Characterization of the Soluble Nanoparticles Formed through Coulombic Interaction of Bovine Serum Albumin with Anionic Graft Copolymers at Low pH

TL;DR

This study investigates the formation and characterization of soluble nanoparticles created by Coulombic interactions between bovine serum albumin and anionic graft copolymers at low pH, revealing their potential for drug delivery.

Contribution

It provides detailed characterization of core-corona nanoparticles formed at low pH, including their size, molecular weight, and aggregation behavior, highlighting their potential biomedical applications.

Findings

Nanoparticles formed are smaller with higher PDMAM content.

Molecular weight and size determined by light scattering techniques.

Nanoparticles are promising candidates for gastrointestinal drug delivery.

Abstract

A static light scattering (SLS) study of bovine serum albumin (BSA) mixtures with two anionic graft copolymers of poly (sodium acrylate-co-sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulphonate)-graft-poly (N, N-dimethylacrylamide), with a high composition in poly (N, N-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMAM) side chains, revealed the formation of oppositely charged complexes, at pH lower than 4.9, the isoelectric point of BSA. The core-corona nanoparticles formed at pH = 3.00, were characterized. Their molecular weight and radius of gyration were determined by SLS, while their hydrodynamic radius was determined by dynamic light scattering. Small angle neutron scattering measurements were used to determine the radius of the insoluble complexes, comprising the core of the particles. The values obtained indicated that their size and aggregation number of the nanoparticles, were smaller when the content of the graft copolymers in neutral PDMAM side chains was higher. Such particles should be interesting drug delivery candidates, if the gastrointestinal tract was to be used.