PREPARATION OF ALLANTOIN LOADED CHITOSAN NANOPARTICLES AND INFLUENCE OF MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF CHITOSAN ON DRUG RELEASE

Abstract

In this study, allantoin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were prepared and the effect of molecular weights (low, medium, and high) of chitosan was investigated on the release of allantoin. The allantoin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were characterized by various methods. The morphology, size, zeta potential, and loading efficiency were affected by the molecular weight of chitosan. The results displayed that the average hydrodynamic diameter of chitosan nanoparticles was in the range of 427–768 nm and the zeta potential values from 5.97 to 5.12 mV was obtained. The allantoin release from chitosan nanoparticles reached the plateau level in 96 hours. Cumulative allantoin release values of low, medium, and high molecular mass chitosan nanoparticles were determined as 43%, 30%, and 27%, respectively. According to the results, the molecular weight of chitosan influenced on allantoin release.