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Published on: January 22, 2015
Quaternized chitosan/alginate nanoparticles for protein delivery
Tao Li1, Xiao-Wen Shi, Yu-Min Du
1Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital, and Department of Environmental Science, College of Resource and Environmental Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China.
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Part A
|April 24, 2007
Summary
Quaternized chitosan/alginate nanoparticles effectively deliver proteins orally. Their release characteristics depend on pH and nanoparticle properties, offering tunable protein delivery systems.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Oral protein delivery faces challenges due to enzymatic degradation and poor absorption.
- Chitosan and alginate are biocompatible polymers with potential for drug encapsulation.
- Quaternization of chitosan enhances its properties for biomedical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prepare and characterize quaternized chitosan/alginate (QCS/AL) nanoparticles for oral protein delivery.
- To investigate the influence of QCS properties on protein loading and release.
- To evaluate the pH-dependent release profile of encapsulated proteins.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of QCS/AL nanoparticles via a neutral condition method.
- Characterization using IR spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy.
- Loading and in vitro release studies of bovine serum albumin (BSA) under different pH conditions.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized QCS/AL nanoparticles with a diameter of approximately 200 nm and positive surface charge.
- Protein loading efficiency was influenced by QCS concentration, degree of substitution (DS), molecular weight (Mw), and BSA concentration.
- BSA release was rapid at pH 7.4 and slow at pH 1.2, demonstrating pH-dependent release kinetics.
Conclusions:
- QCS/AL nanoparticles are a promising system for oral protein delivery.
- The DS and Mw of QCS significantly impact BSA release profiles, with high Mw accelerating release in acid and high DS retarding it.
- These findings highlight the potential for tailoring QCS/AL nanoparticles for specific oral delivery applications.
