title: Inulin-iron complexes: a potential treatment of iron deficiency anaemia.
abstract: The aim of this work was that to synthesize macromolecular derivatives based on inulin able to complex iron and useful in the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia. Carboxylated or thiolated/carboxylated inulin derivatives were obtained by single or double step reactions, respectively. The first one was obtained by reaction of inulin (INU) with succinic anhydride (SA) alone obtaining INU-SA derivative; the second one was obtained by the reaction of INU with succinic anhydride and subsequent reaction of INU-SA with cysteine; both derivatives were treated with ferric chloride in order to obtain the INU-SA-Fe(III) and INU-SA-Cys-Fe(III) complexes. Both complexes showed an excellent biodegradability in the presence of inulinase and pronounced mucoadhesion properties; in particular, thiolated derivative INU-SA-Cys showed greater mucoadhesive properties than polyacrylic acid chosen, as a positive reference polymer, and a good iron release profile in condition mimicking the intestinal tract. These results suggest the potential employment of such systems in the oral treatment of iron deficiency anaemia or as supplement of iron in foods.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy. giopitar@unipar.it
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pitarresi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tripodo
authors.forename: Gennara
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cavallaro
authors.forename: Fabio Salvatore
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Palumbo
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giammona
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006801:Humans; D007444:Inulin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D007444:Inulin; D007501:Iron