Role of micellar interface in the synthesis of chitosan nanoparticles formulated by reverse micellar method

Applications and advancements of polysaccharide-based nanostructures for enhanced drug delivery

Growing demand for highly effective, site-specific delivery of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals using nano-sized carriers has prompted increased scrutiny of carrier biocompatibility and biodegradability. To address these concerns, biodegradable natural polymers have emerged as a transformative domain, offering non-toxic, precisely targetable carriers capable of finely modulating cargo pharmacokinetics while generating innocuous decomposition by-products. This comprehensive review illuminates the emergence of polysaccharide-based nanoparticulate drug delivery systems. These systems establish an interactive interface between drug and targeted organs, guided by strategic modifications to polysaccharide backbones, which facilitate the creation of morphologically, constitutionally, and characteristically vibrant nanostructures through various fabrication routes, underpinning their pivotal role in biomedical applications. Advancements crucial to enhancing polysaccharide-based drug delivery, such as surface modifications and bioinspired modifications for enhanced targeting, and stimuli-responsive release, strategies to overcome biological barriers, enhance tumor penetration, and optimize therapeutic outcomes are highlighted. This review also examines some potent challenges, and the contemporary way out of them, and discusses future perspectives in the field.

A review of chitosan nanoparticles: Nature's gift for transforming agriculture through smart and effective delivery mechanisms

Chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) have emerged as a promising tool in agricultural advancements due to their unique properties including, biocompatability, biodegradability, non-toxicity and remarkable versatility. These inherent properties along with their antimicrobial, antioxidant and eliciting activities enable CNPs to play an important role in increasing agricultural productivity, enhancing nutrient absorption and improving pest management strategies. Furthermore, the nano-formulation of chitosan have the ability to encapsulate various agricultural amendments, enabling the controlled release of pesticides, fertilizers, plant growth promoters and biocontrol agents, thus offering precise and targeted delivery mechanisms for enhanced efficiency. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the latest research and developments in the use of CNPs for enhancing agricultural practices through smart and effective delivery mechanisms. It discusses the synthesis methods, physicochemical properties, and their role in enhancing seed germination and plant growth, crop protection against biotic and abiotic stresses, improving soil quality and reducing the environmental pollution and delivery of agricultural amendments. Furthermore, the potential environmental benefits and future directions for integrating CNPs into sustainable agricultural systems are explored. This review aims to shed light on the transformative potential of chitosan nanoparticles as nature's gift for revolutionizing agriculture and fostering eco-friendly farming practices.

Chitosan nanoparticles and based composites as a biocompatible vehicle for drug delivery: A review

The shellfish processing industry is one of the largest growing industries across the globe with a market size of around USD 62B. However, it also leads to a significant environmental issue as it produces >80,000 tons of waste shells globally. Unfortunately, the slow degradation of this waste causes it to accumulate over time, posing a serious threat to the marine environment. The key solution to this problem is to recycle this sea waste into a valuable product like chitin which is further used to produce chitosan. Chitosan is a natural biopolymeric substance obtained via N-deacetylation of the chitin. The chitosan-based nanoparticles are further useful for the fabrication of biopolymeric nanocomposites which are used in various biomedical applications specifically in drug delivery. Here, we review the recent advancements in the development of chitosan-based nanocomposites as a biocompatible carrier for drug delivery, specifically focusing on gene delivery, wound healing, microbial treatment, and anticancer drug delivery. By providing a valuable and up-to-date resource, this review illuminates the current state of research concerning chitosan's pivotal role in the biomedical domain as an efficacious drug delivery agent.

Enhancing Pectin Particles with Polymer Additives: Mitigating Rumen Degradation and Minimizing Yellowish Milk Color in Grazed Cows

