Chitosan-alginate microparticles as a protein carrier

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Pharmaceutical Technology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Oral administration of peptide drugs is challenging due to gastric degradation and poor absorption.
• Developing effective carriers is crucial for enhancing the bioavailability of peptide therapeutics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize alginate-based microsystems for oral delivery of peptide drugs.
• To investigate the effect of cross-linking conditions on protein loading and stability.
• To evaluate the potential of these microsystems for targeting intestinal absorption sites.

Main Methods:

• Utilized spray-drying to create bovine serum albumin (BSA)-loaded alginate microparticles.
• Employed calcium chloride and chitosan (CS) for microparticle hardening and stabilization.
• Investigated the impact of CS concentration and pH on BSA loading and microsystem properties.
• Performed rheological measurements to confirm BSA-alginate interactions.

Main Results:

• Successfully produced sub-10-micrometer spherical alginate microspheres.
• Optimized cross-linking with chitosan significantly enhanced BSA loading, particularly at pH below the protein's isoelectric point (pI).
• Confirmed the formation of a BSA/alginate complex contributing to higher loading efficiency.
• Demonstrated the potential for microsystems to target Peyer's patches.

Conclusions:

• Alginate-based microsystems offer a promising strategy for oral peptide drug delivery.
• Controlled cross-linking is key to maximizing protein encapsulation and stability.
• The developed microcarriers show potential for improving oral bioavailability of peptide drugs.