Preparation of Cetyl-Chitosan Nanoparticles as Carriers for Paracetamol

Cetyl-chitosan, prepared by reacting chitosan with chlorocetane under alkaline condition, is soluble and spontaneously forms nanoparticles about 100 nm in diameter. Infrared spectra (IR) revealed that there was a substitution reaction mainly on the amine groups of chitosan (CS). By using paracetamol (PCTM) as a model drug, the balanced release concentration of PCTM in phosphate buffer solution (pH=7.4) can be decreased with the increase of degree of substitution alkyl and can be reduced effectively even under a lower PCTM loading.

Antoioxidant Activity of Carboxymethyl Chitosan with Different Substituted Degrees

[Objective] In order to study the relations among different positions, degrees of substitution and antioxidant ability. [Method] N, O-carboxymethyl chitosan （NOA, NOB and NOC）with various degrees of substitution （DS）were obtained by etherizing chito-oligosacchaside. Their structure and substituted degree were characterized and their antioxldant activity to·OH was evaluated. [ Result] The IC50 s of NOA ,NOB and NOC were 0.15 ,0. 29 ,0. 23 mg/ml while their DSs of -NH2 position（DSN） were 0.51,0.29 and 0.38 and DSo were 0. 74 ,0. 84 ,0. 97respectively.[ Conclusion] With the increase of DSN ,antioxidant activity of N,O-carboxymethyl chitosan oligosaccharide to·OH was up.

Effect of Liposome Double-Coated with Chitosan and Chitosan-EDTA Conjugates on Oral Absorption of Insulin

Aim To evaluate the gastrointestinal uptake of the insulin liposomes double-coated with chitosan （Ch） and chitosan-EDTA conjugates （CEC）, and verify their efficiencies. Methods Insulin-liposomes were prepared by reversed-phase evaporation. The hypoglycemic effects of the insulin liposomes coated with Ch or/and CEC were investigated using the glucose oxidase method after oral administration in diabetic rats, normal rats, and beagle dogs. Serum insulin concentrations in beagle dogs were determined by radioimmunoassay and were assessed by Pkanalyst computer program. Results The animals fed the insulin liposomes coated with Ch or/and CEC were able to regulate better the glucose load than the animals receiving PBS or uncoated insulin liposome, and the regulative effects of the insulin liposomes double-coated with Ch and CEC were better than those of the insulin liposomes coated with Ch or CEC alone. After oral administration of the insulin-liposomes double-coated with Ch and CEC to animals, a significant （P 〈 0. 05 ） blood glucose reduction was observed. Their relative pharmacological bioavailability was higher than 9 % in comparison with subcutaneous injection of insulin. In addition, in comparison with subcutaneous injection of insulin, the relative bioavailability was 12. 67 % calculated by area under the curve of serum insulin concentration versus time profile after oral administration of the insulin-liposomes double-coated with Ch and CEC to beagle dogs. Conclusion The insulin-liposomes double-coated with Ch and CEC were conducive to improving oral bioavailability of insulin.

A Preliminary Study of Rotundine-Polyion Complex Release System

A rotundine-polyion complex(PIC)release system was prepared first by granulation of rotundine containing chitosan acetate solution and then by complexing with carboxymethyl glucomannan(CMGM)solution on the granular surface.The granules have an average diameter of 1.38-1.53 mm and the drug content reaches 62.89％.The external release tests showed T_(50) to be 45 rain and the total release time 4 h in an artificial gastric juice,while no more than 60％ of the drug was released in the same period of time in an ar- tificial intestinal fluid.The various factors affecting the external release were examined.

Fabrication IL-1Ra loaded galactosylated chitosan nanoparticles for liver targeting

Galactosylated chitosan （GC） is synthesized and used to prepare IL-1Ra loaded GC nanoparticles by an electrospraying technique. Polyethylene oxide （PEO） is mixed with GC to enhance the electrospraying ability. The effect of the spraying solution properties on particle formation is investigated. The IL-1Ra loaded nanoparticles with an average diameter of 530 nm and a regularly spherical shape are observed by the scanning electron microscopy （SEM）. The amount of the IL-1Ra is measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） kit. The loading capacity of the nanoparticle is （1.52± 0.04）% （n = 3） and the encapsulation efficiency reaches （90. 36 ± 3.46） % （n = 3）. For the evaluation of GC nanoparticles＇ hepatocytes targeting efficacy, hepatocytes and mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） are incubated with FITC-labeled GC nanoparticles for 24 h as the experimental and control groups. Results of the fluorescence microscope show that the fluorescence signals observed in hepatocytes are significantly higher than in the MSCs, indicating that the developed GC nanoparticles have an obvious liver targeting property.

