Title:Chitosan Nanoparticles as a Novel Drug Delivery System: A Review Article
VOLUME: 21 ISSUE: 15
Author(s):Sina M. Matalqah*, Khalid Aiedeh, Nizar M. Mhaidat, Karem H. Alzoubi, Yasser Bustanji and Islam Hamad
Affiliation:Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Department of Biopharmaceutical and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Madaba, Madaba
Keywords:Chitosan, drug delivery, ionic gelation, emulsification, desolvation, nanoparticles.
Abstract:Natural polymers, particularly polysaccharide, have been used as drug delivery systems for
a variety of therapeutic agents such as peptides, proteins, vaccines, DNA, and drugs for parenteral and
non-parenteral administration. Chitosan, the second most abundant naturally occurring polysaccharide
after cellulose, is a biocompatible and biodegradable mucoadhesive polymer that is extensively used
in the preparation of nanoparticles (NPs). Chitosan NPs loaded with drugs were found to be stable,
permeable and bioactive. In this review, the importance of chitosan and its derivatives in drug delivery
is illustrated, different methods of preparation of chitosan and chitosan derivatives NPs and their physio-
chemical properties are addressed. Moreover, the desirable characteristics of successful NPs based
drug delivery systems, as well as the pharmaceutical applications of these NPs are also clearly explored.
