Chitosan nanoparticles conjugate with trypsin and trypsin inhibitor

Chitosan-protein conjugates are widely used in therapeutic drug delivery. We report the bindings of chitosan nanoparticles with trypsin (try) and trypsin inhibitor (tryi), using thermodynamic analysis and multiple spectroscopic methods. Thermodynamic parameters ΔS, ΔH and ΔG showed chitosan-protein bindings occur mainly via H-bonding and van der Waals contacts with trypsin inhibitor forming more stable conjugate than trypsin. As chitosan size increased more stable polymer-protein conjugate was formed. Chitosan complexation induces more perturbations of trypsin inhibitor structure than trypsin with reduction of protein alpha-helix and major increase of random structure. The negative value of ΔG indicates spontaneous protein-chitosan complexation at room temperature. Chitosan nanoparticles can be used to transport trypsin and trypsin inhibitor.