Chitosan nanoparticles for the linear release of model cationic Peptide

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) show therapeutic promise but suffer from instability in biological fluids.
• Developing effective drug delivery systems (DDS) is crucial for utilizing AMPs.
• Chitosan (CS) nanoparticles offer a potential platform for stabilizing and delivering labile therapeutic agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a Chitosan (CS) nanoparticle-based drug delivery system (DDS) using Renin substrate I (RSI) as a model agent.
• To optimize CS nanoparticle formulations for efficient loading and controlled release of cationic peptides, mimicking antimicrobial peptides (AMPs).
• To establish a reliable quantification assay for quality control of DDS loaded with peptide-like agents.

Main Methods:

• Encapsulation of RSI within CS nanoparticles via ionic gelation.
• Utilizing a chromogenic enzymatic assay to evaluate the release kinetics of the model peptide.
• Development of a release model based on RSI amount and nanoparticle radius.

Main Results:

• Achieved nearly 100% encapsulation efficacy for RSI in CS nanoparticles.
• Observed low burst release percentages and a linear release profile of the model peptide.
• Established a release model demonstrating direct dependence on RSI quantity and nanoparticle radius.

Conclusions:

• The ionotropic gelation method successfully formed "core-shell" CS nanoparticles with a cationic agent (RSI), differing from typical formulations with anionic agents.
• The developed CS nanoparticle system exhibits tunable, linear release rates, making it suitable for delivering therapeutically active antimicrobial peptides (AMPs).
• This model DDS provides a foundation for future applications in delivering sensitive peptide-based therapeutics.