Cationic polysaccharides have been a major area of focus due to the potential applications in drug and gene delivery especially through encapsulation of nucleic acids and certain proteins through electrostatic interactions. They have also been sought as paracellular permeability enhancers (PPEs) in an effort to increase permeation across the epithelial membrane especially for hydrophilic macromolecules of therapeutic significance. These PPEs temporarily alter the integrity of tight junctions and allow for more effective transport - a characteristic that has been identified in the amine containing polysaccharide chitosan. Chitosan has been a template for the behavior of cationic polysaccharides and is most heavily targeted however its limited solubility at neutral pH and inability to target specific areas of the intestine like the ileum or jejunum greatly limit its efficiency in comparison to the best synthetic vehicles available. These drawbacks and others have prompted efforts to functionalize other polysaccharides including cellulose through the addition of permanent positive charges along the polymer backbone. This study explores the synthetic conditions needed to produce ammonium cellulose derivatives regioselectively at C-6 with high degree of substitution (DS) as well as use analytical techniques to discern the potential for these derivatives in oral drug delivery.

Regioselective synthesis of aminated cellulose derivatives for drug delivery

248th National Meeting (2014)

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