Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Preparation and Characterization of SDF-1α-Chitosan-Dextran Sulfate Nanoparticles
Published on: January 22, 2015
Chitosan/TPP and chitosan/TPP-hyaluronic acid nanoparticles: systematic optimisation of the preparative process and
Alessandro Nasti1, Noha M Zaki, Piero de Leonardis
1School of Pharmacy, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
Purpose:
Chitosan is one of the most sought-after components for designing nanoparticles for drug delivery applications. However, despite the large number of studies, reproducibility is often an issue; generally more attention should be focused on purity and precise characterization of the starting material, as well as on the development of robust preparative procedures.
Methods:
Using a rational experimental design, we have studied the influence of a number of orthogonal factors (pH, concentrations, ratios of components, different methods of mixing) in the preparation of chitosan/triphosphate (TPP) nanoparticles and in their coating with hyaluronic acid (HA), aiming at the minimisation of size polydispersity, the maximisation of zeta potential and long-term stability, and at the control over average nanoparticle size.
Results And Conclusion:
Three optimised nanoparticles have been developed (two uncoated and one HA-coated) and their toxicity on fibroblasts and macrophages has been evaluated: experiments showed the beneficial character of HA-coating in the reduction of toxicity (IC50 raised from 0.7-0.8 mg/mL to 1.8 mg/mL) and suggested that the uncoated chitosan/TPP nanoparticles had toxic effects following internalisation rather than membrane disruption.
