Chitosan derivative nanocarrier: Safety evaluation,antibacterial property and ascorbyl palmitate encapsulation

A chitosan derivative, methyl ether-terminated poly(ethylene oxide)-4-methoxycinnamolyphthaloylchitosan (PCPLC) was prepared, characterized and self-assembled into nanoparticles. Encapsulation of ascorbyl palmitate (AP) into PCPLC gave 689 ± 0.98 nm particles with encapsulation efficiency of 84% at 56% drug loading. The encapsulated AP showed significant improved stability as examined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The obtained particles displayed no short-term cytotoxicity against the human skin melanoma A-375 cell line using the MTT assay and no short-term skin irritation on human volunteers using a single topical application as patch and photopatch tests. In addition, aqueous suspension of PCPLC nanoparticles successfully inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923.