Polylysine-based complex coacervates as pH-Responsive carriers for doxorubicin hydrochloride

Complex coacervation is a versatile and efficient technique for encapsulating bioactive molecules, with broad applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The process relies on the cooperative electrostatic interaction between oppositely charged polyelectrolytes in aqueous media. In this...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Haro Gutiérrez, Pilar Adriana, Barba Godinez, Jonathan Michel|||0009-0003-2842-0103, García Carvajal, Zaira Yunuen, Tinajero, Ernesto|||0000-0001-5993-8114
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/448604
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/448604
https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pat.70292
Access Level:acceso embargado
Palabra clave:Complex coacervate
Drug delivery
Pectin
Polylysines
Polypeptides
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria química
Descripción
Sumario:Complex coacervation is a versatile and efficient technique for encapsulating bioactive molecules, with broad applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The process relies on the cooperative electrostatic interaction between oppositely charged polyelectrolytes in aqueous media. In this study, we present a simple and effective strategy for preparing polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) using polylysines as cationic polypeptides and pectin as the anionic counterpart. Specifically, we utilized biosynthetically produced epsilon-polylysine (ePL), an emerging and accessible polypeptide, to develop pH-responsive nanocarriers for the encapsulation and controlled release of doxorubicin hydrochloride. Our coacervation-based approach achieved high encapsulation efficiencies, with successful pH-triggered drug release via complex dissociation. This simple ePL-based PEC formulation, using accessible biopolymers, shows promise for drug delivery applications.