RESUMO
The aim of this work was to investigate if the indomethacin ethyl ester (IndOEt) released from lipid-core nanocapsules (NC) is converted into indomethacin (IndOH) in the intestine lumen, intestine wall or after the particles reach the blood stream. NC-IndOEt had monomodal size distribution (242 nm; PDI 0.2) and zeta potential of -11 mV. The everted rat gut sac model showed IndOEt passage of 0.16 micromol m(-2) through the serosal fluid (30 min). From 15 to 120 min, the IndOEt concentrations in the tissue increased from 6.13 to 27.47 micromol m(-2). No IndOH was formed ex vivo. A fluorescent-NC formulation was used to determine the copolymer bioadhesion (0.012 micromol m(-2)). After NC-IndOEt oral administration to rats, IndOEt and IndOH were detected in the gastrointestinal tract (contents and tissues). In the tissues, the IndOEt concentrations decreased from 459 to 5 microg g(-1) after scrapping, demonstrating the NC mucoadhesion. In plasma (peripheric and portal vein), in spleen and liver, exclusively IndOH was detected. In conclusion, after oral dosing of NC-IndOEt, IndOEt is converted into IndOH in the intestinal lumen and wall before reaching the blood stream. The complexity of a living system was not predicted by the ex vivo gut sac model.