Layer-by-layer oral-deliverable nanoparticles targeted microfold cells to promote lutein absorption in alleviating dry eye disease

Bioactive compound intervention of dry eye disease has been considered as a promising approach due to the lower adverse reactions. In this study, layer-by-layer oral-deliverable lutein nanoparticles targeted to microfold cells in the intestinal Peyer's patches through the specific interaction between yeast β-glucan and receptor dectin-1 were designed and prepared using phycocyanin, chitosan and 3-boronobenzoic acid modified yeast β-glucan as carriers in alleviating dry eye disease. In vitro studies confirmed that the dectin-1 specific lutein nanoparticles could specifically target microfold cells from Peyer's patches of the intestine, which significantly inhibited the reactive oxygen species elevation and mitochondrial membrane potential reduction produced by oxidative stress and inflammation. Pharmacokinetic results showed that the bioavailability of lutein in plasma and eyeballs was increased by 2.63 and 1.81 times by oral administration of lutein nanoparticles. The lutein nanoparticles could effectively relieve dry eye disease by alleviating corneal damage, restoring tear film homeostasis and reducing corneal keratinization in Balb/c mice. The oral deliverable dectin-1 specific lutein nanoparticles constructed in this study provided potential application for improving bioavailability of hydrophobic nutrients during the intervention of dry eye diseases.