title: Synthesis and toxicological evaluation of a chitosan-L-leucine conjugate for pulmonary drug delivery applications.
abstract: Herein are reported the synthesis of a conjugate of chitosan with L-leucine, the preparation of nanoparticles from both chitosan and the conjugate for use in pulmonary drug delivery, and the in vitro evaluation of toxicity and inflammatory effects of both the polymers and their nanoparticles on the bronchial epithelial cell line, BEAS-2B. The nanoparticles, successfully prepared both from chitosan and the conjugate, had a diameter in the range of 10-30 nm. The polymers and their nanoparticles were tested for their effects on cell viability by MTT assay, on trans-epithelial permeability by using sodium fluorescein as a fluid phase marker, and on IL-8 secretion by ELISA. The conjugate nanoparticles had a low overall toxicity (IC50 = 2 mg/mL following 48 h exposure; no induction of IL-8 release at 0.5 mg/mL concentration), suggesting that they may be safe for pulmonary drug delivery applications.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology , 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, Queensland 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Mohammad D A
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Muhsin
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beagley
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Armitage
authors.forename: Nazrul
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Islam
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D048271:Chitosan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D007930:Leucine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D010539:Permeability; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D016209:Interleukin-8; D011108:Polymers; D048271:Chitosan; D007930:Leucine