Design of Core-Shell Stearyl Pullulan Nanostructures for Drug Delivery

Herein, pullulan was conferred amphiphilic character by conjugating stearyl group as hydrophobic moiety. The copolymer assumed core-shell nanostructures in aqueous solution as was evident from microscopic examination. The light scattering technique confirmed their nano-dimension and monomodal size distribution. The copolymer accommodated an appreciable amount of glipizide in its hydrophobic core and prolonged the duration of drug release under simulated gastrointestinal conditions in vitro, thus offering the possibility of monitoring hyperglycemia over an extended period. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.