Novel Fe3O4 chitosan–quince-seed mucilage polymeric composite to enhance protein release

Abstract

This work aimed at evaluating the ability of chitosan (CS)–quince-seed mucilage (QSM) polymeric matrix in biomedical applications. Hence, bovine albumin serum (BSA) was selected as a sample protein and the potential of this polymeric composite in both protein encapsulation and controlled protein release was investigated. To recognize the effect of magnetism on the performance of this biomaterial, CS–BSA–QSM–magnetite NPs were fabricated and the experiment was repeated in the presence and absence of alternating magnetic field. As a result, over 63% of BSA loading into chitosan was achieved using QSM in the absence of any crosslinker. Also the results confirmed the positive effect of magnetite NPs on BSA encapsulation efficiency and the ability of magnetite NPs in controlling protein release. Also, the kinetics of protein release from all three samples was explored and some mechanisms were suggested.