Nanoscale drug delivery system has been developed to convey a sufficient dose of drug to lesion, provide drug targeting, increase the efficiency of drug delivery and improve release profiles. The objectives of this study is to evaluate potential of chitosan nanoparticles as carriers for the anticancer drug. This novel delivery system is prepared using a simple and mild ionic- gelation method to which a poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) or tripolyphosphate pentasodium (TPP) solution was added to a low molecular-weight chitosan. To investigate the effect of degree of deacetylation and molecular weight of chitosan on nanoparticles characteristics prepared by ionotropic gelation and its application on the controlled release of Doxorubicin and Paclitaxel.
In the first year, the investigation is to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of these prepared nanoparticles, including the analyses of particle size, surface charges and the morphology, and then finding the optimal condition for forming nanoparticles. For the second year, we will evaluate the activity of chitosan nanoparticles by studying the effect of nanoparticles on Caco-2 in vitro cell cytotoxicity and permeability. Release study was conducted by in vitro investigation to simulate intestinal fluid and gastric fluid at 37℃. Finally, in the third year, we will to expected that drug-loaded chitosan nanoparticles for hydrophobic drugs such as the most representative drug of Paclitaxel. The drug loading content and loading efficiency, and release profile of the prepared nanoparticles and their cytotoxicity on HeLa cells were investigated in vitro.
