A recently patented one-step methodology was used for the formulation of chitosan (CS) coated polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles containing dexamethasone (DXM) as a model drug. SEM investigations showed that nanoparticles (NPs) were spherical in shape with smooth surface. CS coating switched NPs ζ-potential from negative to positive, without modifying particle size distribution. Moreover, CS coating allowed a significant modulation of in vitro drug release, providing a sustained drug delivery in cultured cells. The uptake of fluorescent CS-coated PLGA NPs by hepatocytes (C3A) and fibroblasts (3T6) as well as the fate of internalized NPs were investigated by confocal microscopy. 3T6 and C3A cells were treated with DXM-loaded NPs and experiments were addressed to analyze the specific cell response to DXM, in order to evaluate its functional efficiency in comparison with conventional addition to culture medium. CS-coating of DXM loaded PLGA NPs allowed their uptake by cultured cells without inducing cytotoxicity.
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