Abstract

ADVANCEMENT OF CHITOSAN-BASED NANOPARTICLES FOR TARGETED DELIVERY OF ANTIULCER DRUGS

Devender Singh, Shashi Alok, Alok Mahor, Kaushal Kumar*

ABSTRACT

Chitosan nanoparticles have gained more attention as drug delivery carriers because of their better stability, low toxicity, simple and mild preparation method, and providing versatile routes of administration. Their sub-micron size not only suitable for parenteral application, but also applicable for mucosal routes of administration, i.e., oral, nasal, and ocular mucosa, which are non-invasive route. Chitosan has prompted the continuous movement for the development of safe and effective drug delivery systems because of its unique physicochemical and biological characteristics. The primary hydroxyl and amine groups located on the backbone of chitosan allow for chemical modification to control its physical properties. When the hydrophobic moiety is conjugated to a chitosan molecule, the resulting amphiphile may form self-assembled nanoparticles that can encapsulate a quantity of drugs and deliver them to a specific site of action. Chemical attachment of the drug to the chitosan throughout the functional linker may produce useful prodrugs, exhibiting the appropriate biological activity at the target site.

Keywords: Nanotechnology, Chitosan, Nanoparticles, promising drug carrier, Targeted delivery.