Biotin Chitosan for Targeted Drug Delivery

Biotin is a vitamin required for cell growth and proliferation and cannot be synthesized by itself in mammals. Biotin participates in the metabolism of cellular carbohydrates, lipids and amino acids. Biotin or biotin conjugates can be actively assimilated in many cells, biotin functionalization strategies have been widely used in cancer targeted drug and gene delivery systems, live cell imaging, biosensors or biotherapeutics. Chitosan is a biocompatible polymer with good biocompatibility and biodegradability, high-efficiency antibacterial and antioxidant activities and other advantages. Chitosan and its derivatives are widely used in the field of disease treatment and medical treatment. Biotin-modified chitosan strategy can be used for drug delivery for efficient diagnosis and treatment. Targeted therapy is currently one of the most attractive approaches to cancer treatment, aiming to obtain more tumor-selective anticancer effects with fewer systems.

The Services

Chitosan has been used as a carrier of polymer nanoparticles, which can be modified to achieve target chemical functional groups, and can be used for drug delivery in various diseases. Related services that Alfa Chemistry can provide include but not limited to:

• Preparation of biotin-modified chitosan
• Characterization of biotin-modified chitosan
• In vitro drug release study of biotin-modified chitosan
• In vitro stability test of biotin-modified chitosan
• In vivo distribution and targeting test
• Professional data analysis comparison

Biotin as a targeting molecule in the field of biomedicine

Biotin, also known as vitamin B₇, vitamin H or coenzyme R, with the chemical formula C₁₀H₆O₃N₂S, is an essential micronutrient derived from the B-complex vitamins and is essential for normal cellular function. Biotin has a simple structure, low molecular weight, and low steric hindrance for modification. Biotin can be linked to compounds with amino or carboxyl functional groups through carboxyl groups, and at the same time, the imidazole groups in its structure can form stable nanocarriers through hydrogen bonds. SMVT receptor can be used as a typical biomarker of cancer cells, and cancer cells show high efficiency in the expression of SMVT and the uptake of biotin. As shown in the figure below, biotin-modified nanocarriers can enter cancer cells through endocytosis for drug delivery. Biotinylated nanocarriers can use enzymes and pH as switches to control drug delivery and release.

Figure 2. Schematic illustration of biotinylated nanosystems internalized into tumor cells for drug delivery and release

Future outlook

Biotin-modified chitosan nanosystems are still in the stage of rapid development. In the future, biotin-functionalized chitosan is expected to develop more complex biotin-modified nanosystems for a wider range of drug delivery.

Alfa Chemistry's researchers have long been engaged in the research of efficient drug delivery systems to meet the needs of customers. If you are interested in our services, please contact us immediately.

References:

1. Tian, X.; et al. Bufalin loaded biotinylated chitosan nanoparticles: An efficient drug delivery system for targeted chemotherapy against breast carcinoma. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics. 2014, 87(3): 445-453.
2. Balan. V.; et al. Biotinylated chitosan macromolecule based nanosystems: A review from chemical design to biological targets. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 2021, 188(1): 82-93.
3. Chen. S.; et al. Mechanism-based tumortargeting drug delivery system. Validation of efficient vitamin receptor mediated endocytosis and drug release. Bioconjug. Chem. 2010, 21: 979-987.

※ It should be noted that our service is only used for research, not for clinical use.