Application of Dual Ionic/covalent Crosslinking in Lecithin/ Chitosan Nanoparticles and Their Evaluation as Drug Delivery System
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the use of chitosan derivatives in the formulation of lecithin/chitosan (LEC/CHI) nanoparticles (NPs), and to evaluate them as drug delivery systems after the application of dual ionic/covalent crosslinking.Chitosan and two chitosan conjugates were investigated in this study: Chitosan Phthalate and Phenylsuccinate with two degrees of substitution were used: 20 and 40%.All NPs were characterized by hydrodynamic diameter, zeta potential, pH stability, drug loading, and encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro release studies.Metronidazole (MET) was used as a model drug in the evaluation of drug-loaded NPs.The drug-free NPs before and after crosslinking have a size of less than 100 nm irrespective of the type of chitosan used.The zeta potential ranged between 14 and 23 mV depending on the type of chitosan and the crosslinker used.The MET-loaded NPs showed an increase in hydrodynamic diameter reaching up to 400 nm in some formulas.It was found that NPs based on chitosan derivatives showed higher drug loading capacities when compared to unmodified chitosan.Following the application of dual crosslinking, the drug loading of MET ranged between 9 and 26% while the entrapment efficiency ranged between 56 and 73%.Release studies showed higher release amounts for dual crosslinked NPs with the exception of the phenylsuccinic chitosan 20% formula.The use of chitosan derivatives and the dual crosslinking process offers more promising capabilities compared to the classical LEC/CHI NP assembly in relation to drug loading and release properties.
Authors: Isra Dmour, Hasan Muti
Institution: Al-Ahliyya Amman University
Language: English
Subfield: Pharmaceutical Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funder: University of Jordan
OpenAlex ID: W3151899485