Xyloglucan (XG) is a multibranched polysaccharide consisting of a main chain β-1,4-glucan with xylose and galactose side chains. In this study, cholesterol-bearing XG (CHXG) was synthesized by the reaction of XG with cholesteryl N-(6-isocyanatohexyl) carbamate. The CHXG molecules self-assembled in water to form nanogels consisting of about 100 molecules of XG, and were characterized using light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The number of cholesteryl groups per physical cross-linking site was estimated using a fluorescence quenching method. The resulting CHXG nanogels could be complexed with molecules of low molecular weight, such as iodine and paclitaxel, making the nanogels useful as drug carriers. The CHXG nanogels could also be specifically internalized by hepatocytes via the galactose receptors on their cell surface. CHXG self-assembled nanogels may be suitable as novel drug nanocarriers with galactose-specific targetability.
Keywords: Xyloglucan; drug delivery system; hepatocyte; nanocarrier; nanogel; polysaccharide.