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Entrapment of Papain in Chitosan–Polyethylene Glycol Hybrid Nanohydrogels: Presenting a Model for Protein Delivery Systems

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Abstract

In this study, the process of manufacturing nanohydrogels containing papain and how to release it was investigated. Chitosan nanohydrogels and chitosan–polyethylene glycol hybrid nanohydrogels were used to entrapment of papain as a protein model. In order to evaluate and confirm different properties of nanohydrogels such as size, shape, the rate of swelling and flexibility, different methods was used. The maximum amount of papain entrapment was observed in 0.75% concentration of chitosan and 1% concentration of sodium Tripolyphosphate (TPP) as linker. The results of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed that nanohydrogels containing papain on a nano scale are very porous and swollen. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms analysis showed that nanohydrogels have relatively good water absorption capacity. Also, by adding polyethylene glycol to chitosan, the melting temperature of hybrid nanohydrogels decreased and this can be a reason for the formation of flexible structures in these nanohydrogels. In chitosan nanohydrogels, the highest release rate of papain was observed at pH lower than 7 and high temperatures, but by adding polyethylene glycol to the chitosan, in addition to increasing papain release, a proper and continuous release of papain was observed at temperature and pH close to physiological conditions, especially at low ratios of polyethylene glycol. According to the present results, hybrid nanohydrogels can have a good potential in protein delivery systems in terms of structure and release.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to the research council of Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University for their supportive role during this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, 35 Km Tabriz-Maragheh Road, Tabriz, 53714-161, Iran

    Nasim Jafari, Saeed Najavand & Mohammad Pazhang

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, 35 Km Tabriz-Maragheh Road, Tabriz, 53714-161, Iran

    Amir abbas Matin

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  1. Nasim Jafari
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Jafari, N., Najavand, S., Pazhang, M. et al. Entrapment of Papain in Chitosan–Polyethylene Glycol Hybrid Nanohydrogels: Presenting a Model for Protein Delivery Systems. Mol Biotechnol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-024-01129-2

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