Lipid Multilayered particles: the role of chitosan on structure and morphology

Multilayered nanovectors made up from a controlled binary lipid mixture (POPC and DMPS) and trimethyl chitosan (TMC) have been prepared and characterized by light- and small angle neutron scattering. The morphology and the multilayer structure of the particle outer shell has been described in detail. By varying the amount of TMC in the starting solution it is possible to tune the overall surface particle charge as well as its multilamellarity. In this way the drug loading/release properties of the particles can be controlled. Therefore the use of controlled POPC/DMPS mixtures can be a valid alternative to commercial lecithin to obtain nanovectors with specific release properties.