Chitosan Coated Liposomes as an Innovative Nanocarrier for Drugs
Chitosomes are chitosan coated liposomes that represent an alternative to conventional liposomes since they present better stability and bioadhesivity. The aim of this work was to develop and evaluate the physico-chemical stability of melatonin (MEL)-loaded chitosomes as well as to
compare their properties with that of MEL loaded liposomes. Structural characteristics of nanovesicles were also studied by dynamic light scattering and small angle X-ray scattering. The liposome and chitosome suspensions presented mean diameters between 150 nm and 254 nm, polydispersity indexes
around 0.4, zeta potential values between −38 mV and −28 mV, pH values close to 4.0, MEL content close to 100% and encapsulation efficiency between 34.4% and 60.8%. Small angle X-rays scattering showed the presence of unilamelar structures, which were also observed by transmission
electronic microscopy. Stability studies focusing on the particle diameter indicated that, within 90 days, the liposome suspensions had a decrease in mean diameter values and in polydispersity indexes, but no alterations were detected in zeta potentials and MEL content. The chitosome suspensions
remained stable in relation to these parameters during 90 days. Multiple light scattering analysis (Turbiscan LAb
®) corroborated the the findings in the stability studies. The result sets pointed out the physico-chemical stability of chitosomes and the chitosan influence
in their supramolecular structure.
Keywords: CHITOSOMES; LIPOSOMES; MELATONIN; SMALL ANGLE X-RAYS; STABILITY
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: 01 April 2012
- Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology (JBN) is a peer-reviewed multidisciplinary journal providing broad coverage in all research areas focused on the applications of nanotechnology in medicine, drug delivery systems, infectious disease, biomedical sciences, biotechnology, and all other related fields of life sciences.
- Editorial Board
- Information for Authors
- Subscribe to this Title
- Terms & Conditions
- Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites
- Access Key
- Free content
- Partial Free content
- New content
- Open access content
- Partial Open access content
- Subscribed content
- Partial Subscribed content
- Free trial content