Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of ionic strength on the size and compactness of chitosan nanoparticles

  • Original Contribution
  • Published:
Colloid and Polymer Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this work, chitosan nanoparticles were prepared by ionotropic gelation of chitosan with tripolyphosphate (TPP). The effects of the ionic strength of the solvent employed in the particle preparation on the average size and compactness of the particles were investigated. In addition, the effects of the chitosan concentration and the crosslinker to polymer ratio on the particle characteristics were studied. The chitosan–TPP nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, and turbidity measurements. The compactness of the nanoparticles was estimated with a method based on the size of the nanoparticles and the turbidity of the nanoparticle suspension. All the investigated preparation parameters, i.e., the ionic strength of the solvent, the chitosan concentration, and the TPP to chitosan ratio, affected the particle characteristics. For instance, smaller and more compact particles were formed in saline solvents, compared to particles formed in pure water. Further, the addition of monovalent salt rendered it possible to prepare particles in the nanometer size range at a higher polymer concentration. Solvent salinity is thus an important parameter to address in the preparation of chitosan nanoparticles crosslinked with TPP.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hamman JH (2010) Chitosan based polyelectrolyte complexes as potential carrier materials in drug delivery systems. Mar Drugs 8(4):1305–1322

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ravi Kumar MNV, Muzzarelli RAA, Muzzarelli C, Sashiwa H, Domb AJ (2004) Chitosan chemistry and pharmaceutical perspectives. Chem Rev 104(12):6017–6084

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Anthonsen MW, Smidsrød O (1995) Hydrogen ion titration of chitosans with varying degrees of N-acetylation by monitoring induced 1H-NMR chemical shifts. Carbohyd Polym 26(4):303–305. doi:10.1016/0144-8617(95)00010-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Park JH, Saravanakumar G, Kim K, Kwon IC (2010) Targeted delivery of low molecular drugs using chitosan and its derivatives. Adv Drug Del Rev 62(1):28–41. doi:10.1016/j.addr.2009.10.003

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Dash M, Chiellini F, Ottenbrite RM, Chiellini E (2011) Chitosan—a versatile semi-synthetic polymer in biomedical applications. Prog Polym Sci 36(8):981–1014. doi:10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2011.02.001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Illum L (1998) Chitosan and its use as a pharmaceutical excipient. Pharm Res 15(9):1326–1331

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Plapied L, Duhem N, des Rieux A, Préat V (2011) Fate of polymeric nanocarriers for oral drug delivery. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 16(3):228–237. doi:10.1016/j.cocis.2010.12.005

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Lee SJ, Koo H, Jeong H, Huh MS, Choi Y, Jeong SY, Byun Y, Choi K, Kim K, Kwon IC (2011) Comparative study of photosensitizer loaded and conjugated glycol chitosan nanoparticles for cancer therapy. J Contr Release 152(1):21–29. doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2011.03.027

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Na JH, Koo H, Lee S, Min KH, Park K, Yoo H, Lee SH, Park JH, Kwon IC, Jeong SY, Kim K (2011) Real-time and non-invasive optical imaging of tumor-targeting glycol chitosan nanoparticles in various tumor models. Biomaterials 32(22):5252–5261. doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.03.076

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Koo H, Huh MS, Sun I-C, Yuk SH, Choi K, Kim K, Kwon IC (2011) In vivo targeted delivery of nanoparticles for theranosis. Acc Chem Res 44(10):1018–1028. doi:10.1021/ar2000138

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Petros RA, DeSimone JM (2010) Strategies in the design of nanoparticles for therapeutic applications. Nat Rev Drug Discov 9(8):615–627

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Chouhan R, Bajpai AK (2010) Release dynamics of ciprofloxacin from swellable nanocarriers of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate): an in vitro study. Nanomedicine 6:453–462. doi:10.1016/j.nano.2009.11.006

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Keawchaoon L, Yoksan R (2011) Preparation, characterization and in vitro release study of carvacrol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles. Colloids Surf B 84:163–171. doi:10.1016/j.colsurfb.2010.12.031

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Kim S, Kim J-H, Kim D (2011) pH sensitive swelling and releasing behavior of nano-gels based on polyaspartamide graft copolymers. J Colloid Interface Sci 356:100–106. doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2011.01.003

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Jonassen H, Kjøniksen A-L (2011) Optical-scattering method for the determination of the local polymer concentration inside nanoparticles. Phys Rev E 84(2):022401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Lin Y-H, Sonaje K, Lin KM, Juang J-H, Mi F-L, Yang H-W, Sung H-W (2008) Multi-ion-crosslinked nanoparticles with pH-responsive characteristics for oral delivery of protein drugs. J Contr Release 132(2):141–149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Ajun W, Yan S, Li G, Huili L (2009) Preparation of aspirin and probucol in combination loaded chitosan nanoparticles and in vitro release study. Carbohyd Polym 75(4):566–574

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Mi F-L, Shyu S-S, Lee S-T, Wong T-B (1999) Kinetic study of chitosan–tripolyphosphate complex reaction and acid-resistive properties of the chitosan–tripolyphosphate gel beads prepared by in-liquid curing method. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 37(14):1551–1564

