Novel polyion complex micelles for liver-targeted delivery of diammonium glycyrrhizinate: in vitro and in vivo characterization.

Polyion complex micelles (PIC micelles) based on methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-grafted-chitosan (mPEG-g-Chitosan) and lactose-conjugated PEG-grafted-chitosan (Lac-PEG-g-Chitosan) were designed as carriers for anionic drugs. Diammonium glycyrrhizinate (DG)-loaded conventional PIC micelles (mPIC micelles) and lactose-modified PIC micelles (Lac-PIC micelles) were prepared successfully with encapsulation efficiency of 97.4% and 96.