Dextran Nanoparticle Synthesis and Properties

PLoS One. 2016 Jan 11;11(1):e0146237. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146237. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Dextran is widely exploited in medical products and as a component of drug-delivering nanoparticles (NPs). Here, we tested whether dextran can serve as the main substrate of NPs and form a stable backbone. We tested dextrans with several molecular masses under several synthesis conditions to optimize NP stability. The analysis of the obtained nanoparticles showed that dextran NPs that were synthesized from 70 kDa dextran with a 5% degree of oxidation of the polysaccharide chain and 50% substitution with dodecylamine formed a NP backbone composed of modified dextran subunits, the mean diameter of which in an aqueous environment was around 100 nm. Dextran NPs could be stored in a dry state and reassembled in water. Moreover, we found that different chemical moieties (e.g., drugs such as doxorubicin) can be attached to the dextran NPs via a pH-dependent bond that allows release of the drug with lowering pH. We conclude that dextran NPs are a promising nano drug carrier.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Dextrans / chemical synthesis*
  • Dextrans / chemistry*
  • Doxorubicin / chemistry
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Freeze Drying
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Molecular Weight
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Particle Size

Substances

  • Dextrans
  • Doxorubicin

Grants and funding

This work was partially supported by EuroNanoMed grant FonDiag. IW, MJ, AK, MM, IAC, AN, and TC are financially supported by the NanoVelos company (NanoVelos commercializes the technology originated from the research conducted at Warsaw University of Technology). The funder provided support in the form of salaries for authors IW, MJ, AK, MM, IAC, AN, and TC. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.