Chitosan-based polyelectrolyte complexes: A review

High-flexible chitosan-based composite membrane with multi-layer biopolymer coatings for anti-bacterial drug delivery and wound healing

Flexible chitosan-based membranes were prepared by casting/solvent evaporation method using chitosan flocks as raw material. To improve mechanical and biological properties, chitosan microspheres (CMs) were prepared and integrated to form the composite membranes. Two different anti-bacterial drugs, e.g., tetracycline hydrochloride (TH) and silver sulfadiazine (AgSD), were loaded into the CMs and composite membranes to enhance their anti-bacterial properties. Furthermore, composite membranes were alternately coated by multi-layers of oxidized alginate (OAlg) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) via the layer-by-layer self-assembly and Schiff-base cross-linking. Our results demonstrated that the microspheres and multi-layer coatings could improve the swelling, water vapor transmission and hydrophilicity of the composite membranes. The chitosan microspheres and multi-layer coatings increased the tensile strength and decreased the elongation at the break of the membranes. Our composite membrane had better mechanical properties, slow drug release, anti-bacterial properties, which could promote cell proliferation. This composite membrane has great application potential in inhibiting bacterial infection and promoting wound regeneration.

Chitosan as a tool for tissue engineering and rehabilitation: Recent developments and future perspectives - A review

Chitosan has established itself as a multifunctional and auspicious biomaterial within the domain of tissue engineering, presenting a decade of uninterrupted advancements and novel implementations. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the most recent developments in chitosan-based tissue engineering, focusing on significant progress made in the last ten years. An exploration is conducted of the various techniques utilized in the modification of chitosan and the production of scaffolds, with an analysis of their effects on cellular reactions and tissue regeneration. The investigation focuses on the integration of chitosan with other biomaterials and the addition of bioactive agents to improve their functionalities. Upon careful analysis of the in vitro and in vivo research, it becomes evident that chitosan effectively stimulates cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Furthermore, we offer valuable perspectives on the dynamic realm of chitosan-based approaches tailored to distinct tissue categories, including nerve, bone, cartilage, and skin. The review concludes with a discussion of prospective developments, with particular attention given to possible directions for additional study, translational implementations, and the utilization of chitosan to tackle existing obstacles in the field of tissue engineering. This extensive examination provides a significant amalgamation of the advancements achieved over the previous decade and directs scholars towards uncharted territories in chitosan-based tissue engineering.

Encapsulation of Active Substances in Natural Polymer Coatings

Already used in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and agrochemical industries, encapsulation is a strategy used to protect active ingredients from external degradation factors and to control their release kinetics. Various encapsulation techniques have been studied, both to optimise the level of protection with respect to the nature of the aggressor and to favour a release mechanism between diffusion of the active compounds and degradation of the barrier material. Biopolymers are of particular interest as wall materials because of their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-toxicity. By forming a stable hydrogel around the drug, they provide a 'smart' barrier whose behaviour can change in response to environmental conditions. After a comprehensive description of the concept of encapsulation and the main technologies used to achieve encapsulation, including micro- and nano-gels, the mechanisms of controlled release of active compounds are presented. A panorama of natural polymers as wall materials is then presented, highlighting the main results associated with each polymer and attempting to identify the most cost-effective and suitable methods in terms of the encapsulated drug.

Characterization of chitosan/Persian gum nanoparticles for encapsulation of Nigella sativa extract as an antiviral agent against avian coronavirus

The aim of this study was to investigate the physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles formed by the ionic gelation method between chitosan and water-soluble fraction of Persian gum (WPG) for encapsulation of Nigella sativa extract (NSE) as an antiviral agent. Our findings revealed that the particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential of the particles were in the range of 316.7-476.6 nm, 0.259-0.466, and 37.0-58.1 mV, respectively. The amounts of chitosan and WPG as the wall material and the NSE as the core had a considerable impact on the nanoparticle properties. The proper samples were detected at 1:1 chitosan:WPG mixing ratio (MR) and NSE concentration of 6.25 mg/mL. Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy proved the interactions between the two biopolymers. The effect of NSE on infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) known as avian coronavirus, was performed by the in-ovo method determining remarkable antiviral activity of NSE (25 mg/mL) and its enhancement through encapsulation in the nanoparticles. These nanoparticles containing NSE could have a promising capability for application in both poultry industry and human medicine as an antiviral product.