New amperometric glucose biosensor by entrapping glucose oxidase into chitosan/nanoporous ZrO_2/multiwalled carbon nanotubes nanocomposite film

A new nanocomposite material for construction of glucose biosensor was prepared. The biosensor was formed by entrapping glucose oxidase(Gox) into chitosan/nanoporous ZrO2/multiwalled carbon nanotubes nanocomposite film. In this biosensing thin film, the multiwalled carbon nanotubes can effectively catalyze hydrogen peroxide and nanoporous ZrO2 can enhance the stability of the immobilized enzyme. The resulting biosensor provides a very effective matrix for the immobilization of glucose oxidase and exhibits a wide linear response range from 8 μmol/L to 3 mmol/L with a correlation coefficient of 0.994 for the detection of glucose. And the response time and detection limit of the biosensor are determined to be 6 s and 3.5 μmol/L, respectively. Another attractive characteristic is that the biosensor is inexpensive, stable and reliable.

Immune response,stress resistance and bacterial challenge in juvenile rainbow trouts Oncorhynchus mykiss fed diets containing chitosan-oligosaccharides

Effects of dietary supplementation of chitosan-oligosaccharides （COS） on the growth performance, immune response, stress resistance, and disease resistance of juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss were studied. Four experimental diets containing 0, 20, 40, or 60 mg/kg COS （COSO, COS20, COS40, and COS60, respectively） were fed to juvenile rainbow trout （initial weight = 5.2 ± 0.3 g） for 8 weeks. By the end of the feeding trial, representative groups of fish from each dietary treatment were challenged with stressor （30 see air exposure） and pathogen exposure （intraperitoneal injection with Aeromonas hydrophila ）. Results showed that supplementation of COS in diets did not affect production performance and body composition of rainbow trout. However, fish fed the COS40 diet demonstrated improved phagocytic activities, respiratory burst activities and decreased serum cortisol level. Additionally, survival following A. hydrophila challenge was significant higher among fish fed the COS-supplemented feeds, although there was no difference based on the level of supplementation. The present study suggests that COS can be used as an immuno-stimulant in rainbow trout feeds

Integrative Extraction of Ergosterol, （1→3）-α-D-Glucan and Chitosan from Penicillium chrysogenum Mycelia

Abstract Ergosterol,（1→3）-α-D-glucan and chitosan are important biomaterials. In this research, a process has been developed to integratively extract ergosterol, （1→3）-α-D-glucan, and chitosan from Penicillium chrysongenum mycelium. First the mycelia are pretreated with 0.1mol·L^-1 of NaOH. After recovery by centrifugation the solid portion is made to undergo saponification and deacetylation reactaons by addition of 2mol·L^-1 NaOH and et anol.After reaction, extraction is carried out by addition of petroleum ether, which separates the reaction mixture into two phases. The upper layer of petroleum ether contains extracted ergosterol, and the .bottom layer of NaOH solution contains （1→3）-α-DEglucan; the chitosan is on the mycelia residuum. After isolation, the recovery yield of ergosterol is 0.52% of dry mycelium. That of （1→3）-α-D-glucan is about 8.2%; and chitosan is 5.7% with 86% deacetylation. The compositions have been characterized by 1R, HPLC analyses.

Effects of Sulfate Chitosan Derivatives on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Sulfate chitosan derivatives have good solubility and therapeutic effect on the cell model of NAFLD. The aim of this study was to examine the therapeutic effect of sulfate chitosan derivatives on NAFLD. The male Wistar rats were orally fed high fat emulsion and received sulfate chitosan derivatives for 5 weeks to determine the pre-treatment effect of sulfate chitosan derivatives on NAFLD. To evaluate the therapeutic effect of sulfate chitosan derivatives on NAFLD, the rats were orally fed with high concentration emulsion for 5 weeks, followed by sulfate chitosan derivatives for 3 weeks. Histological analysis and biomedical assays showed that sulfate chitosan derivatives can dramatically prevent the development of hepatic steatosis in hepatocyte cells. In animal studies, pre-treatment and treatment with sulfate chitosan derivatives significantly protected against hepatic steatohepatitis induced by high fat diet according to histological analysis. Furthermore, increased TC, ALT, MDA, and LEP in NAFLD were significantly ameliorated by pre-treatment and treatment with sulfate chitosan derivatives. Furthermore, increased TG, AST, and TNF-α in NAFLD were significantly ameliorated by treatment with sulfate chitosan derivatives. Sulfate chitosan derivatives have good pre-treatment and therapeutic effect on NAFLD.

Preparation and Properties of Collagen-Chitosan/Glycosaminoglycans as Candidate Tissue Engineering Biomaterials

A novel biomaterial scaffold was created from collagen chitosan/GAG. Its tensile strength was 8.6MPa(wet state)and degree of swelling water was 60%～75% with higer ultimate elongation 300%. Rabbit corneas of collagen chitosan/GAG implantation samples in vivo for biodegradation showed that the inplantion samples was complets biodegrable and digested afere 120 day. There was enought time to maintain cell growth,immigrating and proliferation. This biomaterials scaffold can be used for cell culture and in various tissue engineering fields.