The pigments consumed in grazing give the milk from dual-purpose cows raised in tropical conditions a yellowish color, affecting the quality and price of the milk. This study aimed to develop an economical method with supplementary pectin to antagonize the availability of carotenes by designing microparticles with shellac and palm oil as a viable alternative to protect pectin degradation against rumen microbes. Three preparations of microparticles based on citrus pectin were synthesized: unprotected (PnP), protected with palm oil (PwP), and protected with palm oil and shellac (PwPL) microparticles. Samples were roughly characterized by spectroscopy and electron microscopy techniques. The effect of PnP, PwP, and PwPL on blood metabolites and physicochemical characteristics of the milk of grazing lactating cows was evaluated through in vivo assays. The release of citrus pectin from microparticles was determined as uronic acids using solutions with distinct pH, whereas its degradation was studied using in situ tests. Results revealed that PnP, PwP, and PwPL are amorphous structures with sizes that range from 60 to 265 nm or 750 to 3570 µm and have surface charges that range from -11.5 to -50.2 mV. Samples exhibited characteristic peaks during FTIR analyses that corresponded to O-H, C=O, and COOCH3 groups and bands within the UV-vis region that indicated the absorption of pectin. The EDS analysis revealed the presence of carbon, oxygen, or calcium in samples. The release of uronic acids was higher at pH 2-3 with PwPL. The in situ degradability of PnP, PwP, and PwPL was 99, 28.4, and 17.7%, respectively. Moreover, PwPL decreased the blood concentration of glucose, cholesterol, and lactate. In contrast, 100 g of pectin per animal daily during the feed process reduced yellow coloring. In conclusion, designing particles protected with lipids and polymers as shellac is an economical method that resists degradation at pH levels greater than five.

Advancements in Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles for Pulmonary Drug Delivery

The evolution of respiratory diseases represents a considerable public health challenge, as they are among the leading causes of death worldwide. In this sense, in addition to the high prevalence of diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, and lung cancer, emerging respiratory diseases, particularly those caused by members of the coronavirus family, have contributed to a significant number of deaths on a global scale over the last two decades. Therefore, several studies have been conducted to optimize the efficacy of treatments against these diseases, focusing on pulmonary drug delivery using nanomedicine. Thus, the development of nanocarriers has emerged as a promising alternative to overcome the limitations of conventional therapy, by increasing drug bioavailability at the target site and reducing unwanted side effects. In this context, nanoparticles composed of chitosan (CS) show advantages over other nanocarriers because chitosan possesses intrinsic biological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and mucoadhesive capacity. Moreover, CS nanoparticles have the potential to enhance drug stability, prolong the duration of action, improve drug targeting, control drug release, optimize dissolution of poorly soluble drugs, and increase cell membrane permeability of hydrophobic drugs. These properties could optimize the performance of the drug after its pulmonary administration. Therefore, this review aims to discuss the potential of chitosan nanoparticles for pulmonary drug delivery, highlighting how their biological properties can improve the treatment of pulmonary diseases, including their synergistic action with the encapsulated drug.

Chitosan Nanoparticles for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Treatment

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a chronic ailment that results from the backward flow of stomach acid into the esophagus, causing heartburn and acid regurgitation. This review explores nanotechnology as a novel treatment approach for GERD. Chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) offer several advantages, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and targeted drug delivery capabilities. CSNPs have been extensively studied due to their ability to encapsulate and release medications in a controlled manner. Different nanoparticle (NP) delivery systems, including gels, microspheres, and coatings, have been developed to enhance drug retention, drug targeting, and controlled release in the esophagus. These nanoparticles can target specific molecular pathways associated with acid regulation, esophageal tissue protection, and inflammation modulation. However, the optimization of nanoparticle formulations faces challenges, including ensuring stability, scalability, and regulatory compliance. The future may see CSNPs combined with other treatments like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or mucosal protectants for a synergistic therapeutic approach. Thus, CSNPs provide exciting opportunities for novel GERD treatment strategies.

Recent Advances in Chitosan-Based Applications-A Review

Chitosan derived from chitin gas gathered much interest as a biopolymer due to its known and possible broad applications. Chitin is a nitrogen-enriched polymer abundantly present in the exoskeletons of arthropods, cell walls of fungi, green algae, and microorganisms, radulae and beaks of molluscs and cephalopods, etc. Chitosan is a promising candidate for a wide variety of applications due to its macromolecular structure and its unique biological and physiological properties, including solubility, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and reactivity. Chitosan and its derivatives have been known to be applicable in medicine, pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, agriculture, the textile and paper industries, the energy industry, and industrial sustainability. More specifically, their use in drug delivery, dentistry, ophthalmology, wound dressing, cell encapsulation, bioimaging, tissue engineering, food packaging, gelling and coating, food additives and preservatives, active biopolymeric nanofilms, nutraceuticals, skin and hair care, preventing abiotic stress in flora, increasing water availability in plants, controlled release fertilizers, dye-sensitised solar cells, wastewater and sludge treatment, and metal extraction. The merits and demerits associated with the use of chitosan derivatives in the above applications are elucidated, and finally, the key challenges and future perspectives are discussed in detail.

