Nicotine Transport across Calu-3 Cell Monolayer: Effect of Nicotine Salts and Flavored E-liquids.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the transport capability of nicotine across Calu-3 cell monolayer in various nicotine forms, including nicotine freebase, nicotine salts, and flavored e-liquids with nicotine benzoate.

SIGNIFICANCE: Nicotine is rapidly absorbed from the respiratory system into systemic circulation during e-cigarettes use. However, the mechanism of nicotine transport in the lung has not been well understood yet. This study may offer critical biological evidence and have implications for the use and regulation of e-cigarettes.

METHODS: The viability of Calu-3 cells after administration of nicotine freebase, nicotine salts and representative e-liquid were evaluated using the MTT assay, and the integrity of the Calu-3 cell monolayer was evaluated by transepithelial electrical resistance measurement and morphological analysis. Further, the nicotine transport capacity across the Calu-3 cell monolayer in various formulations of nicotine was investigated by analysis of nicotine transport amount.

RESULTS: The findings indicated that nicotine transport occurred passively and was time-dependent across the Calu-3cell monolayer. In addition, the nicotine transport was influenced by type of nicotine salts and their respective pH value. The nicotine benzoate exhibited the highest apparent permeability coefficient ( Papp ), and higher nicotine-to-benzoic acid ratios led to higher Papp values. The addition of flavors to e-liquid resulted in increased Papp values, with the most significant increment being observed in tobacco flavored e-liquid.

CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the transport capability of nicotine across the Calu-3 cell monolayer was influenced by the pH values of nicotine salts and flavor additives in e-liquids.