title: The potential utility of chitosan micro/nanoparticles in the treatment of gastric infection.
abstract: Gastric infections are mainly caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a bacterium that colonizes the gastric mucosa of over 50% of the world's population. Chronic H. pylori infection has been associated with gastric diseases such as chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric adenocarcinoma. Current eradication treatment relies on antibiotic-based therapies that are unsuccessful in approximately 20% of the patients. Chitosan, a natural and cationic polysaccharide has been investigated in the treatment of H. pylori infection. Due to its mucoadhesive properties, it has been used in the form of micro/nanoparticles, polyelectrolyte complexes or coatings as antibiotic encapsulation systems for gastric delivery, but alternative molecules may also be incorporated. It has been recently proposed that chitosan can also be used for H. pylori binding and scavenging from the host stomach due to its antimicrobial/binding properties. In this manuscript, a brief description of the use of chitosan in H. pylori treatment is reviewed.
authors: INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal.
authors: Inês C
authors: IC
authors: Gonçalves
authors: Patrícia C
authors: PC
authors: Henriques
authors: Catarina L
authors: CL
authors: Seabra
authors: M Cristina L
authors: MC
authors: Martins
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004339:Drug Compounding; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Helicobacter pylori; biomaterials; chitosan; crosslinking; drug delivery; gastric cancer; microspheres; mucoadhesion; nanoparticles; polyelectrolytes