While protein therapeutics is recognized as an approach for tackling an extensive list of difficult-to-treat diseases, the high lability of proteins in physiological environments narrows its pharmacological performance. Accordingly, the development of protein-transportation mechanisms using polymeric nanosystems as protein carriers has taken an imperative role in optimizing protein-based therapies. In this research, we designed, synthesized, and characterized chitosan-based nanoparticulate formulation of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Spherical chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs) loaded with BSA were reproducibly synthesized by ionotropic gelation between chitosan and sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP). Average hydrodynamic diameter, polydispersity index, and zeta potential of nanoparticles varied around 200 nm, 0.2, and +35.5 mV. Our in vitro studies showed a sustained release of BSA during a week. MTT in vitro cell viability assays demonstrated that CS NPs and BSA-loaded CS NPs were biocompatible to porcine kidney-15 cells. Finally, we confirmed the cellular uptake of (FITC)BSA-loaded CS NPs in human epithelial type 2 cells using confocal microscopy. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the broad potential of chitosan nanocarriers for the improvement of protein-based formulations.

Development of drug delivery polymeric nanosystems for the improvement of protein formulations

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