To investigate the effect of chitosan coating on the release of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) from poly(DLlactide- co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles, chitosan-coated nanoparticles were prepared with various concentrations of chitosan and their characteristics were evaluated. Chitosan was easily coated on the surface of PLGA nanoparticles by a simple coating process. The particle size and zeta potential of the nanoparticles increased with increasing chitosan-coating concentrations. The results of transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) showed that chitosan was coated on the surface of the PLGA nanoparticles. The amount of chitosan adsorbed on the surface of the PLGA nanoparticles, which was measured by the 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) method, increased proportionally to the concentration of chitosan. The release of ATRA from the nanoparticles decreased with increasing chitosan-coating and the initial burst effect was also greatly reduced. Pharmacokinetic parameters, such as halflife and the mean residence time of ATRA drugs in the chitosan-coated nanoparticles, were significantly higher than those in sodium ATRA solution or uncoated nanoparticles. In vitro cell experiments showed that the anticancer activity of ATRA in chitosan-coated PLGA nanoparticles was higher than that of free ATRA or uncoated nanoparticles. In conclusion, chitosan coating was shown to control the drug release by PLGA nanoparticles and chitosan-coated PLGA nanoparticles can be considered suitable candidate carriers for sustained ATRA drug release.
Introduction
Experimental Methods
Results and Discussion
Conclusion
Acknowledgment
Conflict of Interest
References