Hydrogel-Based Biosensors

There is an increasing interest in sensing applications for a variety of analytes in aqueous environments, as conventional methods do not work reliably under humid conditions or they require complex equipment with experienced operators. Hydrogel sensors are easy to fabricate, are incredibly sensitive, and have broad dynamic ranges. Experiments on their robustness, reliability, and reusability have indicated the possible long-term applications of these systems in a variety of fields, including disease diagnosis, detection of pharmaceuticals, and in environmental testing. It is possible to produce hydrogels, which, upon sensing a specific analyte, can adsorb it onto their 3D-structure and can therefore be used to remove them from a given environment. High specificity can be obtained by using molecularly imprinted polymers. Typical detection principles involve optical methods including fluorescence and chemiluminescence, and volume changes in colloidal photonic crystals, as well as electrochemical methods. Here, we explore the current research utilizing hydrogel-based sensors in three main areas: (1) biomedical applications, (2) for detecting and quantifying pharmaceuticals of interest, and (3) detecting and quantifying environmental contaminants in aqueous environments.

Microencapsulation of functional ovalbumin and bovine serum albumin with polylysine-alginate complex for sustained protein vehicle's development

Overcoming harsh gastric environment is still a challenging to bioactive proteins, microencapsulation provides one strategy in designing this protection barrier. In this work, bovine serum albumin and ovalbumin were chosen as model proteins, while polylysine-alginate complex was fabricated for microencapsulation purpose. Both of the protein-loaded microcapsules had regular internal microstructures. The model protein's embedding increased the thermal stability of the microcapsules. Both of the protein-loaded microcapsules had a slow release rate in simulated gastric fluids (pH 3.0), while a sustained release profile in simulated intestinal fluids (pH 6.4), indicating an excellent tolerance to the acidic gastric environment. The microencapsulation process was mild and had no influence on the protein's molecular weight, while a slight peak shifting occurred in the secondary structure of the released proteins. The developed microcapsules could be explored as a kind of vehicle for bioactive proteins applied in functional foods, health care products and medical formulations.

Cationic Polyelectrolyte Nanocapsules of Moxifloxacin for Microbial Keratitis Therapy: Development, Characterization, and Pharmacodynamic Study

Microbial keratitis (MK) is a vision-threatening disease and the fourth leading cause of blindness worldwide. In this work, we aim to develop moxifloxacin (MXN)-loaded chitosan-based cationic mucoadhesive polyelectrolyte nanocapsules (PENs) for the effective treatment of MK. PENs were formulated by polyelectrolyte complex coacervation method and characterized for their particle size, surface charge, morphology, mucoadhesive property, in-vitro and ex-vivo release, ocular tolerance, and antimicrobial efficacy studies. The pharmacodynamic study was conducted on rabbit eye model of induced keratitis and it is compared with marketed formulation (MF). Developed PENs showed the size range from 230.7 ± 0.64 to 249.0 ± 0.49 nm and positive surface charge, spherical shape along with appropriate physico-chemical parameters. Both in-vitro and ex-vivo examination concludes that PENs having more efficiency in sustained release of MXN compared to MF. Ocular irritation studies demonstrated that no corneal damage or ocular irritation. The in-vivo study proved that the anti-bacterial efficacy of PENs was improved when compared with MF. These results suggested that PENs are a feasible choice for MK therapy because of their ability to enhance ocular retention of loaded MXN through interaction with the corneal surface of the mucous membrane.

