Chitosan grafted low molecular weight polylactic acid for protein encapsulation and burst effect reduction

Chitosan and chitosan-grafted polylactic acid as a matrix for BSA encapsulation in a nanoparticle structure were prepared through a polyelectrolyte complexation method with dextran sulfate. Polylactic acid was synthetized via a polycondensation reaction using the non-metal-based initiator methanesulfonic acid and grafted to the chitosan backbone by a coupling reaction, with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide as the condensing agent. The effect of concentration of the polymer matrix utilized herein on particle diameter, ζ-potential, encapsulation efficiency, and the release kinetic of the model protein bovine serum albumin at differing pH levels was investigated. The influence of pH and ionic strength on the behavior of the nanoparticles prepared was also researched. Results showed that grafting polylactic acid to chitosan chains reduced the initial burst effect in the kinetics of BSA release from the structure of the nanoparticles. Furthermore, a rise in encapsulation efficiency of the bovine serum albumin and diminishment in nanoparticle diameter were observed due to chitosan modification. The results suggest that both polymers actually show appreciable encapsulation efficiency; and release rate of BSA. CS-g-PLA is more suitable than unmodified CS as a carrier for controlled protein delivery.