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Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring Cellular Zinc Regulation Through ZnT1 Functionality
Published on: June 2, 2023
Synthesis and characterization of Zinc/Chitosan-Folic acid complex
Subhani Bandara1, Codi-Anne Carnegie1, Chevaun Johnson1
1Cooperative Agricultural Research Center, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA.
Abstract:
Therapeutic drug delivery systems using polymeric materials is an emerging field of research. However, the use of certain polymers has gained much-needed attention by the researchers due to their low toxic nature. In recent years, chitosan has gained popularity as a potential biodegradable polymer that can be used as a component in drug delivery systems. In this study, we synthesized a chitosan derivative that is composed of both folic acid and zinc and may serve as a viable component of a drug delivery system. The results of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), solid-state 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) and UV-visible Spectroscopy demonstrated a substantial difference between chitosan and ZnS/Chitosan-Folic acid derivative. The results were also confirmed using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) techniques. The average particle size of the ZnS/Chitosan-Folic acid system was measured to be 463.67 ± 5.76 nm, showing that the product is within the nano-size range.
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