Study on Synthesis of chitosan nanoparticles and their application for drug carriers

Short communication:<br /> <br /> Study on Synthesis of chitosan nanoparticles and<br /> their application for drug carriers<br /> Received 2nd-Dec.- 2004<br /> TRAN DAI LAM1, LE THI NGOC LIEN2, VU DINH HOANG1,<br /> NGUYEN NGOC THINH, PHAM GIA DIEN2<br /> 1<br /> Faculty of Chemical Technology, Hanoi University of Technology<br /> 2<br /> Institute of Chemistry, Vietnamese Academy for Science and Technology<br /> <br /> In this communication, we report the synthesis conventional ones, including improved efficacy<br /> of chitosan (CS, a biodegradable and biocom- and selectivity (site specific targeting), reduced<br /> patible natural polymer) [1] nanoparticles as drug side effects and toxicity [3]. The study on process<br /> carriers by ionic gelation. The method is based on of drug release from its carriers will be reported in<br /> ionic interactions between positively charged following publications.<br /> groups NH3+ of CS (in dilute CH3COOH solution)<br /> and negatively charged of sodium tripolyphos-<br /> phate, TPP). This mechanism was confirmed by IR<br /> analyses: the presence of the P=O and P-O groups<br /> at the frequency of 1180 cm-1 and 1250 cm-1 res-<br /> pectively for CS-TPP nanoparticles; and the shifts<br /> from 1650 cm-1 and 1595 cm-1, corresponding to<br /> C-O and N-H stretching respec-tively in pure CS,<br /> to 1636 cm-1 and 1539 cm-1 for CS-TPP nano-<br /> particles, indicated the interaction between CS and<br /> TPP [2].<br /> To reach the desired particle size, the disso-<br /> ciation degrees of CS and TPP must be controlled.<br /> These parameters, in their turn, depend on starting<br /> concentrations and especially on pH solutions.<br /> Hence, combined pH and UV-vis measurements TEM micrograph of CS-TPP nanoparticles<br /> were carried out, first for TPP and CS solutions (EM-125K, 100 kV, (EM-125K, Voltage: 100<br /> separately and then for their mixture, in order to kV, magnification X 100.000)<br /> study the nanoparticle formation at different pH. It<br /> was found that the absorbance variations of these Acknowledgements: This work was supported by<br /> solutions could be correlated to their different a grant from the National Program in<br /> degrees of ionization depending on pH values. Nanotechnology (81), for 2005-2006, Ministry of<br /> TEM images showed clearly that the particle size Science and Technology. The authors are grateful<br /> was in the range of 50 - 70 nm and its distribution to Prof. Acad. Nguyen Van Hieu for his help and<br /> was quite narrow. encouragement.<br /> Afterwards, the capacity of CS-TPP nano-<br /> particles to associate with bioactive com-pounds REFERENCES<br /> has been demonstrated for BSA (Bovine Serum<br /> Albumin), as a model protein, and for Artesunic 1. M. N. V. Kumar. J. Pharm. Pharmaceut. Sci.,<br /> acid, as antimalarial artemisinin derivative. 3(2), 234 - 258 (2000).<br /> Being small in size, CS microspheres have 2. G. Socrates. Infrared Characteristic Freque-<br /> large surface to volume ratios and can be used for ncies, 2nd-ed., Wiley&Sons (1994).<br /> controlled and targeted drug delivery systems, 3. P. Couvreur et al.. Polymeric Nanoparticles<br /> which offer numerous advantages compared to and Microspheres, CRC Press, 27-93 (1986).<br /> i<br /> 2<br />