In this study, as-synthesized curdlan sulfate (CRDS) with a flexible random coil chain was selected as a polyanion to construct nanosized polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) with a polycation, chitosan (CS), via electrostatic interactions. Nanosized PECs were formed simply by mixing CRDS (0.5mg/mL) and CS (0.5mg/mL) at a mass ratio of 2:1 at pH 3.5. The CRDS/CS PECs exhibited a spherical morphology with a Z-average diameter of around 180nm and a zeta potential value of about -38mV. Subsequently, zidovudine (AZT) as a model antiviral drug was successfully encapsulated into the nanosized PECs with a favorable drug loading efficiency. The AZT-loaded PECs presented a controlled and pH-dependent AZT release profile. These findings suggest that the CRDS/CS PECs constructed in the present study can be developed as potential nanocarriers for drug delivery applications.
Keywords: Chitosan; Curdlan sulfate; Drug delivery; Nanocarrier; Polyelectrolyte complex; Zidovudine.
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