aminopeptidase N

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of polycarbophil–cysteine conjugates (PCP–Cys) as an oral excipient to protect leucine enkephalin (leu-enkp) from enzymatic degradation by the intestinal mucosa. Cysteine was covalently linked to polycarbophil by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDAC). Inhibitory activity was tested towards isolated aminopeptidase N and excised intact pig intestinal mucosa, with native mucus. Aminopeptidase N activity was assayed spectrophotometrically using L-leucine p-nitroanilide (leu-pNA) as a synthetic substrate and against the model peptide drug leu-enkp, by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Free cysteine at 6.3 and 63 μM (pH 6) significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited aminopeptidase N activity, and PCP–Cys (0.25% w/v, pH 6) had a significantly (p < 0.05) greater inhibitory effect than PCP on the aminopeptidase N activity towards both substrates. PCP–Cys completely protected leu-enkp against aminopeptidase N activity over a 2-h incubation period, whereas 83 ± 4 and 60 ± 7% remained stable in the presence of PCP and buffer only, respectively. Leu-enkp in the absence and presence of PCP (0.25% w/v) at pH 6 was completely digested by the intact intestinal mucosa at the 60- and 90-min incubation time points, respectively, whereas in the presence of PCP–Cys (0.25% w/v, pH 6) 11 ± 3.5% of leu-enkp remained at the 120-min time point. Thiolation of PCP increased the stability of leu-enkp against the enzymatic degradation by aminopeptidase N and the intact intestinal mucosa, identifying a promising new excipient for peroral delivery of peptides. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 90:1907–1914, 2001