Carboxymethyl guar gum nanoparticles for drug delivery applications: Preparation and preliminary in-vitro investigations

Abstract

Carboxymethyl guar gum (CMGG) synthesized from commercially available polysaccharide was formulated into nanoparticles via ionic gelation using trisodium trimetaphosphate (STMP) as cross-linking agent. Characterisation using a range of analytical techniques (FTIR, NMR, GPC, TGA and DLS) confirmed the CMGG structure and revealed the effect of the CMGG and STMP concentration on the main characteristics of the obtained nanoformulations. The average nanoparticle diameter was found to be around 208 nm, as determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Experiments using simulated gastric and intestinal fluids evidenced significant pH-dependent drug release behaviour of the nanoformulations loaded with Rhodamine B (RhB) as a model drug (loading capacity in excess of 83%), as monitored by UV-Vis. While dose-dependent cytotoxicity was observed, the nanoformulations appeared completely non-toxic at concentrations below 0.3 mg/mL. Results obtained so far suggest that carboxymethylated guar gum nanoparticles formulated with STMP warrant further investigations as polysaccharide based biocompatible drug nanocarriers.

<p>Extraction, Purification, and Characterization of Polysaccharides of <em>Araucaria heterophylla</em> L and <em>Prosopis chilensis</em> L and Utilization of Polysaccharides in Nanocarrier Synthesis</p>

“…The size of these nanocarriers can be controlled with the ratio of STMP and carboxymethyl agents used. 48 Loading of the drug is achieved by a simple precipitation of curcumin onto the nanocarriers in acidic pH. 49,50 UV-Vis Analysis Figure 13 shows the UV-Vis analysis of unloaded nanocarrier and loaded nanocarrier of A. heterophylla and P. chilensis respectively.…”

Non-thermal plasma assisted surface nano-textured carboxymethyl guar gum/chitosan hydrogels for biomedical applications

“…10 However, CMGG shows new absorption bands at 1600 cm À1 and 1420 cm À1 corresponding to COO À asymmetric and symmetric stretching vibrations respectively. 10,11 These spectral changes indicated the effectual carboxymethylation of GG.…”

“…19 The CMGG spectrum revealed the appearance of new proton peaks at d 3.75, 3.8 and 3.9 ppm ascribed to the Scheme 1 Carboxymethylation of guar gum. 11,19 Thus, the proton NMR results conrm the carboxymethylation reaction.…”

“…[6][7][8][9] Nevertheless, certain shortcomings associated with native GG such as uncontrolled rates of hydration, high swelling, thickening effect, instability upon storage and high susceptibility to microbial attack have called in for modication strategies. 10,11 Carboxymethylation of GG in particular has evolved to be an effectual approach wherein the aforementioned hindrances have been addressed quite fruitfully. [10][11][12][13][14] Carboxymethylated guar gum (CMGG) has been assimilated with myriad polymers and formulated into nanoparticles, microspheres, microparticles and hydrogels among others and employed for biomedical applications.…”

“…10,11 Carboxymethylation of GG in particular has evolved to be an effectual approach wherein the aforementioned hindrances have been addressed quite fruitfully. [10][11][12][13][14] Carboxymethylated guar gum (CMGG) has been assimilated with myriad polymers and formulated into nanoparticles, microspheres, microparticles and hydrogels among others and employed for biomedical applications. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Chitosan (CS) is a natural cationic pH-responsive polymer which needs no introduction.…”