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ma Z, Yeoh HH, Lim L-Y (2002) Formulation pH modulates the interaction of insulin with chitosan nanoparticles. J Pharm Sci 91:1396–1404. doi:10.1002/jps.10149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Csaba N, Koping-Hoggard M, Fernandez-Megia E, Novoa-Carballal R, Riguera R, Alonso MJ (2009) Ionically crosslinked chitosan nanoparticles as gene delivery systems: effect of PEGylation degree on in vitro and in vivo gene transfer. J Biomed Nanotechnol 5(2):162–171

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Janes KA, Alonso MJ (2003) Depolymerized chitosan nanoparticles for protein delivery: preparation and characterization. J Appl Polym Sci 88(12):2769–2776. doi:10.1002/app.12016

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Liu H, Gao C (2009) Preparation and properties of ionically cross-linked chitosan nanoparticles. Polym Adv Technol 20(7):613–619

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Shah S, Pal A, Kaushik VK, Devi S (2009) Preparation and characterization of venlafaxine hydrochloride-loaded chitosan nanoparticles and in vitro release of drug. J Appl Polym Sci 112(5):2876–2887

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Wang X, Chi N, Tang X (2008) Preparation of estradiol chitosan nanoparticles for improving nasal absorption and brain targeting. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 70(3):735–740

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Wang X, Zheng C, Wu Z, Teng D, Zhang X, Wang Z, Li C (2009) Chitosan–NAC nanoparticles as a vehicle for nasal absorption enhancement of insulin. J Biomed Mater Res, Part B 88B(1):150–161

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Wu Y, Yang W, Wang C, Hu J, Fu S (2005) Chitosan nanoparticles as a novel delivery system for ammonium glycyrrhizinate. Int J Pharm 295(1–2):235–245

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Yang H-C, Hon M-H (2009) The effect of the molecular weight of chitosan nanoparticles and its application on drug delivery. Microchem J 92(1):87–91

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Gan Q, Wang T, Cochrane C, McCarron P (2005) Modulation of surface charge, particle size and morphological properties of chitosan–TPP nanoparticles intended for gene delivery. Colloids Surf B 44(2–3):65–73

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Zhang H, Oh M, Allen C, Kumacheva E (2004) Monodisperse chitosan nanoparticles for mucosal drug delivery. Biomacromolecules 5(6):2461–2468. doi:10.1021/bm0496211

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Huang Y, Lapitsky Y (2011) Monovalent salt enhances colloidal stability during the formation of chitosan/tripolyphosphate microgels. Langmuir 27(17):10392–10399. doi:10.1021/la201194a

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Tsai ML, Bai SW, Chen RH (2008) Cavitation effects versus stretch effects resulted in different size and polydispersity of ionotropic gelation chitosan-sodium tripolyphosphate nanoparticle. Carbohyd Polym 71(3):448–457

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Al-Manasir N, Zhu KZ, Kjoniksen AL, Knudsen KD, Karlsson G, Nystrom B (2009) Effects of temperature and pH on the contraction and aggregation of microgels in aqueous suspensions. J Phys Chem B 113(32):11115–11123. doi:10.1021/jp901121g

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Schärtl W (2007) Light scattering from polymer solutions and nanoparticle dispersions. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  34. Siegert AJF (1943) Radiation laboratory report no. 465. MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Google Scholar 

  35. López-León T, Carvalho ELS, Seijo B, Ortega-Vinuesa JL, Bastos-González D (2005) Physicochemical characterization of chitosan nanoparticles: electrokinetic and stability behavior. J Colloid Interface Sci 283(2):344–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Tsaih ML, Chen RH (1997) Effect of molecular weight and urea on the conformation of chitosan molecules in dilute solutions. Int J Biol Macromol 20(3):233–240. doi:10.1016/s0141-8130(97)01165-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. de Campos AM, Diebold Y, Carvalho ELS, Sanchez A, Alonso MJ (2004) Chitosan nanoparticles as new ocular drug delivery systems: in vitro stability, in vivo fate, and cellular toxicity. Pharm Res 21:803–810. doi:10.1023/B:PHAM.0000026432.75781.cb

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Chen W, Hsu C, Huang J, Tsai M, Chen R (2011) Effect of the ionic strength of the media on the aggregation behaviors of high molecule weight chitosan. J Polym Res:1-11. doi:10.1007/s10965-010-9543-9

  39. Tanaka H (1992) Appearance of a moving droplet phase and unusual networklike or spongelike patterns in a phase-separating polymer solution with a double-well-shaped phase diagram. Macromolecules 25:6377–6380

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Tanaka H (1993) Unusual phase separation in a polymer solution caused by asymmetric molecular dynamics. Phys Rev Lett 71(19):3158–3161

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Zhang G, Wu C (2006) Folding and formation of mesoglobules in dilute copolymer solutions. Adv Polym Sci 195:101–1076

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Piçarra S, Martinho JMG (2001) Viscoelastic effects on dilute polymer solutions phase demixing: fluorescence study of a poly(ε-caprolactone) chain in THF. Macromolecules 34(1):53–58. doi:10.1021/ma001231t

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1068 Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway

    Helene Jonassen, Anna-Lena Kjøniksen & Marianne Hiorth

Authors
  1. Helene Jonassen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anna-Lena Kjøniksen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marianne Hiorth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Helene Jonassen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jonassen, H., Kjøniksen, AL. & Hiorth, M. Effects of ionic strength on the size and compactness of chitosan nanoparticles. Colloid Polym Sci 290, 919–929 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-012-2604-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-012-2604-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation