Evaluation and modification of N-trimethyl chitosan chloride nanoparticles for oral protein delivery

摘要

N-trimethyl chitosan chloride (TMC) nanoparticles were prepared by ionic crosslinking of TMC with tripolyphosphate (TPP). Two model proteins with different pI values, bovine serum albumin (BSA, pI=4.8) and bovine hemoglobin (BHb, pI=6.8), and two TMC samples with different degrees of quateruization were used to investigate the loading and release features of the TMC nanoparticles (TMCN). Sodium alginate was used to modify TMCN to reduce burst release. The absorption enhancement effect of TMCN were investigated on an in vitro model of GI epithelium (Caco-2 cells). The results showed that TMC nanoparticles have high protein loading efficiency and small particle size, and an enhanced absorption of encapsulated FITC-BSA was observed on Caco-2 cell monolayers. The initial burst of the nanoparticles could be controlled by alginate modification, and it barely had any effect on TMC nanoparticles' property of enhancing drug paracellular transport. These results indicated that TMC nanoparticles are potential carriers for oral protein delivery.