A REVIEW ON BASICS AND APPLICATIONS OF MODIFIED CARBOHYDRATES IN DRUG DELIVERY

Polysaccharides demonstrate a wide diversity in their structural features as well as physicochemical properties owing to a variety of functional groups, chemical structure and a broad array of molecular mass. The most important feature of modified polysaccharides is their amphiphilic character which allows the application of these conjugates as an emulsifier, modifiers of surface in liposomes and micro/ nanoparticles, viscosity modifiers and drug delivery vehicles. Recently, the lipophilic modification of polysaccharides, which serve as a nano-container for water-insoluble or poorly water-soluble drugs, has gained attention in the biomedical applications due to their ability to form self-assembled nanoparticles. The natural polysaccharides are readily available, stable, biodegradable, economical, safe and biocompatible. It is difficult to synthesize compounds with such diversity in characteristics. In recent decades, many researchers have taken interest in polysaccharides and their derivatives for use in nanoparticulate systems. This review focuses on the chemical modification of mono and polysaccharides and the mechanisms involved in the formation of polysaccharide-based nanoparticles