Starch/Poly(glycerol-adipate) Nanocomposites: A Novel Oral Drug Delivery Device

Abstract

Biocompatible and bio-based materials are an appealing resource for the pharmaceutical industry. Poly(glycerol-adipate) (PGA) is a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer that can be used to produce self-assembled nanoparticles (NPs) able to encapsulate active ingredients, with encouraging perspectives for drug delivery purposes. Starch is a versatile, inexpensive, and abundant polysaccharide that can be effectively applied as a bio-scaffold for other molecules in order to enrich it with new appealing properties. In this work, the combination of PGA NPs and starch films proved to be a suitable biopolymeric matrix carrier for the controlled release preparation of hydrophobic drugs. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) was used to determine the size of drug-loaded PGA NPs, while the improvement of the apparent drug water solubility was assessed by UV-vis spectroscopy. In vitro biological assays were performed against cancer cell lines and bacteria strains to confirm that drug-loaded PGA NPs maintained the effective activity of the therapeutic agents. Dye-conjugated PGA was then exploited to track the NP release profile during the starch/PGA nanocomposite film digestion, which was assessed using digestion models mimicking physiological conditions. The collected data provide a clear indication of the suitability of our biodegradable carrier system for oral drug delivery.

Polysaccharide-Based Coatings as Drug Delivery Systems

“…Additionally, starch is a versatile, inexpensive, and widely available polysaccharide that can function as bio-scaffold for other molecules, providing them with new and desirable properties. In the investigation of [ 79 ], the researchers found a successful method for controlled release of hydrophobic drugs, using a combination of PGA NPs and starch films as a biopolymeric matrix carrier. The size of drug-loaded PGA NPs was determined using dynamic light scattering (DLS), while UV–Vis spectroscopy was used to assess the enhancement of the drug water solubility.…”

“…To monitor the NP release profile during starch/PGA nanocomposite film digestion, dye-conjugated PGA was used, and the digestion models that mimic physiological conditions were evaluated. In vitro biological assays obtained in the case of a biodegradable carrier system for oral drug delivery confirm that drug-loaded PGA NPs maintained the effective activity of the therapeutic agents [ 79 ]. Maryam Moghadam et al [ 80 ] developed a new light curable starch-based hydrogel drug delivery system to improve the release rate of quercetin as a poorly water-soluble drug.…”

Modification of Poly(Glycerol Adipate) with Tocopherol and Cholesterol Modulating Nanoparticle Self-Assemblies and Cellular Responses of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells to SN-38 Delivery

“…Modification of PGA with a variety of pendant substituents, including fatty acids [ 8 , 10 , 13 , 14 ], N-acyl amino acids [ 15 , 16 , 17 ], non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [ 18 , 19 ], methotrexate [ 20 ], and fluorescent dyes [ 15 , 21 ], can manipulate the physicochemical and mechanical properties, drug loading capacity, and controllability of drug release. These PGA modifications result in a grafted chain structure for the amphiphilic polymers.…”

Green enzymatic synthesis and processing of poly (cis-9,10-epoxy-18-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid) in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2)

“…1 Therefore, interest in renewable resources as a replacement for fossil-based materials has increased considerably due to environmental concerns. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Sources of renewables ranging from trees, plants and algae could be exploited to extract novel functionalised molecules that can be converted in monomers in order to prepare novel renewable polymers. 10 These raw materials are not only of interest because of their abundance but also because they represent a unique opportunity to develop a circular economy in the polymeric field.…”