Nanoparticles based on star-shaped carboxy-terminated polylactide and chitosan for controlled release applications

Abstract

In this work chitosan based nanoparticles were prepared and modified by a star-shaped carboxy-terminated polylactide (S-PLA) in order to reduce the doxorubicin burst effect in physiological solution. S-PLA was prepared by polycondensation reaction using pentetic acid as a core molecule and methansulfonic acid as catalyst and linked to chitosan backbone through coupling reaction. Afterwards, chitosan-(S-PLA) modified nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin were prepared by polyelectrolytes complexation method using dextran sulphate sodium salt as polyanion. Results show nanoparticles with diameter in the range 100-200 nm, spherical shape and ζ-potential between 27-35 mV. The presence of (S-PLA) side chain does not influence the encapsulation efficiency of the drug but strongly reduce the initial burst effect compared with unmodified chitosan.