Chitosan-Based Particulate Carriers: Structure, Production and Corresponding Controlled Release

The state of the art in the use of chitosan (CS) for preparing particulate carriers for drug delivery applications is reviewed. After evidencing the scientific and commercial potentials of CS, the links between targeted controlled activity, the preparation process and the kinetics of release are detailed, focusing on two types of particulate carriers: matrix particles and capsules. More precisely, the relationship between the size/structure of CS-based particles as multifunctional delivery systems and drug release kinetics (models) is emphasized. The preparation method and conditions greatly influence particle structure and size, which affect release properties. Various techniques available for characterizing particle structural properties and size distribution are reviewed. CS particulate carriers with different structures can achieve various release patterns, including zero-order, multi-pulsed, and pulse-triggered. Mathematical models have an unavoidable role in understanding release mechanisms and their interrelationships. Moreover, models help identify the key structural characteristics, thus saving experimental time. Furthermore, by investigating the close relation between preparation process parameters and particulate structural characteristics as well as their effect on release properties, a novel "on-demand" strategy for the design of drug delivery devices may be developed. This reverse strategy involves designing the production process and the related particles' structure based on the targeted release pattern.

An improved model for exploring the effect of physicochemical properties of alginate-based microcapsules on their fibrosis formation in vivo

An effectivein vitromodel established forexploring the effect ofthephysicochemical properties of alginate-based microcapsules on their fibrosis formation.

New insights into an innovative Auricularia auricular polysaccharide pH-sensitive hydrogel for controlled protein drug delivery

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Preparation of magnetic pH-sensitive microcapsules with an alginate base as colon specific drug delivery systems through an entirely green route

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A novel pH-responsive hydrogel based on natural polysaccharides for controlled release of protein drugs

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Chitosan-coated nano-liposomes for the oral delivery of berberine hydrochloride

Berberine hydrochloride (BH) possesses various pharmacological properties including anticancer; unfortunately, it has low oral bioavailability and potential side effects for its parenteral administration. Nanoscale delivery carriers can increase the oral bioavailability of BH. Chitosan has interesting biopharmaceutical properties such as nontoxicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and mucoadhesiveness, and the ability to open epithelial tight junctions. This study aims to engineer a chitosan-coated nano-liposomal carrier for the oral delivery of BH. The engineered formulation had a size in the nanoscale range. Chitosan-coated nano-liposomes displayed better stability and slower BH release in the simulated gastrointestinal (GI) environment as compared to the uncoated ones. All values of pharmacokinetic analysis for chitosan-coated nano-liposomes were higher than for uncoated ones. These findings demonstrate that chitosan-coated nano-liposomes are more efficient than uncoated ones for the oral delivery of BH. It can be concluded that the stability and delayed BH release in the simulated GI environment were improved with engineered chitosan-coated nano-liposomes. Moreover, since desirable in vitro and in vivo characteristics were achieved, they are promising release devices for the oral delivery of BH increasing the bioavailability of the drug.