Investigation of transport of PEGylated salmon calcitonin through caco-2 cell monolayers

The aim of this study is to evaluate the permeability of PEG-conjugated salmon calcitonin (sCT) across monolayers of Caco-2 cells that represent a model of the intestinal barrier. Caco-2 cells were grown to confluency on a permeable polycarbonate membrane to permit transport through it. Permeability experiments were performed with native-sCT and PEG-conjugated sCT (PEG M.W. 2000) at various concentrations (5uM, 10uM, 25uM, 50uM, 100uM) in the apical to basolateral direction. The barrier properties were assessed by detecting transport of markder molecules ($^3$H-mannitol) and by measuring transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). (omitted)