Assessment of the permeability and toxicity of polymeric nanocapsules using the zebrafish model

AIM: To assess the capacity of a new drug delivery nanocapsule (NC) with a double shell of hyaluronic acid and protamine to overcome biological barriers using the zebrafish model. MATERIALS & METHODS: NCs were prepared by the solvent displacement method, tagged with fluorescent makers and physicochemically characterized. Toxicity was evaluated according to the Fish Embryo Acute Toxicity test, and permeability was tested by exposing zebrafish, with and without chorion, to the fluorescent NCs. RESULTS: Toxicity of NCs was very low as compared with that of a control nanoemulsion. Double-shell NCs were able to cross chorion and skin. CONCLUSION: Beyond the potential value of hyaluronic acid:protamine NCs for overcoming epithelial barriers, this works highlights the utility of zebrafish for fast screening of nanocarriers.