title: Dithiocarbamate chitosan as a potential polymeric matrix for controlled drug release.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a polymer matrix for controlled release of drugs, chitosan, a linear aminopolysaccharide, was chemically modified to dithiocarbamate chitosan (DTCC) to afford a matrix where metal-drug complexes could be attached and released in a controlled manner depending on the binding nature between the drugs and the metals.
  
  
  METHODS
  DTCC was treated with metal-tetracycline (Tc) complexes to prepare DTCC-Ca(II)-Tc, DTCC-Mg(II)-Tc, DTCC-Cu(II)-Tc and DTCC-Zn(II)-Tc.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The binding amount of Tc was in the order of DTCC-Zn(II)-Tc ≈ DTCC-Mg(II)-Tc ≈  DTCC-Ca(II)-Tc > DTCC-Cu(II)-Tc. The biphasic binding profiles, where Tc binding increased initially and then decreased, were shown for DTCC-Cu(II)-Tc and DTCC-Zn(II)-Tc. In a flow method, Tc was released slowly from DTCC-metal-Tc complexes except for DTCC-Cu(II)-Tc compared with Tc release from DTCC-Tc. In parallel with the results of the release experiment, DTCC-metal-Tc complexes except for DTCC-Cu(II)-Tc presented a prolonged antibacterial activity in an antibacterial test. The antibacterial activity of DTCC-Ca(II)-, -Mg(II)- and -Zn(II)-Tc complexes lasted for 28-44 days, while free Tc and DTCC-Tc lasted for 7-12 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, our data suggest that DTCC could be used for a polymeric matrix for controlled release of drugs such as Tc, which possess functional groups for ionic and/or coordinate bond with metals.
authors: Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University , Pusan , Korea.
authors: Youn Taeg
authors: YT
authors: Kim
authors: Soohwan
authors: S
authors: Yum
authors: Jeong Soon
authors: JS
authors: Heo
authors: Wooseong
authors: W
authors: Kim
authors: Yunjin
authors: Y
authors: Jung
authors: Young Mi
authors: YM
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013859:Thiocarbamates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D011108:Polymers; D013859:Thiocarbamates; D048271:Chitosan