Preparation and Characterization of Microparticles of Chitosan Derivatives

• Grant number: 07/07365-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2008
• End date: December 31, 2008
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Marcio José Tiera
• Grantee: Karen Andressa Nunes Bussom
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José do Rio Preto. São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Chitosan has been extensively studied as a carrier for hydrophobic drugs. However its utilization is limited by its tendency to aggregation at neutral pH leading to formation of large particles. For parenteral applications this tendency to aggregation is maintained due to physiological pH, which leads to neutralization of the positive charges of chitosan. The goal of this project are the synthesis and characterization of microparticles and the effect of the chitosan structure on the stability and uptake by macrophages.