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Structural characterization (shape and dimensions) and stability of polysaccharide/lipid nanoparticles
Author(s) -
Santos Nuno C.,
Prieto Manuel J. E.,
MornaGomes A.,
Betbeder Didier,
Castanho Miguel A. R. B.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
biopolymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1097-0282
pISSN - 0006-3525
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0282(19970415)41:5<511::aid-bip3>3.0.co;2-p
Subject(s) - chemistry , polysaccharide , nanoparticle , colloid , supramolecular chemistry , chitosan , ionic strength , self assembly , chemical engineering , dynamic light scattering , spheres , crystallography , organic chemistry , molecule , physics , astronomy , aqueous solution , engineering
The structure of a new supramolecular drug carrier (named Biovectors—BV) was studied using light scattering and scanning electronic microscopy techniques. This system consists of a polysaccharide core of chemically cross‐linked maltodextrins to which phospholipids (and, in some cases, cholesterol) are added. Both polysaccharide cores and BV cross‐linked with phosphate (negatively charged) and epichlorhydrin (no net charge) are spherical particles. The increase in the ionic strength of the medium increases the density of the charged polysaccharide cores. The lipid strongly interacts with neutral and negatively charged cores, decreasing both intra‐ and interparticle interactions. The results (mainly, ρ = R g /R h < 0.775 in some cases) suggest that BV are gel‐like particles of variable density, referred to as microgels or soft spheres. Neutral polysaccharides have a strong tendency to self‐aggregate. This self‐aggregation of polysaccharide neutral cores is prevented by the addition of lipid or dimethylsulfoxide. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 41: 511–520, 1997