title: Preparation, characterization, and drug release in vitro of chitosan-glycyrrhetic acid nanoparticles.
abstract: A suitable carrier chitosan (CS) was used to prepare CS-Glycyrrhetic acid (GLA) nanoparticles under very mild conditions by polyelectrolyte complexation. These nanoparticles were well dispersed and stable in aqueous solution, and the physicochemical properties of which were investigated by FT-IR, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscope, fluorescence spectra and zeta potential. It was found that only when the weight ratio of CS to GLA was lower than 16.7, could the nanoparticles be formed. The prepared nanoparticles carried a positive charge and had the dried TEM-assessed size in the range from 20 to 30 nm. The mean hydrated diameter, size distribution and zeta potential of the nanoparticles could be controlled by some factors including the weight ratio of CS to GLA, the average molecular weight of CS and the pH value of the medium. It was also found that GLA encapsulation efficiency into the nanoparticles increased with the increase of the weight ratio of CS to GLA. The experiment of GLA release in vitro showed that the effect of CS encapsulation on GLA release was obvious and the CS-GLA nanoparticles system might be used to provide a continuous release.
authors.affiliation: Department of Macromolecular Science, Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers of Educational Ministry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yongli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wuli
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Changchun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shoukuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Xizhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004339:Drug Compounding; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures; D010316:Particle Size
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D048271:Chitosan; D006034:Glycyrrhetinic Acid