Fundamental and Practical Aspects in the Formulation of Colloidal Polyelectrolyte Complexes of Chitosan and siRNA

The formation of electrostatic interactions between polyanionic siRNA and polycations gives an easy access to the formation of colloidal particles capable of delivering siRNA in vitro or in vivo. Among the polycations used for siRNA delivery, chitosan occupies a special place due to its unique physicochemical and biological properties. In this chapter we describe the fundamental and practical aspects of the formation of colloidal complexes between chitosan and siRNA. The basis of the electrostatic complexation between oppositely charged polyelectrolytes is first introduced with a focus on the specific conditions to obtain stable colloid complex particles. Subsequent, the properties that make chitosan so special are described. In a third part, the main parameters influencing the colloidal properties and stability of siRNA/chitosan complexes are reviewed with emphasis on some practical aspects to consider in the preparation of complexes.

Controlling antimicrobial activity and drug loading capacity of chitosan-based layer-by-layer films

We report on layer-by-layer (LbL) films of chitosans (CHI) and hyaluronic acid (HA) whose properties could be controlled by employing chitosans with different degrees of deacetylation (DD¯ ≈ 85%; 65%; 40%) and high average molecular weight (ca. 10⁶ g/mol). In spite of their high molecular weight, these chitosans are soluble within a wide pH range, including physiological pH. HA/CHI LbL films produced from polymer solutions at pH 4.5 were thinner, smoother, more hydrophilic than those prepared at pH 7.2. This is attributed to the more extended conformation adopted by chitosan due to its very high charge density at low pH, favoring a compact chain packing during the film formation and resulting in lower film thickness and roughness. The smoother HA/CHI LbL films obtained at pH 4.5 were effective against Escherichia coli, while the thicker, rougher LbL films fabricated at pH 7.2 could be used in the controlled released of Rose Bengal dye. In summary, the tuning of only two parameters, i.e. solution pH and DD¯ of chitosans, provides access to a library of HA/CHI LbL films for tailored, diversified applications.

Brinzolamide loaded chitosan-pectin mucoadhesive nanocapsules for management of glaucoma: Formulation, characterization and pharmacodynamic study

AIM

Brinzolamide (BNZ) is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor commonly used for the treatment of glaucoma. The aim of this study was to prepare BNZ loaded chitosan-pectin mucoadhesive nanocapsules (CPNCs) by polyelectrolyte complex coacervation method for ocular delivery and evaluated for its anti glaucoma efficacy.

METHODS

The prepared CPNCs were characterized for their particle size, polydispersity index, zeta-potential, surface morphology, entrapment efficiency, drug loading efficiency, mucoadhesive strength in-vitro and ex-vivo release. The pharmacodynamic studies were conducted for CPNCs on glaucoma induced rabbit eye model and compared with marketed product.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

All the formulated CPNCs exhibited the size range from 217.01 ± 0.21 to 240.05 ± 0.08 nm and appropriate physico-chemical parameters, and depicted a couple of erosion- diffusion release of BNZ over a time of 8 h. Ex-vivo corneal permeation study concluded that BNZ loaded CPNCs crosses the cornea potentially higher rate as compared to the marketed product. In pharmacodynamic study, greater intraocular pressure lowering effect was achieved by CPNCs as compared to marketed drug product.

CONCLUSION

The result concluded that CPNCs are a feasible choice to conventional eye drops because of its ability to improve the bioavailability via its longer precorneal retention time and its ability to sustained release of the drug.

Fabrication and characterization of pectin-based three-dimensional porous scaffolds suitable for treatment of peritoneal adhesions

Formation of peritoneal adhesions is common complication after abdominal and pelvic surgery. They bear a significant health problem with an influence to quality of life and health care expenses. Promising approach for their prevention is using of biodegradable barrier films for physical separation of peritoneal surfaces. In the present study, highly porous pectin-based three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds were obtained by freeze-drying technique. Physico-chemical properties of the formed materials, including their morphology, porosity, density, and stability, have been studied. The evaluation of their biocompatibility, biodegradation, and potential antiadhesion effect was studied by in vivo experiment. To reinforce the scaffolds structure and improve their stability in physiological solutions, pectin chains were cross-linked with divalent cations. We determined optimal cross-linking conditions, which allow obtaining scaffolds with desired biodegradation rate. These cross-linked scaffolds fully dissolved within 8 days in the peritoneal cavity with low presence of complications and some antiadhesive effect. It has also been determined that mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue could effectively adhere to the scaffolds with preservation of their viability. Our results show that obtained materials can be suggested as mechanical scaffold for delivery of the stem cells culture to peritoneal surfaces as a part of complex antiadhesive barrier system.

