title: Coated biodegradable casein nanospheres: a valuable tool for oral drug delivery.
abstract: Biodegradable casein nanospheres for the sustained release of bioactive molecules in the gastro-intestinal tract were prepared by precipitation polymerization using sodium methacrylate (NaMA) and N,N'-methylene bis-acrylamide (MEBA) as pH-responsive monomer and cross-linker. Three materials with different casein amount were obtained and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, dimensional analysis, water uptake, cytotoxicity and enzymatic degradation experiments. Nanospheres biodegradability was tuned by coating with polyacrylic acid. Coated and uncoated materials were investigated as delivery vehicles for diclofenac sodium salt. For un-coated samples, the release raise 100% in 30 h, while for coated specimens these values were lower than 70%, due to the diffusional constraints of polymer layer.
authors.affiliation: a Dipartimento di Farmacia e Scienze della Salute e della Nutrizione , Università della Calabria, Edificio Polifunzionale , Arcavacata di Rende , Italia.
authors.forename: Umile Gianfranco
authors.initials: UG
authors.lastname: Spizzirri
authors.affiliation: a Dipartimento di Farmacia e Scienze della Salute e della Nutrizione , Università della Calabria, Edificio Polifunzionale , Arcavacata di Rende , Italia.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cirillo
authors.affiliation: a Dipartimento di Farmacia e Scienze della Salute e della Nutrizione , Università della Calabria, Edificio Polifunzionale , Arcavacata di Rende , Italia.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Curcio
authors.affiliation: a Dipartimento di Farmacia e Scienze della Salute e della Nutrizione , Università della Calabria, Edificio Polifunzionale , Arcavacata di Rende , Italia.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Spataro
authors.affiliation: a Dipartimento di Farmacia e Scienze della Salute e della Nutrizione , Università della Calabria, Edificio Polifunzionale , Arcavacata di Rende , Italia.
authors.forename: Nevio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Picci
authors.affiliation: a Dipartimento di Farmacia e Scienze della Salute e della Nutrizione , Università della Calabria, Edificio Polifunzionale , Arcavacata di Rende , Italia.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iemma
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D002364:Caseins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D054118:Nanospheres / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins
keywords: Casein; enzymatic degradation; pH responsive hydrogels; polymer coating; precipitation polymerization