Jha, R.; Harlow, H.; Benamara, M.; Mayanovic, R.A. On the Structural and Molecular Properties of PEO and PEO-PPG Functionalized Chitosan Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery. Bioengineering2024, 11, 372.
Jha, R.; Harlow, H.; Benamara, M.; Mayanovic, R.A. On the Structural and Molecular Properties of PEO and PEO-PPG Functionalized Chitosan Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery. Bioengineering 2024, 11, 372.
Jha, R.; Harlow, H.; Benamara, M.; Mayanovic, R.A. On the Structural and Molecular Properties of PEO and PEO-PPG Functionalized Chitosan Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery. Bioengineering2024, 11, 372.
Jha, R.; Harlow, H.; Benamara, M.; Mayanovic, R.A. On the Structural and Molecular Properties of PEO and PEO-PPG Functionalized Chitosan Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery. Bioengineering 2024, 11, 372.
Abstract
Chitosan (CS) nanoparticles are under investigation for a wide range of applications in nanomedicine. The structural, molecular and physicochemical properties of chitosan nanoparticles have a direct bearing on their efficacy in drug conjugation and delivery, gene delivery, and tissue engineering. Herein we report on the structural, morphological and molecular properties of chitosan nanoparticles synthesized using the ionic gelation method with the intended purpose of being used for drug delivery. The chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NPs) were prepared in the 0.25 to 1.0% w/v concentration range, whereas separate samples of the 1.0% w/v CS-NPs were also functionalized with polyethylene oxide (PEO) alone and with a diblock copolymer of PEO and polypropylene glycol (PPG). The average size of the CS-NPs was determined from TEM imaging to be in the range of 11.3 to 14.8 nm. The XRD and TEM analyses show that the CS-NPs have semi-crystalline structure with the degree of crystallinity depending upon the nature of synthesis. Our results show that functionalizing the 1.0% w/v CS-NPs with PEO increases the degree of crystallinity whereas functionalizing with the diblock copolymer PEO - PPG results in a significant increase in their degree crystallinity. The CS/TPP concentration (CS:TPP fixed at 1:1 ratio) had no apparent effect on the degree of crystallinity of the CS-NPs. The results from the FTIR analysis confirm incorporation of TPP with CS in the CS-NPs. Additionally, FTIR analysis shows an enhancement of hydrogen bonding that is consistent with the increase in the degree of crystallinity of the CS-NPs.
Copyright:
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