Synthesis and Evaluation of BSA-Loaded PLGA-Chitosan Composite Nanoparticles for the Protein-Based Drug Delivery System

Manish Gaur; Sarita Maurya; Mohd Sohail Akhtar; Awadh Bihari Yadav

doi:10.1021/acsomega.3c00738

Synthesis and Evaluation of BSA-Loaded PLGA-Chitosan Composite Nanoparticles for the Protein-Based Drug Delivery System

ACS Omega. 2023 May 17;8(21):18751-18759. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.3c00738. eCollection 2023 May 30.

Authors

Manish Gaur¹, Sarita Maurya¹, Mohd Sohail Akhtar², Awadh Bihari Yadav¹

Affiliations

¹ Centre of Biotechnology, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj 211002, India.
² Molecular and Structural Biology Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to synthesize composite nanoparticles (NPs) based on poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and chitosan (CS) and evaluate their suitability for the delivery of protein-based therapeutic molecules. Composite NPs possess a unique property which is not exhibited by any other polymer. Unlike other polymers, only the composite NPs lead to improved transfection efficiency and sustained release of protein. The composite NP were prepared by grafting CS on the surface of PLGA NPs through EDC-NHS coupling reaction. The size of bovine serum albumin (BSA)-loaded PLGA NPs and BSA-loaded PLGA-CS composite NPs was 288 ± 3 and 363 ± 4 nm, respectively. The zeta potential of PLGA NPs is -18 ± 0.23, and that of composite particles is 19 ± 0.40, thus confirming the successful addition of CS on the surface of PLGA NPs. Composite NPs were characterized using dynamic light scattering, scanning/transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, release profile, and gel electrophoresis. The encapsulation efficiency of PLGA NPs was 88%. These composite NPs were easily uptaken by the A549 cell line with no or minimal cytotoxicity. The present study emphasizes that the composite NPs are suitable for delivery of BSA into the cells with no cytotoxicity or very little cytotoxicity, while maintaining the integrity of the encapsulated BSA.