Electro-microgellation of CS/PL spheres in situ self-embedded with AgNPs as a losartan delivery system

Abstract

In situ electrosynthesis of new hybrid colloidal microgel particles of chitosan (CS)-pullulan (PL) self-embedded with AgNPs and introduced as a drug carrier for losartan (LOS) as a drug model. The impact of using Platinum (Pt) and Silver (Ag) sheets as anode and the electrosynthesis time on the formation mechanism, morphology, compositional and structural properties have been examined. The prepared samples characterized using uv–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), transmission electron microscope (TEM), zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), x-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and stability test. In addition to the Assessment of the antibacterial activity of the prepared samples. Also, incorporation of LOS in situ during the preparation of the microgel was investigated. The results demonstrated that uniform AgNPs with an average size 5.4 nm successfully in situ self-embedded within CS/PL microgel particles of a dual size distribution 151.4 and 43.5 nm with surface charge +25 mV. Besides, the incorporation of AgNPs during the electrosynthesis process played a crucial role in the morphology transition from pearl-necklace to microsphere. additionally, stability examination of the microgel particles introduced a valuable result that the single sphere containing Ag+ ions underwent a slow reduction rate in consistency with nucleation favored overgrowth. Incorporation of AgNPs within CS/PL microgel has considerably enhanced the antimicrobial potential of the realized CS/PL against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria Investigation of the ability of the losartan incorporation explored a stable core/shell like structure with average size 95 nm and zeta potential + 39 mV promoting the spheres stability.