A novel biomimetic chitosan-based nanocarrier with suppression of the protein-nanocarrier interactions

A novel approach to construct biomimetic nanocarriers with suppression of the protein-nanocarrier interactions was developed. Firstly, biomimetic N-phosphorylcholine-chitosan derivative (N-PCCs) with biomembrane-like phosphorylcholine (PC) group was successfully synthesized through Atherton-Todd reaction and subsequently hydrolysis, and structurally characterized. Using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein, UV adsorption spectra and fluorescence spectra revealed that the interactions between N-PCCs and BSA were effectively suppressed and the conformation of BSA was almost unchanged with the addition of N-PCCs. Moreover, N-PCCs nanoparticles can be easily formed by ionic crosslinking with lower particle size and zeta potential value compared with Cs nanoparticles. The results suggested that biomimetic N-PCCs nanoparticles may be used as a promising nanocarrier avoiding unfavorable biological response for effectively delivering therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.