The accelerated blood clearance(ABC) phenomenon which is induced by repeated injection of poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG)-coated colloidal carriers gives clinical challenge to the promising drug delivery system. It is necessary to decrease this unexpected immunological response.A novel 4-arm poly(ethylene glycol-5000)4-cholesteryl methyl amide(4-arm PEG5000-CHMA)has been synthesized. The structure of 4-arm PEG5000-CHMA was confirmed by IR and 1H-NMR spectrum. The pharmacokinetics of the tocopheryl nicotinate(TN)-loaded nanoemulsions modified with 4-arm PEG5000-CHMA or/and 1, 2-distearoyl-Sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-n-[methoxy(poly-ethyleneglycol)-2000](mPEG2000-DSPE) have been studied. Furthermore, the ABC phenomenon has been detailed investigated in rats by TN-loaded nanoemulsions modified with 4-arm PEG5000-CHMA and mPEG2000-DSPE(CPNE). The plasma levels of TN and anti-PEG IgM antibody were determined by HPLC and ELISA, respectively.The circulation time of the CPNEs were comparable to the mPEG2000-DSPE coated nanoemulsions. Moreover, the ABC phenomenon can be decreased by CPNEs. This study designs a method to decrease the ABC phenomenon and develops a clinical promising nanoemulsion for therapeutic or imaging purpose.
