writer：Xuelian Zhi, Yanfang Wang, Pengfei Li, Jiang Yuan*, Jian Shen*.
keywords：Keratin
source：期刊
specific source：RSC Advance 2015, 5, 82334 - 82341
Issue time：2015年

Nanoscale polyion complex formed by polyelectrolyte and charged drug via electrostatic complexation is the most convenient method for building a drug delivery system to simultaneously realizes the carrier preparation and drug embedding. Herein, we prepared keratin/chlorhexidine complex nanoparticles (KCNPs) based on a drug-induced ionic gelation technique without using crosslinker, organic solvent and surfactant. These KCNPs exhibited good stability even after long-standing for 14 days. The KCNPs were characterized with FTIR, DLS, SEM and TEM. It was found that these nanoparticles had the spherical morphology with the diameter of about 180 nm, and negatively charged surface with the zeta potential of about -39.1 mV. Cell toxicity of KCNPs at different dosages level was evaluated with MTT assay method, indicating their slight cytotoxicity at lower dosage. The antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus was determined using a zone of inhibition method. It seemed KCNPs had better antibacterial activity against S. aureus than E. coli. Drug delivery profile showed that chlorhexidine(CHX) loaded nanoparticles exhibited both pH and glutathione responsive. These keratin-based complex nanoparticles can be regarded as a valuable stimuli responsive strategy for the delivery of anticancer agents.