Mucoadhesive polyelectrolyte complexes of fucoidan and chitin nanowhiskers to prolong the antiprotozoal activity of metronidazole.

The improvement of the specific pharmacological activity of agents with antimicrobial and antiprotozoal properties (e.g. metronidazole, MET) is of interest for clinical applications in the treatment of bacterial infections.

Chitosan Composites with Bacterial Cellulose Nanofibers Doped with Nanosized Cerium Oxide: Characterization and Cytocompatibility Evaluation.

In this work, new composite films were prepared by incorporating the disintegrated bacterial cellulose (BCd) nanofibers and cerium oxide nanoparticles into chitosan (CS) matrices. The influence of the amount of nanofillers on the structure and properties of the polymer composites and the specific features of the intermolecular interactions in the materials were determined. An increase in film stiffness was observed as a result of reinforcing the CS matrix with BCd nanofibers: the Young's modulus increased from 4.

pH-Sensitive Drug Delivery System Based on Chitin Nanowhiskers-Sodium Alginate Polyelectrolyte Complex.

Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs), based on partially deacetylated chitin nanowhiskers (CNWs) and anionic polysaccharides, are characterized by their variability of properties (particle size, ζ-potential, and pH-sensitivity) depending on the preparation conditions, thereby allowing the development of polymeric nanoplatforms with a sustained release profile for active pharmaceutical substances. This study is focused on the development of hydrogels based on PECs of CNWs and sodium alginate (ALG) for potential vaginal administration that provide controlled pH-dependent antibiotic release in an acidic vaginal environment, as well as prolonged pharmacological action due to both the sustained drug release profile and the mucoadhesive properties of the polysaccharides. The desired hydrogels were formed as a result of both electrostatic interactions between CNWs and ALG (PEC formation), and the subsequent molecular entanglement of ALG chains, and the formation of additional hydrogen bonds.

Comparative Analysis of the Functional Properties of Films Based on Carrageenans, Chitosan, and Their Polyelectrolyte Complexes.

The influence of the structural features of carrageenan on the functional properties of the films was studied. The carrageenans and chitosan films, as well as three-layer films containing a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) of the two, were prepared. The X-ray diffractograms of carrageenan films reflected its amorphous structure, whereas chitosan and three-layer films were characterized by strong reflection in the regions of 20° and 15° angles, respectively.

Nonspecific enzymatic hydrolysis of a highly ordered chitopolysaccharide substrate.

Chitin and chitosan can undergo nonspecific enzymatic hydrolysis by several different hydrolases. This susceptibility to nonspecific enzymes opens up many opportunities for producing chitooligosaccharides and low molecular weight chitopolysaccharides, since specific chitinases and chitosanases are rare and not commercially available. In this study, chitosan and chitin were hydrolyzed using several commercially available hydrolases.

Bacterial Cellulose () Biocomposites and Their Cytocompatibility.

A series of novel polysaccharide-based biocomposites was obtained by impregnation of bacterial cellulose produced by (BC) with the solutions of negatively charged polysaccharides-hyaluronan (HA), sodium alginate (ALG), or κ-carrageenan (CAR)-and subsequently with positively charged chitosan (CS). The penetration of the polysaccharide solutions into the BC network and their interaction to form a polyelectrolyte complex changed the architecture of the BC network. The structure, morphology, and properties of the biocomposites depended on the type of impregnated anionic polysaccharides, and those polysaccharides in turn determined the nature of the interaction with CS.

Alginate Gel Reinforcement with Chitin Nanowhiskers Modulates Rheological Properties and Drug Release Profile.

Hydrogels are promising materials for various applications, including drug delivery, tissue engineering, and wastewater treatment. In this work, we designed an alginate (ALG) hydrogel containing partially deacetylated chitin nanowhiskers (CNW) as a filler. Gelation in the system occurred by both the protonation of alginic acid and the formation of a polyelectrolyte complex with deacetylated CNW surface chains.

Electrospun Bilayer Chitosan/Hyaluronan Material and Its Compatibility with Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

A bilayer nonwoven material for tissue regeneration was prepared from chitosan (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) by needleless electrospinning wherein 10-15 wt% (with respect to polysaccharide) polyethylene oxide was added as spinning starter. A fiber morphology study confirmed the material's uniform defect-free structure. The roughness of the bilayer material was in the range of 1.

Preparation of N-succinyl-chitin nanoparticles and their applications in otoneurological pathology.

Succinyl-chitin (SCH) nanoparticles were obtained by acylation of partially deacetylated chitin (DCH) nanofibers. Introduction of the succinyl moiety induced a partial amorphization of DCH, as viewed by X-ray diffraction, and increased the fractal dimension of the colloids from d = 1.2 (DCH) to 1.