Paula Isabel Pereira Soares, Isabel Ferreira, Carlos Novo and João Paulo Borges
Departamento de Ciências dos Materiais/Cenimat, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
Abstract:
Chitosan is the N-deacetylated product of chitin, the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature, and possesses favorable characteristics: non-toxicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, cationic and hydrophilic. In addition, chitosan possesses amine and hydroxyl groups, suitable for nanoparticles (NPs) functionalization with targeting, imaging, and therapeutic agents.
However, chitosan is insoluble in physiological pH, making it unsuitable for use in a physiological environment without further treatment. To maintain chitosan properties and remove the solubility issue, we will use O-HTCC (O-(2-hydroxyl) propyl-3-trimethyl ammonium chitosan chloride), an ammonium quaternary derivative of chitosan soluble in a wide range of pH, including physiological conditions.
A study evaluating NPs of chitosan and O-HTCC properties and drug release profiles was conducted.