8.4 N-Maleated Chitosan
To synthesize N-maleated chitosan (NMC), Wang et al. [121] adopted the method
already published by Lu et al. [122]. In brief, chitosan (2 g) was dispersed in
150 mL of DMSO under stirring, and the maleic anhydride (3.5 g) dissolved in
DMSO was added. The reaction was carried out at 60
C for 8 h. The product was
precipitated in acetone, filtered, washed with acetone and ether three times, and
then dried to obtain NMC. A scheme showing the preparation of NMC is shown in
Fig. 8.
9 Importance of Engineering Chitosan-Based
Nanoparticles, Nanospheres, and Nanogels
The development of well-organized carrier systems in the nanoscale range for various
biomedical applications has been a major challenge, particularly for researchers
working in the biomedical domain [123–128]. The development of efficient carrier
systems, based on multifunctional polysaccharide-based nanomaterials, combining
diagnostic and therapeutic use have recently attracted intensive interest [129].
Polysaccharides are a class of biological macromolecules that play important roles
in a wide variety of biochemical and biomechanical functions [130]. Among the
several classes of polymeric materials (including polysaccharides) that have become
60
o
C
in DMSO
N-maleated chitosan
Chitosan
Fig. 8 Preparation of
N-maleated chitosan
Engineering of Polysaccharides via Nanotechnology
105
To synthesize N-maleated chitosan (NMC), Wang et al. [121] adopted the method
already published by Lu et al. [122]. In brief, chitosan (2 g) was dispersed in
150 mL of DMSO under stirring, and the maleic anhydride (3.5 g) dissolved in
DMSO was added. The reaction was carried out at 60
C for 8 h. The product was
precipitated in acetone, filtered, washed with acetone and ether three times, and
then dried to obtain NMC. A scheme showing the preparation of NMC is shown in
Fig. 8.
9 Importance of Engineering Chitosan-Based
Nanoparticles, Nanospheres, and Nanogels
The development of well-organized carrier systems in the nanoscale range for various
biomedical applications has been a major challenge, particularly for researchers
working in the biomedical domain [123–128]. The development of efficient carrier
systems, based on multifunctional polysaccharide-based nanomaterials, combining
diagnostic and therapeutic use have recently attracted intensive interest [129].
Polysaccharides are a class of biological macromolecules that play important roles
in a wide variety of biochemical and biomechanical functions [130]. Among the
several classes of polymeric materials (including polysaccharides) that have become
60
o
C
in DMSO
N-maleated chitosan
Chitosan
Fig. 8 Preparation of
N-maleated chitosan
Engineering of Polysaccharides via Nanotechnology
105