Hydration and Temperature Response of Water Mobility in Poly(diallyldimethylammonium)-Poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) Complexes

The combination of all-atom molecular dynamics simulations with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) has been exploited to investigate the influence of temperature and hydration on the water distribution and mobility in poly(diallyldimethylammonium) (PDADMA) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) complexes. The findings show that the vast majority of the water molecules hydrating the polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) with 18-30 wt % hydration are effectively immobilized due to the strong interactions between the PE charge groups and water. Temperature and hydration were found to decrease similarly the fraction of strongly bound water. Additionally, at low hydration or at low temperatures, water motions become dominantly local vibrations and rotations instead of translational motion; translation dominance is recovered in a similar fashion by increase of both temperature and hydration. DSC experiments corroborate the simulation findings by showing that nonfreezing, bound water dominates in hydrated PECs at comparable hydrations. Our results raise attention to water as an equal variable to temperature in the design and engineering of stimuli-responsive polyelectrolyte materials and provide mechanistic explanation for the similarity.

Thermosensitive chitosan gels containing calcium glycerophosphate

In this paper the properties of thermosensitive chitosan hydrogels, formulated with chitosan chloride with β-glycerophosphate disodium salt hydrate and chitosan chloride with β-glycerophosphate disodium salt hydrate enriched with calcium glycerophosphate, are presented. The study focused on the determination of the hydrogel structure after conditioning in water. The structure of the gels was investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The crystallinity of the gel structure was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and the thermal effects were determined based on DSC thermograms.

Morphology, electrokinetic characteristics and the effect on biofilm formation of carrageenan:chitosan polyelectrolyte complexes

Carrageenan:chitosan (CG:CH) polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) were obtained and the effect of the initial components ratio on formation was studied by dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and electrokinetic measurements. Positively charged PEC particles (average ζ-potential 40.2 mV) were formed, provided that the polycation was present in excess in the complex and was stabilized by chitosan amino groups. According to the AFM data, chitosan was located on the surface of the carrageenan fibers. In PEC where carrageenan prevailed, the number of unbound sulfate groups decreased when the chitosan content increased, this resulted in a decrease in the PEC negative surface charge (from -92.4 to -55.6 mV). In this case, AFM showed that chitosan was incorporated into the network structure of carrageenan and breaks it at a CG:CH ratio of 1:0.5 w/w. Complexes with a high content of kappa-CG inhibited biofilm formation by Gram negative and Gram positive microorganisms.

Water-Based Suspensions of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles with Electrostatic or Steric Stabilization by Chitosan: Fabrication, Characterization and Biocompatibility

Present day biomedical applications, including magnetic biosensing, demand better understanding of the interactions between living systems and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). In this work spherical MNPs of maghemite were obtained by a highly productive laser target evaporation technique. XRD analysis confirmed the inverse spinel structure of the MNPs (space group Fd-3m). The ensemble obeyed a lognormal size distribution with the median value 26.8 nm and dispersion 0.362. Stabilized water-based suspensions were fabricated using electrostatic or steric stabilization by the natural polymer chitosan. The encapsulation of the MNPs by chitosan makes them resistant to the unfavorable factors for colloidal stability typically present in physiological conditions such as pH and high ionic force. Controlled amounts of suspensions were used for in vitro experiments with human blood mononuclear leukocytes (HBMLs) in order to study their morphofunctional response. For sake of comparison the results obtained in the present study were analyzed together with our previous results of the study of similar suspensions with human mesenchymal stem cells. Suspensions with and without chitosan enhanced the secretion of cytokines by a 24-h culture of HBMLs compared to a control without MNPs. At a dose of 2.3, the MTD of chitosan promotes the stimulating effect of MNPs on cells. In the dose range of MNPs 10-1000 MTD, chitosan "inhibits" cellular secretory activity compared to MNPs without chitosan. Both suspensions did not caused cell death by necrosis, hence, the secretion of cytokines is due to the enhancement of the functional activity of HBMLs. Increased accumulation of MNP with chitosan in the cell fraction at 100 MTD for 24 h exposure, may be due to fixation of chitosan on the outer membrane of HBMLs. The discussed results can be used for an addressed design of cell delivery/removal incorporating multiple activities because of cell capability to avoid phagocytosis by immune cells. They are also promising for the field of biosensor development for the detection of magnetic labels.