Pharmaceutical and drug delivery applications of pectin and its modified nanocomposites

Due to their natural availability, biocompatibility, biodegradability, nontoxicity, flexibility, as well as improved structural and functional characteristics, pectin and pectin-based nanocomposites have become an interesting area of numerous researchers. Pectin is a polysaccharide that comes from plants and is used in a variety of products. The significance of pectin polysaccharide and its modified nanocomposites in a number of applications has been shown in numerous reviews. On their uses in pharmaceutical and medication delivery, there are, however, few review publications. The majority of papers on pectin polysaccharide do not structure their explanations of drug distribution and medicinal application. The biological application of pectin nanocomposite is also explained in this review, along with a recent publication. As a result, the goal of this review was in-depth analysis to summarize biological application of pectin and its modified nanocomposites. Due to their exceptional physicochemical and biological characteristics, pectin and its nanocomposites are remarkable materials for medicinal applications. In addition to enhancing the immune system, controlling blood cholesterol, and other things, they have been shown to have anticancer, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antibacterial properties. Because of their biocompatibility and properties that allow for regulated release, they have also received a lot of interest as drug carriers in targeted drug delivery systems. They have been used to administer medications to treat cancer, inflammation, pain, Alzheimer's, bacteria, and relax muscles. This review found that pectin and its derivatives have better drug delivery efficiency and are viable candidates for a wide range of medicinal applications. It has been advised to conduct further research on the subject of toxicity in order to produce commercial formulations that can serve as both therapeutic agents and drug carriers.

Chitosan nanoparticles, as biological macromolecule-based drug delivery systems to improve the healing potential of artificial neural guidance channels: A review

The healing potential of artificial neural guidance channels (NGCs) can be improved by various approaches such as seeding them with supporting cells, the incorporation of various cues, and modification with different fabrication methods. Recently, the therapeutic appeal towards the use of drug-delivering NGCs has increased. In this framework, neuroprotective agents are incorporated into the structure of NGCs using different techniques. Among available methods, nanoparticle-based drug carriers offer numerous advantages over other formulations such as controlled drug release, targeted delivery, high encapsulation efficacy, and high surface to volume ratio. Chitosan nanoparticles have different interesting features for drug delivery applications. These nanocarriers are biocompatible, biodegradable, non-immunogenic, stable, and possess tunable properties. In the current review, applications, challenges, and future perspectives of drug-loaded chitosan nanoparticles to augment the healing potential of NGCs will be discussed.

Ionotropic Gelation-Based Synthesis of Chitosan-Metal Hybrid Nanoparticles Showing Combined Antimicrobial and Tissue Regenerative Activities

The treatment of skin wounds poses significant clinical challenges, including the risk of bacterial infection. In particular due to its antimicrobial and tissue regeneration abilities chitosan (a polymeric biomaterial obtained by the deacetylation of chitin) has received extensive attention for its effectiveness in promoting skin wound repair. On the other hand, due to their intrinsic characteristics, metal nanoparticles (e.g., silver (Ag), gold (Au) or iron oxide (Fe3O4)) have demonstrated therapeutic properties potentially useful in the field of skin care. Therefore, the combination of these two promising materials (chitosan plus metal oxide NPs) could permit the achievement of a promising nanohybrid with enhanced properties that could be applied in advanced skin treatment. In this work, we have optimized the synthesis protocol of chitosan/metal hybrid nanoparticles by means of a straightforward synthetic method, ionotropic gelation, which presents a wide set of advantages. The synthesized hybrid NPs have undergone to a full physicochemical characterization. After that, the in vitro antibacterial and tissue regenerative activities of the achieved hybrids have been assessed in comparison to their individual constituent. As result, we have demonstrated the synergistic antibacterial plus the tissue regeneration enhancement of these nanohybrids as a consequence of the fusion between chitosan and metallic nanoparticles, especially in the case of chitosan/Fe3O4 hybrid nanoparticles.

