Properties of Chitosan

A review of chitosan microspheres as carrier for drugs pubUshed recently by Sinha et al. provides insight into the exploitation of the various properties of chitosan to microencapsulate drugs. Various techniques used for preparing chitosan microspheres and evaluation protocols have also been reviewed, together with the factors that affect the entrapment efficiency and release ki-nefics of drugs [194]. 

The reconstruction of the periodontal tissue with chitosan was a prelude to the discovery of the osteoinductive properties of chitosan [331]. Surgical wounds from wisdom tooth avulsions were treated with freeze-dried methylpyrrolidinone chitosan that promoted bone regeneration. Methyl-pyrrolidinone chitosan was useful in apicoectomy as well. None of the patients reported adverse effects over three years of observation [332]. 

J. Zhang, L. Wang, A. Wang, Preparation and properties of chitosan-g-poly(acrylic acid)/montmorillonite superabsorbent nanocomposite via In situ intercalative polymerization, Ind. Eng. Chem Res., vol. 46, pp. 2497-2505, 2007. 

Sandri G, Poggi P, Bonferoni MC, Rossi S, Ferrari F, and Caramella C (2006) Histological evaluation of buccal penetration enhancement properties of chitosan and trimethyl chitosan. J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 58 1327-1336. 

Because the biological properties of chitosan are dependent on its physico-chemical properties such as molecular weight (MW) and degree of deacetylation (DD), uniform physico-chemical properties are a prerequisite to specific industrial applications. As an alternative method, fermentation technology for chitosan preparation from fungal cell walls has received much attention as an eco-friendly pathway. Rane and... 

Because it has a variety of biological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and immune-stimulating effects, chitosan offers a number of uses in food, cosmetic, biomedical, and pharmaceutical industries. In this section, the nutraceutical properties of chitosan and its derivatives are discussed. 

Lehr, C.M., et al. n vitro evaluation of mucoadhesive properties of chitosan and some other natural polymers,Int. J. Pharm., 78, 43, 1992. 

Schneider A, Richert L, Francius G et al (2007) Elasticity, biodegradability and cell adhesive properties of chitosan/hyaluronan multilayer films. Biomed Mater 2 S45-S51... 

Thongborisute J, Takeuchi H, Yamamoto H, Kawashima Y (2006a) Visualization of the penetrative and mucoadhesive properties of chitosan and chitosan-coated liposomes through the rat intestine. J Liposome Res 16(2) 127-141 Thongborisute J, Takeuchi H, Yamamoto H, Kawashima Y (2006b) Properties of liposomes coated with hydrophobically modified chitosan in oral liposomal drug dehvery. Pharmazie 61 (2) 106—111... 

Interfacial Properties of Chitosan-PEO Graft Oligomers Surface Competition with Unmodified Chitosan Oligomers... 

A procedure for preparing a homogenous chitosan-amine oxide gel was reported [ 134]. The swelling behavior and release characteristics of the gel were studied in buffer solution (pH 7.4) at room temperature [135-137]. Homogeneous erosion of the matrix and nearly zero-order release of ampicillin trihydrate were observed [136]. The thermal properties of chitosan-amine oxide gel were also reported in subsequent studies [138]. 

Gan, Q., Wang,T., Cochrane, C., and McCarron, P. (2005), Modulation of surface charge, particle size and morphological properties of chitosan-TPP nanoparticles intended for gene delivery, Colloids Surf. B. Biointerfaces, 44(2-3), 65-73. 

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