Influence of Polycation Functional Properties on Polyanion Micro/Nanoparticles for NSAIDs Reinforced via Polyelectrolyte Complexation: Alginate-Chitosan Case Study

In the last 2 decades, numerous studies have been carried out to synthesize biodegradable and nontoxic micro- and nanoparticulate carriers for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The potential benefits of these carriers are reduction of dosing frequency and minimization of side effects due to prolonged/delayed drug release, increased selectivity for target tissues and possibility of direct administration to the site of action.This chapter discusses characteristics of alginate-based micro- and nanoparticles reinforced with chitosan and gives an overview of the techniques commonly used for preparation of these drug carriers. It is focused on the chitosans' functionality-related characteristics, such as molecular weight and viscosity, and their influence on feasibility of the alginate-chitosan particulate carriers for oral delivery of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Additionally, chitosan's structure, safety, and overall characteristics are discussed in detail for better understanding