Advances in Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery

Nanoparticles (NPs) have an outstanding position in pharmaceutical, biological, and medical disciplines. Polymeric NPs based on chitosan (CS) can act as excellent drug carriers because of some intrinsic beneficial properties including biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, bioactivity, easy preparation, and targeting specificity. Drug transport and release from CS-based particulate systems depend on the extent of cross-linking, morphology, size, and density of the particulate system, as well as physicochemical properties of the drug. All these aspects have to be considered when developing new CS-based NPs as potential drug delivery systems. This comprehensive review is summarizing and discussing recent advances in CS-based NPs being developed and examined for drug delivery. From this point of view, an enhancement of CS properties by its modification is presented. An enhancement in drug delivery by CS NPs is discussed in detail focusing on (i) a brief summarization of basic characteristics of CS NPs, (ii) a categorization of preparation procedures used for CS NPs involving also recent improvements in production schemes of conventional as well as novel CS NPs, (iii) a categorization and evaluation of CS-based-nanocomposites involving their production schemes with organic polymers and inorganic material, and (iv) very recent implementations of CS NPs and nanocomposites in drug delivery.

How the external solvent in biocompatible reverse micelles can improve the alkaline phosphatase behavior

In the last decade, the nature of the nonpolar solvents that can be part of reverse micelles (RMs) has been the topic of several investigations to improve their applications. In this sense, the hydrolysis of 1-naphthyl phosphate catalyzed by the enzyme alkaline phosphatase (AP) was used as a probe to investigate the effect of the change of the external solvent on RMs formulated with the anionic surfactant sodium diethylhexyl sulfosuccinate (AOT). As external nonpolar solvents, two biocompatible lipophilic esters, isopropyl myristate and methyl laurate, and the traditional nonpolar solvents, n-heptane and benzene, were used. The results were compared among the RMs investigated and with the reaction in homogeneous media. Thus, the effect of the nanoconfinement as well as the impact of the replacement of a conventional external nonpolar solvent by biocompatible solvents were analyzed. The results indicate that the catalytic efficiency in the AOT RMs is larger than that in homogeneous media, denoting a different hydration level over the AP enzyme, which is directly related to the different degrees of nonpolar solvent penetration to the RM interface. Our findings demonstrated that toxic solvents such as n-heptane and benzene can be replaced by nontoxic ones (isopropyl myristate or methyl laurate) in AOT RMs without affecting the performance of micellar systems as nanoreactors, making them a green and promising alternative toward efficient and sustainable chemistry.

Biocompatible Solvents and Ionic Liquid-Based Surfactants as Sustainable Components to Formulate Environmentally Friendly Organized Systems

In this review, we deal with the formation and application of biocompatible water-in-oil microemulsions commonly known as reverse micelles (RMs). These RMs are extremely important to facilitate the dissolution of hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds for biocompatibility in applications in drug delivery, food science, and nanomedicine. The combination of two wisely chosen types of compounds such as biocompatible non-polar solvents and ionic liquids (ILs) with amphiphilic character (surface-active ionic liquids, SAILs) can be used to generate organized systems that perfectly align with the Green Chemistry concepts. Thus, we describe the current state of SAILs (protic and aprotic) to prepare RMs using non-polar but safe solvents such as esters derived from fatty acids, among others. Moreover, the use of the biocompatible solvents as the external phase in RMs and microemulsions/nanoemulsions with the other commonly used biocompatible surfactants is detailed showing the diversity of preparations and important applications. As shown by multiple examples, the properties of the RMs can be modified by changes in the type of surfactant and/or external solvents but a key fact to note is that all these modifications generate novel systems with dissimilar properties. These interesting properties cannot be anticipated or extrapolated, and deep analysis is always required. Finally, the works presented provide valuable information about the use of biocompatible RMs, making them a green and promising alternative toward efficient and sustainable chemistry.

