C10 increased mannitol and dextran permeability by sevenfold, as compared with a twofold increase produced by EGTA. Apical application of C10 decreased transepithelial resistance by > 90% within minutes, whereas EGTA required an hour or more to produce a similar effect.

We investigated the ability of a medium-chain fatty acid known to enhance drug absorption, sodium caprate (C10), to increase airway paracellular permeability in comparison with ethyleneglycol- bis-( β -aminoethyl ether)- N, N′ -tetraacetic acid (EGTA). One strategy for enhancing airway epithelial gene transfer is to modify paracellular permeability, thereby permitting the diffusion of vectors to the basolateral surface, where uptake receptors are expressed. The airway epithelium is resistant to infection by gene transfer vectors when infected from the luminal surface.