Nanoparticles based on the complex of chitosan and polyaspartic acid sodium salt: preparation, characterization and the use for 5-fluorouracil delivery.

New nonstoichiometric polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles were prepared based on chitosan (CS) and polyaspartic acid sodium salt (PAsp). The physicochemical properties of the complexes were investigated by means of turbidity, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy and zeta potential. The results indicated that the slow dropwise addition of chitosan into PAsp allowed to elaborate either anionic or cationic particles in the size range of 85-300 nm with proper CS and PAsp unit molar ratios. Investigation of structural changes during the addition of CS revealed that the microstructure of the nanoparticles depended strongly on the unit molar ratio of CS to PAsp. Nanoparticles containing a hydrophilic drug, 5-fluorouracil (5FU), were prepared by mixing and absorption method. In vitro and in vivo experiment indicated that the drug-loaded CS-PAsp nanoparticles presented a sustained release of 5FU compared to the 5FU solution and the areas under curve (AUC) were increased by about four times.