Chitosan-based nanoparticles as delivery systems of therapeutic proteins.
Therapeutic proteins represent a significant part of the new pharmaceuticals coming on the market every year and are now widely spread in therapy to treat or relief symptoms related to many metabolic and oncologic diseases. The parenteral route remains as a primary strategy for protein administration essentially due to its specific physicochemical properties. However, the research on alternative nonparenteral delivery routes continues. The high molecular weight (MW), hydrophilicity, and charged nature of therapeutically valued proteins render transport through membranes very difficult. In this regard, chitosan arises as a promising candidate for the development of protein-containing drug formulations, due to its exceptional biological properties. Chitosan-based delivery systems have been proposed as valid approaches to provide protective conditions to proteins from denaturation and loss of activity, during preparation and delivery, as well as during long-term storage of the prepared formulation. In this chapter, one production method of a chitosan-based nanoparticle formulation is presented, as well as several characterization techniques to assess both nanoparticles and proteins characteristics and stability.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, CICS, Health Sciences Research Center, Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde, Gandra, Portugal.
Pedro
P
Fonte
José Carlos
JC
Andrade
Vítor
V
Seabra
Bruno
B
Sarmento
D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use
D004337:Drug Carriers; D007328:Insulin; D011506:Proteins; D048271:Chitosan