Self-assembled Hydrogel Fiber Bundles from Oppositely Charged Polyelectrolytes Mimic Micro-/nanoscale Hierarchy of Collagen

Fiber bundles are present in many tissues throughout the body. In most cases, collagen subunits spontaneously self-assemble into a fibrilar structure that provides ductility to bone and constitutes the basis of muscle contraction. Translating these natural architectural features into a biomimetic scaffold still remains a great challenge. Here, we propose a simple strategy to engineer biomimetic fiber bundles that replicate the self-assembly and hierarchy of natural collagen fibers. The electrostatic interaction of methacrylated gellan gum (MeGG) with a countercharged chitosan (CHT) polymer led to the complexation of the polyelectrolytes. When directed through a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) channel, the polyelectrolytes formed a hierarchical fibrous hydrogel demonstrating nano-scale periodic light/dark bands similar to D-periodic bands in native collagen and aligned parallel fibrils at micro-scale. Importantly, collagen-mimicking hydrogel fibers exhibited robust mechanical properties (MPa scale) at a single fiber bundle level and enabled encapsulation of cells inside the fibers under cell-friendly mild conditions. Presence of carboxyl- (in gellan gum) or amino- (in chitosan) functionalities further enabled controlled peptide functionalization such as RGD for biochemical mimicry (cell adhesion sites) of native collagen. This biomimetic aligned fibrous hydrogel system can potentially be used as a scaffold for tissue engineering as well as a drug/gene delivery vehicle.

Preparation and characterization of novel functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes/chitosan/β-Glycerophosphate scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

A major limitation in current tissue engineering scaffolds is that some of the most important characteristics of the intended tissue are ignored. As piezoelectricity and high mechanical strength are two of the most important characteristics of the bone tissue, carbon nanotubes are getting a lot of attention as a bone tissue scaffold component in recent years. In the present study, composite scaffolds comprised of functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (f-MWCNT), medium molecular weight chitosan and β-Glycerophosphate were fabricated and characterized. Biodegradability and mechanical tests indicate that while increasing f-MWCNT content can improve electrical conductivity and mechanical properties, there are some limitations for these increases, such as a decrease in mechanical properties and biodegradability in 1w/v% content of f-MWCNTs. Also, MTT cytotoxicity assay was conducted for the scaffolds and no significant cytotoxicity was observed. Increasing f-MWCNT content led to higher alkaline Phosphatase activity. The overall results show that composites with f-MWCNT content between 0.1w/v% and 0.5w/v% are the most suitable for bone tissue engineering application. Additionally, Preliminary cell electrical tests proved the efficiency of the prepared scaffolds for cell electrical applications.

Thermosensitive chitosan gels containing calcium glycerophosphate for bone cell culture

In this article, properties of thermosensitive chitosan hydrogels prepared with the use of chitosan chloride with β-glycerophosphate disodium salt pentahydrate enriched with calcium glycerophosphate are presented and compared with chitosan hydrogels with β-glycerophosphate disodium salt pentahydrate. The study is focused on the determination of hydrogel structure and biological testing of hydrogels with human osteoblasts line Saos-2. The structure of gels was visualized by scanning electron microscopy and was investigated by infrared spectroscopy. The crystallinity of gel structure was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis and thermal effects were determined using differential scanning calorimetry thermograms.