Engineering Carbohydrate-Based Particles for Biomedical Applications: Strategies to Construct and Modify

Carbohydrate-based micro/nanoparticles have gained significant attention for various biomedical applications such as targeted/triggered/controlled drug delivery, bioimaging, biosensing, etc., because of their prominent characteristics like biocompatibility, biodegradability, hydrophilicity, and nontoxicity as well as nonimmunogenicity. Most importantly, the ability of the nanoparticles to recognize specific cell sites by targeting cell surface receptors makes them a promising candidate for designing a targeted drug delivery system. These particles may either comprise polysaccharides/glycopolymers or be integrated with various polymeric/inorganic nanoparticles such as gold, silver, silica, iron, etc., to reduce the toxicity of the inorganic nanoparticles and thus facilitate their cellular insertion. Various synthetic methods have been developed to fabricate carbohydrate-based or carbohydrate-conjugated inorganic/polymeric nanoparticles. In this review, we have highlighted the recently developed synthetic approaches to afford carbohydrate-based particles along with their significance in various biomedical applications.

A comparative study of antimicrobial activity of differently-synthesized chitosan nanoparticles against bovine mastitis pathogens

The greatest concern in dairy farming nowadays is bovine mastitis (BM), which results mainly from bacterial colonization of the mammary gland. Antibiotics are the most widely used strategy for its prevention and treatment, but overuse has led to growing antimicrobial resistance. Pathogens have also developed other mechanisms to persist in the udder, such as biofilm formation and internalization into bovine epithelial cells. New therapies are therefore needed to reduce or replace antibiotic therapies. In a previous study, we found that chitosan nanoparticles (Ch-NPs) have considerable potential for the treatment of BM. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of differently-synthesized Ch-NPs against BM pathogens and their toxicity in bovine cells in vitro, to further explore the attributes of Ch-NPs for the prevention and treatment of intramammary infections. We also looked into their ability to inhibit biofilm formation and prevent the internalization of S. aureus into mammary epithelial cells. Finally, since an interesting approach for BM prevention is to enhance the host's immune response, we studied whether Ch-NPs could promote the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in mammary epithelial cells. The results reveal that the bactericidal effect of Ch-NPs on BM pathogens and their ability to inhibit biofilm formation are size-dependent, with smaller particles being more efficient. In contrast, their effect on the viability of the cell lines is not size-dependent and all samples tested were non-toxic. The smallest Ch-NPs successfully prevented the internalization of S. aureus into the cells, but did not promote the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These findings make it possible to conclude that Ch-NPs are a great bactericidal agent which can prevent the main mechanisms developed by BM pathogens to persist in the udder.

Recent Progress of Chitosan and Chitosan Derivatives-Based Nanoparticles: Pharmaceutical Perspectives of Oral Insulin Delivery

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine disease, affecting more than 400 million people around the world. Patients with poorly controlled blood glucose levels are liable to suffer from life-threatening complications, such as cardiovascular, neuropathy, retinopathy and even premature death. Today, subcutaneous parenteral is still the most common route for insulin therapy. Oral insulin administration is favourable and convenient to the patients. In contrast to injection route, oral insulin delivery mimics the physiological pathway of endogenous insulin secretion. However, oral insulin has poor bioavailability (less than 2%) due to the harsh physiological environment through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Over the last few decades, many attempts have been made to achieve an effective oral insulin formulation with high bioavailability using insulin encapsulation into nanoparticles as advanced technology. Various natural polymers have been employed to fabricate nanoparticles as a delivery vehicle for insulin oral administration. Chitosan, a natural polymer, is extensively studied due to the attractive properties, such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, bioactivity, nontoxicity and polycationic nature. Numerous studies were conducted to evaluate chitosan and chitosan derivatives-based nanoparticles capabilities for oral insulin delivery. This review highlights strategies that have been applied in the recent five years to fabricate chitosan/chitosan derivatives-based nanoparticles for oral insulin delivery. A summary of the barriers hurdle insulin absorption rendering its low bioavailability such as physical, chemical and enzymatic barriers are highlighted with an emphasis on the most common methods of chitosan nanoparticles preparation. Nanocarriers are able to improve the absorption of insulin through GIT, deliver insulin to the blood circulation and lower blood glucose levels. In spite of some drawbacks encountered in this technology, chitosan and chitosan derivatives-based nanoparticles are greatly promising entities for oral insulin delivery.