Synthesis and characterization of pectin-chitosan conjugate for biomedical application

Area of Science:

• Biopolymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Polysaccharides like chitosan (CS) and pectin (PEC) are versatile for drug delivery due to their reactivity.
• CS and PEC are frequently employed in creating novel conjugates and biopolymers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a pectin-chitosan (PEC-CS) conjugate.
• To evaluate the potential of the PEC-CS conjugate for drug delivery applications.

Main Methods:

• Carbodiimide crosslinking chemistry was utilized for PEC-CS synthesis.
• Pectin-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester was conjugated with chitosan via carboxyl and amino groups.

Main Results:

• Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed successful PEC-CS conjugate formation.
• The PEC-CS conjugate exhibited an amorphous structure, superior thermostability compared to native polymers, and no cytotoxicity.
• X-ray diffraction, DSC, TGA, and SEM analyses supported these findings.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized PEC-CS conjugate shows promise for development in drug delivery systems.
• The biopolymer's properties make it a suitable candidate for further investigation in pharmaceutical formulations.