Ultrasonic compatibilization of polyelectrolyte complex based on polysaccharides for biomedical applications

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the design of biomaterials for cartilage tissue engineering. This type of materials must meet several requirements. In this study, we apply ultrasound to prepare a compatibilized blend of polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) based on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and chitosan (CHI), in order to improve stability and mechanical properties through the inter-polymer macroradicals coupling produced by sonochemical reaction. We study the kinetic of the sonochemical degradation of each component in order to optimize the experimental conditions for PEC compatibilization. Scaffolds obtained applying this methodology and scaffolds without ultrasound processing were prepared and their morphology (by scanning electron microscopy), polyelectrolyte interactions (by FTIR), stability and mechanical properties were analyzed. The swelling kinetics was studied and interpreted based on the structural differences between the two kinds of scaffolds. In addition we evaluate the possible in vitro cytotoxicity of the scaffolds using macrophage cells in culture. Our results demonstrate that the ultrasound is a very efficient methodology to compatibilize PEC, exhibiting improved properties compared with the simple mixture of the two polysaccharides. The test with murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells showed no evince of cytotoxicity, suggesting that PEC biomaterials obtained under ultrasound conditions could be useful in the cartilage tissue engineering field.

Novel stabilisation of emulsions by soft particles: polyelectrolyte complexes

We put forward the concept of a novel particle stabiliser of oil–water emulsions, being the polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) formed between oppositely charged water-soluble polymers in cases where either polymer alone is incapable of stabilising an emulsion. Using poly(4-styrene sulfonate) sodium salt, PSSNa and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride), PDADMAC, of low polydispersity and similar molecular mass, we correlate the behaviour of their mixtures in water with that of emulsions after addition of oil. In aqueous mixtures, spherical particles of diameters between 100 and 150 nm are formed through electrostatic interactions between charged polymer chains. Around equal mole fractions of the two polymers, the zeta potential of the particles reverses in sign and emulsions of oil-in-water (o/w) for a range of oils can be prepared which are the most stable to coalescence and creaming. The effects of PEC concentration and the oil : water ratio have been examined. All emulsions are o/w and stability is achieved by close-packed particle layers at drop interfaces and particle aggregation in the continuous phase. Increasing the salt concentration initially causes destabilisation of the aqueous particle dispersion due to particle aggregation followed by dissolution of particles at high concentrations; the corresponding emulsions change from being stable to completely unstable and are then re-stabilised due to adsorption of uncharged individual polymer molecules.

Artificial biofilms establish the role of matrix interactions in staphylococcal biofilm assembly and disassembly

We demonstrate that the microstructural and mechanical properties of bacterial biofilms can be created through colloidal self-assembly of cells and polymers, and thereby link the complex material properties of biofilms to well understood colloidal and polymeric behaviors. This finding is applied to soften and disassemble staphylococcal biofilms through pH changes. Bacterial biofilms are viscoelastic, structured communities of cells encapsulated in an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) comprised of polysaccharides, proteins, and DNA. Although the identity and abundance of EPS macromolecules are known, how these matrix materials interact with themselves and bacterial cells to generate biofilm morphology and mechanics is not understood. Here, we find that the colloidal self-assembly of Staphylococcus epidermidis RP62A cells and polysaccharides into viscoelastic biofilms is driven by thermodynamic phase instability of EPS. pH conditions that induce phase instability of chitosan produce artificial S. epidermidis biofilms whose mechanics match natural S. epidermidis biofilms. Furthermore, pH-induced solubilization of the matrix triggers disassembly in both artificial and natural S. epidermidis biofilms. This pH-induced disassembly occurs in biofilms formed by five additional staphylococcal strains, including three clinical isolates. Our findings suggest that colloidal self-assembly of cells and matrix polymers produces biofilm viscoelasticity and that biofilm control strategies can exploit this mechanism.

