DRUG PERMEABILITY ACROSS BOVINE RESPIRATORY TISSUES COMPARED TO A HUMAN TRACHEO/BRONCHIAL CELL CULTURE (EPIAIRWAY™ SYSTEM).

• TR Number: 315
• Keywords: Active transport, Bovine respiratory mucosa, Bovine respiratory tissue, Diffusion medium, Distribution coefficient, Drug delivery, Drug permeability, Drug transport, EpiAirway, Flux, Human traceho/bronchial cell culture, Lead optimization, Nasal drug delivery, Nasal mucosa, Normal human tracheal/bronchial epithelial cells, Permeability, Rapid screening, Respiratory tract, Tracheal bronchial epithelial cells

The past three decades have seen the emergence of the nasal mucosa as a viable alternative route for drug delivery. The availability of over 15 drugs meant for systemic action is a testament to its rapidly growing popularity. However, the absence of a good in vitro model precludes the rapid screening of suitable drug compounds and the investigation of molecular processes involved in nasal drug delivery. Although animal-derived nasal mucosal explants are popular, comparisons of their transport properties to humans has not been studied. Currently, a cell culture system derived from normal human tracheal/bronchial epithelial cells (EpiAirway™ system) is being investigated for its utility in drug transport studies.