Synthesis of peptide-loaded chitosan nanoparticles for the treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STI’s)
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Date
2019
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Publisher
University of Western Cape
Abstract
Peptides are among the main drugs which attract much attention because of their great potential in treating sexually transmitted diseases and other chronic diseases. There has been a major challenge of delivering these drugs in mucosal sites with low pH environment. The aim of this study is to synthesize acidic pH stable peptide loaded chitosan nanoparticles gels that could penetrate mucus layers covering the epithelial cells and kill HIV virus. Chitosan nanoparticles were synthesized by a crosslinking method called ionic gelation with Sodium tripolyphosphate. A series of peptide-loaded chitosan nanoparticles of different concentrations of tripolyphosphate were produced using medium molecular weight (MW) of chitosan. The nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-Vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The sizes of chitosan nanoparticles were obtained at the range of 327-416 nm with zeta potential of +9.61-23.9 mV when these nanoparticles were prepared at room temperature. After the loading of two peptides Kn2-7 and HBd-3 in chitosan nanoparticle, the sizes increased from 340.2-753.7nm with an increase in Zeta potential of 15.9-67.7 mV which showed a good stability and monodispersed nanoparticles. The highest loading capacity and entrapment efficiency was obtained from the nanoparticles that were crosslinked with 1mg/mL of TPP at 35.6% and 78.3%.
Description
>Magister Scientiae - MSc
Keywords
Chitosan, Microbicides, Tripolyphosphate, Poly acrylic acid, Antimicrobial activity