Preparation, characterization, and tissue distribution in mice of lactosaminated carboxymethyl chitosan nanoparticles

Galactose group was coupled with carboxymethyl chitosan for liver specificity. The chemical structure of lactosaminated carboxymethyl chitosan (LAC-CMC) was characterized by FT-IR and 1H NMR techniques. Glycyrrhizic acid was chosen as model drug and encapsulated within LAC-CMC nanoparticles through ionic gelification. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were employed to characterize the nanoparticles for morphology and size. The effects, including LAC-CMC molecular weight (MW), glycyrrhizic acid concentration and LAC-CMC concentration on the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles were studied. Glycyrrhizic acid release from the nanoparticles exhibited a biphasic pattern, initial burst release and consequently sustained release. Glycyrrhizic acid-loaded nanoparticles modify the tissue distribution profile of the glycyrrhizic acid solution, the kidney excretion rate is reduced and drug accumulation in the liver is increased. The experimental results show that the novel lactosaminated carboxymethyl chitosan nanoparticles may be used as a potential drug delivery system with hepatic targeting properties.