Syntheses and characterization of amphiphilic quaternary ammonium chitosan derivatives

Author(s)

Pedro, Rafael de Oliveira ^[1] ; Schmitt, Carla C. ^[1] ; Neumann, Miguel G. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Quim Sao Carlos, Caixa Postal 780, BR-13560970 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Carbohydrate Polymers; v. 147, p. 97-103, AUG 20 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 17

Abstract

Amphiphilic chitosan derivatives possess improved physico-chemical properties and could be used as carriers in drug delivery systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the behaviour of an amphiphilic system involving (5-pentyl) trimethylammonium and dodecyl aldehyde-modified chitosan. Amphiphilic chitosan derivatives were synthesized and characterized by (HNMR)-H-1 and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Self-assembled aggregates formed in aqueous solution have hydrophobic cores that were characterized by fluorescence spectroscopy using pyrene as probe and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The critical aggregation concentration of the aggregates in water varied from 0.004 to 0.037 g/L and the average size distribution was in the 230-500 nm range. The zeta-potential (+15.5 to +44.8 mV) confirmed that the surfaces of the aggregates were positively charged and stable in physiological-like environments. TEM images suggest that the aggregates have a spherical shape, showing good agreement with DLS results. These results suggest that the synthesized copolymers have the capability of being used as carriers for hydrophobic drugs. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/19656-0 - Photoinitiation of polymerization and degradation of polymers multicomponent
• Grantee: Carla Cristina Schmitt Cavalheiro
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants