1 2 3 Evaluation of the mucoadhesive properties of chitosan 4 nanoparticles prepared using different chitosan to 5 tripolyphosphate (CS:TPP) ratios 6 7 8 9 Ezzeddin M. A. Hejjajia,b, Alan M. Smithb and Gordon A. Morrisa, 10 11 12 13 aDepartment of Chemical Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, 14 Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK 15 bDepartment of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, 16 Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK 17 18 19 Corresponding author 20 Tel: +44 (0) 1484 473871 21 Fax: +44 (0) 1484 472182 22 Email:
[email protected] 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 1 33 Highlights 34 the interactions between CS:TPP nanoparticles and mucin were evaluated 35 the degree of interaction depends on the CS:TPP ratio, -potential and viscosity 36 a CS:TPP ratio of 4:1 displayed the strongest interaction with mucin 37 greater mucin binding efficiencies achieved at CS:TPP ratios of 4:1 and higher 38 a minimum CS:TPP ratio of 4:1 is required for stable interactions with mucin 39 2 40 Abstract 41 Mucoadhesive molecules such as chitosan, can allow targeting of a particular tissue to prolong 42 residence time and subsequently improve bioavailability. The purpose of this study was to 43 investigate chitosan-tripolyphosphate (CS:TPP) nanoparticles and to evaluate the interaction 44 between nanoparticles of different CS:TPP ratios with mucin using viscosity, particle size 45 analysis and -potential. For all CS:TPP ratios examined, a minimum value of viscosity was 46 reached for a 3:1 CS:TPP ratio, however chitosan nanoparticles at this ratio were not stable (< 47 +30 mV), whereas a CS:TPP ratio of 4:1 displayed the strongest interaction.