Title:Covalently and Ionically Crosslinked Chitosan Nanogels for Drug Delivery
Volume: 22
Issue: 22
Author(s): Leyre Pérez-Álvarez, José Manuel Laza and Arturo Álvarez-Bautista
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Chitosan, nanogels, covalent crosslinking, ionic crosslinking, drug delivery, swelling.
Abstract: Chitosan nanogels present a very interesting combination of valuable characteristics for drug delivery;
those derived from their nanometric size, such as, large surface area, rapid stimuli-response, and easy functionalization;
and those emerged especially from their biocompatibility, biodegradability and mucoadhesive nature. Due
to this, chitosan nanogels have reached a prominent position as nanocarriers and have originated accelerated research
worldwide. Diverse methods to prepare chitosan nanogels have been reported, showing a dependence on final
swelling, drug encapsulation capability and release properties with different synthesis variables, in such a way
that they can be exploited to be modulated. The present review describes the properties of chitosan nanogels, along with the different
methods of crosslinking and confining chitosan in nanosized particles, and the various fields of drug delivery where they have been applied.
This work aims to emphasize the connection between the characteristics of chitosan and the synthetic variables with the final properties
of chitosan nanogels in order to enhance controlled drug loading and a sustained release.