Chitosan coatings to control release and target tissues for therapeutic delivery

The natural biopolymer chitosan has versatile applications in therapeutic delivery. Coating drug delivery matrices or biomaterials with chitosan offers several advantages in drug delivery, including control of drug release, slowing degradation rate and improving biocompatibility. Advanced uses of chitosan in coating form include targeting drug delivery vehicles to specific tissue as well as providing a stimulus-controlled release response. The present review summarizes the current applications of chitosan coatings in the context of different biomaterial delivery technologies, as well as future directions of chitosan coatings for drug delivery technologies under development.

Evaluation of enzymatically crosslinked injectable glycol chitosan hydrogel

Enzymatically cross-linkable phenol-conjugated glycol chitosan was prepared by reacting glycol chitosan with 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid (HPP). The chemical modification was confirmed by FTIR, ¹H-NMR and UV spectroscopy. Glycol chitosan hydrogels (HPP-GC) with or without rhBMP-2 were prepared by the oxidative coupling of the substituted phenol groups in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and horse radish peroxidase. Rheological characterization demonstrated the feasibility of developing hydrogels with varying storage moduli by changing the polymer concentration. The gel presented a microporous structure with pore sizes ranging from 50-350 μm. The good viability of encapsulated 7F2 osteoblasts indicated non-toxicity of the gelation conditions. In vitro release of rhBMP-2 in phosphate buffer solution showed ∼11% release in 360 h. The ability of the hydrogel to maintain the in vivo bioactivity of rhBMP-2 was evaluated in a bilateral critical size calvarial bone defect model in Col3.6 transgenic fluorescent reporter mice. The presence of fluorescent green osteoblast cells with overlying red alizarin complexone and yellow stain indicating osteoclast TRAP activity confirmed active cell-mediated mineralization and remodelling process at the implantation site. The complete closure of the defect site at 4 and 8 weeks post implantation demonstrated the potent osteoinductivity of the rhBMP-2 containing gel.

Design of chitosan and its water soluble derivatives-based drug carriers with polyelectrolyte complexes

Chitosan, the cationic polysaccharide derived from the natural polysaccharide chitin, has been studied as a biomaterial for more than two decades. As a polycationic polymer with favorable properties, it has been widely used to form polyelectrolyte complexes with polyanions for various applications in drug delivery fields. In recent years, a growing number of studies have been focused on the preparation of polyelectrolyte complexes based on chitosan and its water soluble derivatives. They have been considered well-suited as biomaterials for a number of vital drug carriers with targeted/controlled release profiles, e.g., films, capsules, microcapsules. In this work, an overview highlights not only the favorable properties of chitosan and its water soluble derivatives but also the good performance of the polyelectrolyte complexes produced based on chitosan. Their various types of applications as drug carriers are reviewed in detail.

Hydrodynamic characterisation of chitosan and its interaction with two polyanions: DNA and xanthan

Chitosan, a soluble polycationic derivative of insoluble chitin, has been widely considered for use in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Commercial ("C") and in-house laboratory ("L") prepared chitosan samples extracted from crustaceous shells with different molecular weight and degrees of acetylation (25% and 15%) were compared with regards to (i) weight-average molecular weight (Mw); (ii) sedimentation coefficient (s(o)(20,w)) distribution, and (iii) intrinsic viscosity ([η]). These parameters were estimated using a combination of analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC), size exclusion chromatography coupled to multi-angle laser light scattering (SEC-MALS) and differential pressure viscometry. Polydisperse distributions were seen from sedimentation coefficient distributions and elution profiles from SEC-MALS. Mw values obtained for each sample by sedimentation equilibrium measurements were in excellent agreement with those obtained from SEC-MALS. Mark-Houwink-Kuhn-Sakurada (MHKS) and Wales van Holde analyses of the data all suggest a semi-flexible conformation. The principle of co-sedimentation was then used to monitor the interactions of the two different molecular weights of L chitosans with two polyanions, DNA and xanthan (another double helical high molecular weight molecule). Interactions were clearly observed and then quantified from the changes in the sedimentation coefficient distribution of the mixture compared to unmixed controls using sedimentation velocity. The interactions appeared to show a strong dependence on molecular weight. The relevance of this for DNA condensation applications is indicated.