Preliminary Imaging Analysis for Enhanced Intestinal Uptake of Non-soluble Polystyrene Microspheres in the Presence of Oleic Acid using Rat Intestine

In vitro intestinal uptake of non-soluble polystyrene microspheres (NPMS) was visualized with and without oleic acid using a fluorescence microscopy. Fluorescent polystyrene latex microspheres with 1m larger size were used as models for nonspecifically absorbed nonbiodegradable particulates. The NPMS could not penetrate the enterocytes but a few NPMS could be penetrated via Peyer's patches. When the oleic acid was mixed with NPMS, the transporting efficiency of NPMS through enterocytes as well as Peyer's patches was significantly enhanced. The modification of the intestinal membrane permeability and surface feature of the NPMS in the presence of oleic acid might be a clue to the transport of NSPM although the detailed mechanism is still under investigation.