N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan nanoparticles as a vitamin carrier system
Graphical abstract
Highlights
► Trimethyl chitosan/TPP nanoparticles have spherical shape and size near 196 nm. ► Entrapment of vitamins C, B9 and B12 increases the nanoparticles size. ► Solid-state spectroscopy attests the crosslinking in nanoparticle/vitamin system. ► Trimethyl chitosan/TPP/vitamin is a stable system. ► Cast nanoparticles film displays regular distribution over polar glass surface.
Introduction
N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan (TMC) is a cationic polyelectrolyte obtained by extensive methylation of chitosan parent polymer (de Britto & Assis, 2007a). The resulting derivative is a water-soluble polysaccharide useful for a variety of applications and particularly suitable for nanoparticle processing (Xu, Du, Huang, & Gao, 2003). TMC is a non-toxic and biocompatible polymer from which particles with sizes in the range of 100–200 nm can be easily obtained via an ionic gelation process, using sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) as a counterion. For these, efficiencies of up to 90% can be attained to drug entrapment, according to the analysis of bovine serum albumin as a model drug, as performed by Xu et al. (2003). Several others applications have emerged for TMC nanoparticles including a nasal and oral vaccine delivery system (Slütter & Jiskoot, 2010), protein carrier (Luo, Zhang, Cheng, & Wang, 2010), insulin controlled release (Sadeghi et al., 2008) and applications as a food additive (Chen & Subirade, 2005).
Particularly in foodstuffs, the use of edible nanoparticles as a carrier or release system has many potential applications (Matalanis, Jones, & McClements, 2011). Flavors, antioxidants, enzymes, antimicrobials and vitamins are able to be encapsulated or immobilized on nanoparticles, thus retaining activity. Vitamins, for example, are sensitive and unstable compounds that lose their functionality when exposed to inappropriate temperatures, oxygen, light or humidity (Ottaway, 1993). The encapsulation of vitamins may partially help to reduce some of these limitations, thus providing a prolonged shelf life and stability in a foreign medium. Encapsulated vitamins have particularly interesting applications as nutritional supplements for the enrichment of processed products in certain foods. In beverages for example, the encapsulation can act positively in masking the flavor of the vitamins and minerals, providing a tastier product for consumers (Chen & Wagner, 2004). Nanoparticles can also be associated with a polymeric matrix, providing an alternative way to fortify coatings or edible films thus envisaging the development of active packaging (Coma, 2008, Garcia et al., 2010, Imran et al., 2010, Kerry et al., 2006, Sekhon, 2010). The incorporation of nutrients in food employing nanoparticles is undoubtedly emerging as one of the fastest growing technologies in the alimentary field with potentially many applications. However the control of nanoparticle processing parameters and ensuring reproducibility still require further development.
The purpose of the present study was to produce TMC chitosan-based nanoparticles with controllable sizes by TPP crosslinking and then evaluate the loading efficiency of these nanoparticles with vitamins. The resulting structure of these nanoparticles was analyzed by solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy and by Fourier Transform Infrared techniques. The morphological characterization was carried out by Atomic Force Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy. In addition the stability of the nanoparticles was evaluated through zeta potential analysis.
Section snippets
Materials
Sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) and medium molecular weight chitosan (80% deacetylated) were purchased from Aldrich Chemical Company Inc. (USA), and used as delivered. Dimethylsulfate was obtained from Vetec (Brazil) and the other chemicals from Synth (Brazil). Vitamins of pharmaceutical grade were acquired in a local drugstore with following specifications, according to the manufacturer: vitamin C, white powder, assay = 99%, heavy metal < 10 ppm, ash = 0.03%, oxalic acid < 0.3%; vitamin B9
Results and discussion
According to Agnihotri, Mallikarjuna, and Aminabhavi (2004), drug loading in micro/nanoparticulate systems can be attained by two basic methods: i) by incorporation, in which charge is carried during the preparation of the particles and ii) by incubation, in which the charge is carried after the formation of the particles. In the first methodology, the drug is dissolved or dispersed into the polymer solution, being physically entrapped into the matrix during the particle formation. In the
Conclusions
In the preparation of TMC–TPP nanoparticles, the smallest particle size distribution (196 nm) was obtained when the combination of the lowest TMC and TPP ratio was used. The concomitant decrease in zeta potential for the addition of high concentration of TPP is understood in terms of the neutralizing effect of two opposite charged species (TMC and TPP). The incorporation of vitamins C, B9 and B12 into nanoparticles was confirmed either by particle size, zeta potential and spectroscopic
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to FINEP/MCT, Embrapa (Rede AgroNano), and Brazilian research financing institutions FAPESP, CNPq and CAPES for their financial support.
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