THE PREPARATION OF FRUCTOSE-MODIFIED CHITOSAN MICROCARRIERS AND CULTURE OF PRIMARY RAT HEPATOCYTES

The fructose modified chitosan microcarries (CMs) were prepared by the reaction of glutaraldehyde with fructose-modified chitosan. Various factors that influence the preparation were studied and the reaction conditions were optimized. Morphology of rat hepatocytes cultured on CMs was observed using phase contrast microscope and scanning electron microscope, and the metabolic activities were measured. Rat hepatocytes cultured on CMs retained the spherical shape as they have in vivo and had high metabolic activities. Fructose can enhance the metabolic activity of hepatocytes and the modified CMs are promising scaffold for hepatocytes attachment.

UV irradiation-H2O2 system as an effective combined depolymerization technique to produce oligosaccharides from chitosan

UV irradiation hydrogen peroxide （H202） system is used as an effective, easy and low-cost combined depolymerization technique to produce oligosaccharides from chitosan. UV-Vis spectroscopic studies explained that with increasing treatment time, the absorption of the depolymerized chitosan solution has increased, indicating the increase in the carbonyl and amino groups in their structure. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance （1H NMR） analysis showed that the 1,4-β-D-glucoside linkages of chitosan are degraded without important changes in chemical structure of decomposed samples. X-ray diffraction patterns verified the polymerization of chitosan to produce oligomers, changing in structure from crystalline to amorphous. Viscosity-average molecular weight measurements of fragmented chitosan samples and MarkHouwink equation are used to demonstrate the efficiency of this depolymerization method. Finally, the obtained results ascertained that this combined method could produce water soluble chitosan with significant efficiency and no essential change in its chemical structure.UV irradiation hydrogen peroxide （H202） system is used as an effective, easy and low-cost combined depolymerization technique to produce oligosaccharides from chitosan. UV-Vis spectroscopic studies explained that with increasing treatment time, the absorption of the depolymerized chitosan solution has increased, indicating the increase in the carbonyl and amino groups in their structure. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance （1H NMR） analysis showed that the 1,4-β-D-glucoside linkages of chitosan are degraded without important changes in chemical structure of decomposed samples. X-ray diffraction patterns verified the polymerization of chitosan to produce oligomers, changing in structure from crystalline to amorphous. Viscosity-average molecular weight measurements of fragmented chitosan samples and MarkHouwink equation are used to demonstrate the efficiency of this depolymerization method. Finally, the obtained results ascertained that this combined method could produce water soluble chitosan with significant efficiency and no essential change in its chemical structure.

Construction and Characterization of Gal-Chitosan Graft Methoxy Poly(Ethylene Glycol)(Gal-CS-mPEG) Nanoparticles as Efficient Gene Carrier

In the present study, galactosylated chitosan(Gal-CS) was conjugated with methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)(m PEG) as a hydrophilic group. The structure of Gal-CS-m PEG polymer was characterized and the nanoparticles(NPs) were prepared using ironic gelation method. The study was designed to investigate the characteristics and functions of Gal-CS-m PEG NPs. The morphology of Gal-CS-m PEG NPs was observed by SEM and it was a compact and spherical shape. The size of the NPs was approximately 200 nm in diameter under the ideal process parameters. The interaction between Gal-CS-m PEG NPs and p DNA, and the protection of p DNA against DNase I and serum degradation by Gal-CS-m PEG NPs were evaluated. Agarose gel electrophoresis results showed that Gal-CS-m PEG NPs had strong interaction with p DNA at the weight ratio of 12:1, 4:1 and 2:1 and could protect p DNA from DNase I and serum degradation. Gal-CS-m PEG NPs exhibited high loading efficiency and sustainable in vitro release. The blood compatibility studies demonstrated that Gal-CS-m PEG NPs had superior compatibility with erythrocytes in terms of aggregation degree and hemolysis level. Gal-CS-m PEG NPs showed no cytotoxicity on L929 cells, which is a normal mouse connective tissue fibroblast, but showed inhibitory effects on the proliferation of Bel-7402 cells, which is a liver cancer cell line. In conclusion, Gal-CS-m PEG NP is a bio-safe and efficient gene carrier with potential application in gene delivery.

PREPARATION OF CHITOSAN COATED METAL AFFINITY CHROMATOGRAPHY ADSORBENT

A new and an inexpensive adsorbent of chitosan coated silica for immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMIC) was studied. After a double coating, the chitosan coated on silica beads could be up to 53. 4 mg/g silica beads.When pH＞3. 8, the metal ligand Cu2+ was chelated on the coated chitosan witha bound capacity of 14. 6 mg/g chitosan without introducing iminodiacetic acid(IDA).