Dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin/salazosulfapyridine inclusion complex-loaded chitosan nanoparticles for sustained release

This study aimed to investigate a novel delivery system for salazosulfapyridine (SASP) through encapsulation in 2,6-dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin (DMβCD) and further incorporation in chitosan (CS) to form nanoparticles (NPs). The inclusion complex of SASP and DMβCD was prepared at 1:1 host-guest stoichiometry based on Job's plot and then characterized through various analytical techniques. Then, the DMβCD/SASP inclusion complex was incorporated in CS to form DMβCD/SASP/CS NPs. The loading efficiency of SASP in the DMβCD/SASP/CS NPs was significantly higher than that of the SASP/CS NPs. A positive zeta potential of +35.4mV was also observed in the DMβCD/SASP/CS NPs with an average size of 90nm. SASP exhibited a sustained release after the DMβCD/SASP/CS NPs were formed. The toxicity of the NPs to LO2 cells was lower than that of free SASP. Therefore, the CD inclusion complex-loaded CS NPs can be applied to deliver hydrophobic drugs.