Synthesis and characterisation of alginate/chitosan nanoparticles as tamoxifen controlled delivery systems

Polysaccharides have shown ideal features for their application in nanomedicine as nanoparticulated systems. Nanoparticles based on mixtures of alginate and chitosan (A/Q-50/50, formed by 50% alginate and 50% chitosan, and A/Q-70/30, formed by 70% alginate and 30% alginate) have been synthesised by an emulsification method and stabilised by amide bond formation. Tamoxifen (TMX) was loaded into these systems, and they were assayed as controlled delivery formulations. Results showed the formation of spherical nanoparticles with very small size (19-28 nm). The presence of amide bonds was determined by FT-IR and confirmed by Thermogravimetric analysis studies. TMX incorporation was achieved successfully (2-3 µg TMX per mg NP), and maximum TMX release took place between 8 and 24 h. This study shows that interaction between TMX and the system was dependent on nanoparticle composition, being the composition with higher proportion of alginate the one which showed the best release control of the drug.