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Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles as Delivery Systems of Therapeutic Proteins

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Therapeutic Proteins

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 899))

Abstract

Therapeutic proteins represent a significant part of the new pharmaceuticals coming on the market every year and are now widely spread in therapy to treat or relief symptoms related to many metabolic and oncologic diseases. The parenteral route remains as a primary strategy for protein administration essentially due to its specific physicochemical properties. However, the research on alternative nonparenteral delivery routes continues. The high molecular weight (MW), hydrophilicity, and charged nature of therapeutically valued proteins render transport through membranes very difficult. In this regard, chitosan arises as a promising candidate for the development of protein-containing drug formulations, due to its exceptional biological properties. Chitosan-based delivery systems have been proposed as valid approaches to provide protective conditions to proteins from denaturation and loss of activity, during preparation and delivery, as well as during long-term storage of the prepared formulation.

In this chapter, one production method of a chitosan-based nanoparticle formulation is presented, as well as several characterization techniques to assess both nanoparticles and proteins characteristics and stability.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal (PTDC/SAU-FCF/104492/2008).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, CICS, Health Sciences Research Center, Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde, Gandra, Portugal

    Pedro Fonte, José Carlos Andrade, Vítor Seabra & Bruno Sarmento

  2. Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Bruno Sarmento

  3. INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomádica Organization, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Bruno Sarmento

Authors
  1. Pedro Fonte
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  2. José Carlos Andrade
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  3. Vítor Seabra
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  4. Bruno Sarmento
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bruno Sarmento .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. MedImmune, LLC, MedImmune Way One, Gaithersburg, 20878, USA

    Vladimir Voynov

  2. , Department of Physical Biochemistry, Biogen Idec, Cambridge Center 14, Cambridge, 02142, Massachusetts, USA

    Justin A. Caravella

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Fonte, P., Andrade, J.C., Seabra, V., Sarmento, B. (2012). Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles as Delivery Systems of Therapeutic Proteins. In: Voynov, V., Caravella, J. (eds) Therapeutic Proteins. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 899. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-921-1_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-921-1_28

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-920-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-921-1

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