STUDY OF NANOPARTICLES FORMED BY CATIONIC MICELLES AND HYALURONAN

Hyaluronan as negatively charged polyelectrolyte can interact with positively charged surfactant micelles via electrostatic interactions to form core-shell like nanoparticles. These aggregates can solubilize hydrophobic active substances; therefore, they are potential carriers in drug delivery applications. The aim of this research was to prepare nanoparticles consisting of hyaluronan and cationic micelles and evaluate strength of electrostatic interactions between the components. Interactions of hyaluronan and surfactants in aqueous solution were investigated using turbidimetry method; stability of nanoparticles was studied using dialysis technique. Turbidimetric titration was chosen as an indicator of the loss of intensity of transmitted light because of the scattering effect of particles associated from hyaluronan and surfactant in it. The results of turbidimetry revealed that aggregates formation depends on hyaluronan concentration while surfactant concentration (above critical micelle concentration) affects interaction insignificantly. Based on results, a system for dialysis experiments was selected. Dialysis experiments showed that a part of surfactant molecules is bound to hyaluronan chain and the rest of molecules diffuse to water through dialysis membrane. After a lapse of time the concentrations of the retentate and permeate were balanced. The system may be suitable for the preparation of targeted carriers of biologically active substances.