Investigating the Particle Size of Chitosan-Based Drug Carriers for the Release of 5-Fluorouracil Antitumor Drug

Chitosan has been widely used as a natural biopolymer. The modification of chitosan for various applications can be easily achieved due to the abundant active groups (NH2 and OH) in the main chain. Controlled drug release makes the drug release rate predictable and repeatable for prolonged release drugs. Drug delivery systems prepared from nanoparticles show several advantages, including improved efficiency and reduced toxicity. Using drug delivery systems based on nanoparticles loaded with anti-cancer agents is an effective method for targeting cancer cells. These systems, with the ability to penetrate better inside the cells, combine the drug in a targeted way in the cells. Also, due to the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR), the possibility of better accumulation of drugs in the tumor site is provided. In most researches, the suitable particle size for the targeted release of drug nanocarriers has been reported to be less than 300 or 200 nm. This amount is suitable for the application of drug release for diffusion among tissues and causes the effect of increasing permeability. In this study, for the first time, it examines and analyzes the particle size and zeta potential (surface charge) of chitosan-based nanocarriers through dynamic light scattering and electron microscope tests in improving the release of the antitumor drug, 5-fluorouracil.