Carbon nanotubes provide longer lasting gastroprotective effects for anandamide in stress-induced gastric ulcer in rat

Anandamide (AEA) has shown a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities including the effects against the peptic ulcer, meanwhile, the poor solubility or short half-life may negatively affect the effectiveness of this valuable cannabinoid. Based on the superior properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for controlled drug delivery, we aimed to prepare AEA-CNTs complex and evaluate its therapeutic potential in an experimental model of gastric ulcer.
Amino-functionalized multi-walled CNTs-AEA (MWCNTs-AEA) complex was prepared using COOH-MWCNTs and then characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Gastric ulcer was induced by water immersion and restrain stress (WRS) for 3.5 and 6 h in rats and the gastric lesion and oxidative stress were evaluated.
AEA at higher doses reduced the gastric ulcer area and malondialdehyde content and elevated glutathione level and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities after 3.5-h WRS but it was ineffective after 6-h WRS. MWCNTs-AEA complex showed therapeutic effects after both 3.5- and 6-h WRS.
Aminated MWCNTs are suitable carriers for AEA as they provide longer lasting effects for this cannabinoid. The antioxidant mechanism may be involved in the gastroprotective effects of MWCNTs-AEA complex.