Quaternized chitosan–organic rectorite intercalated composites based nanoparticles for protein controlled release

Abstract

Organic rectorite (OREC) was added in the quaternized chitosan (QC)/alginate (ALG) nanoparticles using an ionic gelation method to fabricate a controllable release system for proteins for the first time. The morphology of nanoparticles, the intercalated structure of OREC, bovine serum albumin encapsulation efficiency and in vitro release properties were investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectra, energy dispersive X-ray, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, small angle X-ray diffraction and size distribution analysis were performed to characterize the composite nanoparticles. With the addition of OREC, the encapsulation efficiency and the loading capacity of nanoparticles had increased from 21.2% to 44.9% and from 13.7% to 25.0%, respectively. In addition, the rapid initial release was inhibited successfully from 20.15% to 11.07% in stimulated gastric fluid and from 14.69% to 4.52% in stimulated intestinal fluid. The results verified that the addition of OREC could make these nanoparticles effective carriers to encapsulate drug and slow the drug controlled release of nanoparticles.