Polysaccharide-Based Nanoparticles Prepared by Dialysis: Novel Drug Delivery Systems for Chemistry Education

The subject of pharmaceutical research has traditionally focused on drugs with systemic effects. However, contemporary approaches aspire to achieve targeted drug delivery, with the aim of combatting infections with a precise immune response. Active substances are encapsulated in nanoparticles, transported through the body, and selectively released at the affected organ or tissue. Consequently, the local dosage can be increased, while the overall dosage required for a successful treatment is reduced. The occurrence of side effects is minimized through the utilization of nanoparticulate drug delivery systems (DDSs). This publication presents a practical laboratory course on the topic of drug delivery in which students synthesize and load nanoparticles using the dialysis method. Finally, the students experimentally investigate the pH-dependent release. The experiments have already been carried out with a total of 104 students in pair work in student laboratory courses. The results show that this practical course helps the students understand the background of nanoparticle formulating. The comparatively simple implementation and the high effect size support the students’ understanding.