Thiolated nanoclays as a potential mucoadhesive material: Optimization by design of experiments and multivariate regression

An integrated strategy based on design of experiments (DoE) and multivariate regression was carried out to produce an optimized surface functionalized nanoclay (Mt–SH) with potential mucoadhesive properties. A mercaptosilane was grafted in montmorillonite in order to immobilize thiol groups (–SH) on the clay. The functionalization was confirmed by IR, TGA, XRF and XRD analyses. Five variables involved in the synthesis were optimized in order to maximize two responses: mass of functionalized nanoclay and amount of thiol groups attached in the clay surface. This optimization was performed by a two–step DoE strategy using Plackett–Burman and Box–Behnken designs. The five variables and two responses were simultaneously calibrated in a single ANOVA–validated PLS regression model. Analyzing scores, loading and surface response plots, the main processing variables, interactions and quadratic terms were found achieving the optimal processing conditions for the synthesis. The quadratic model ( R ² > 0.8589) predicted an optimized functionalized nanoclay of mass 3.29 ± 0.13 g of Mt–SH with 19.65 ± 0.78 μmol –SH per g Mt–SH ( P < 0.05). The optimized Mt–SH was evaluated by in vitro and in situ mucoadhesion assays with porcine mucin and fresh intestinal mucus by using rheometry. The complex viscosity showed an increase of ∼54-fold higher compared to the unmodified Mt, and ∼12.8-fold increase in the elastic modulus, which indicates a more resistance to elastic deformation probably due to an increase in cross-linking points between Mt–SH and mucus. The formation of disulfide bonds between thiol groups from Mt–SH and glycoproteins in the mucin could be a reasonably explanation which shows a correlation respect other thiolated materials which show the same mucoadhesion properties. These results could project this functionalized silicate material as a potential mucoadhesive prospect for pharmaceutical applications.