Chitosan/sodium tripolyphosphate nanoparticles: preparation, characterization and application as drug carrier.

With the existence of amino groups, chitosan (CS) possesses positive charge, so it can self-assemble with tripolyphotspate (TPP) possessing negative charge via ionic gelation. We here synthesized CS/TPP nanoparticles, and then characterized it with the infrared spectra (IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and used bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model drug to investigate sustained-release properties of CS/TPP nanoparticles. Infrared spectrum of CS/TPP nanoparticles indicated that CS was cross-linked with TPP. A homogeneous size distribution and good dispersion and micro-porous surface of CS/TPP nanoparticles were observed. The highest encapsulation efficiency (EE) of the BSA in CS/TPP nanoparticles prepared in different concentration of CS reached 79.74%, while BSA continually and smoothly released up to one week.