Gelation of charged bio-nanocompartments induced by associative and non-associative polysaccharides

Abstract

Vesicles composed of sodium oleate (NaO) and monoolein (MO) are adequate candidates for drug nanoencapsulation and controlled release due to their stability and perceived biocompatibility. The object of the present study is to design hydrogels based on those anionic vesicles and polymers of both non-associative and associative type. The selected macromolecules were k-carrageenan (KC), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and hydrophobically modified carboxymethyl cellulose (HMCMC). While the polymer-vesicle association was probed by rheology, the influence of the polymer on the vesicle stability was monitored by cryo-TEM and calorimetric measurements.