Spotlight on Polyelectrolyte Complexes and Their Medical Application in Drug Delivery
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32947/ajps.v25i2.1115Keywords:
chitosan, polyelectrolyte complex, PEC application, drug delivery system, sodium alginateAbstract
Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) are class of macromolecule compound formed by electrostatic interaction of oppositely charged polymers. The main objective of this review is to show the formation mechanism of PECs and their characterization, factors affecting their formation,
their pharmaceutical application in drug delivery system with some of the dosage form that utilize PEC technique in their formulation, also this review talks about the most common polymers used in the preparation of PECs.
References
1- Kilicarslan M, Ilhan M, Inal O, Orhan K. Preparation and evaluation of clindamycin phosphate loaded chitosan/alginate polyelectrolyte complex film as mucoadhesive drug delivery system for periodontal therapy. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2018; 123:441-51.
2- Armenta-Rojas E, Cornejo-Bravo JM, Serrano-Medina A, López-Maldonado EA, Olivas-Sarabia A, Castillo-Martínez NA, et al. Nystatin-loaded Polyelectrolyte Complex Films as a Mucoadhesive Drug Delivery System for Potential Buccal Application. Biointerface Res Appl Chem. 2022; 12:4384-98.
3- Noreen S, Pervaiz F, Ashames A, Buabeid M, Fahelelbom K, Shoukat H, et al. Optimization of novel naproxen-loaded chitosan/carrageenan nanocarrier-based gel for topical delivery: ex vivo, histopathological, and in vivo evaluation. Pharmaceuticals. 2021;14(6):557.
4- Mohanta BC, Javed MN, Hasnain MS, Nayak AK. Polyelectrolyte complexes of alginate for controlling drug release. Alginates in drug delivery: Elsevier; 2020. p. 297-321.
5- Siyawamwaya M, Choonara YE, Bijukumar D, Kumar P, Du Toit LC, Pillay V. A review: overview of novel polyelectrolyte complexes as prospective drug bioavailability enhancers. International Journal of Polymeric Materials and Polymeric Biomaterials. 2015;64(18):955-68.
6- Solomevich SO, Dmitruk EI, Bychkovsky PM, Salamevich DA, Kuchuk SV, Yurkshtovich TL. Biodegradable polyelectrolyte complexes of chitosan and partially crosslinked dextran phosphate with potential for biomedical applications. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 2021; 169:500-12.
7- Hamzah ZO. Utilization of Natural Polyelectrolytes in the Preparation of Naproxen as Sustained Release Matrix Tablet. Al Mustansiriyah Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2019;19(2):17-29.
8- Meka VS, Sing MK, Pichika MR, Nali SR, Kolapalli VR, Kesharwani P. A comprehensive review on polyelectrolyte complexes. Drug discovery today. 2017;22(11):1697-706.
9- Lalwani SM, Eneh CI, Lutkenhaus JL. Emerging trends in the dynamics of polyelectrolyte complexes. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. 2020;22(42):24157-77.
10- Emmanuel BD, Abu-Thabit NY, Ngwuluka NC. Responsive polyelectrolyte complexes based on natural polysaccharides for drug delivery applications. Stimuli Responsive Polymeric Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery Applications, Volume 1. 2018:267-87.
11- Kulkarni AD, Vanjari YH, Sancheti KH, Patel HM, Belgamwar VS, Surana SJ, et al. Polyelectrolyte complexes: mechanisms, critical experimental aspects, and applications. Artificial cells, nanomedicine, and biotechnology. 2016;44(7):1615-25.
12- Hamedi H, Moradi S, Tonelli AE, Hudson SM. Preparation and characterization of chitosan–alginate polyelectrolyte complexes loaded with antibacterial thyme oil nanoemulsions. Applied Sciences. 2019;9(18):3933.
13- Boni FI, Cury BSF, Ferreira NN, Teixeira DA, Gremião MPD. Computational and experimental approaches for chitosan-based nano PECs design: Insights on a deeper comprehension of nanostructure formation. Carbohydrate Polymers. 2021; 254:117444.
14- Dubashynskaya NV, Petrova VA, Romanov DP, Skorik YA. pH-Sensitive Drug Delivery System Based on Chitin Nanowhiskers–Sodium Alginate Polyelectrolyte Complex. Materials. 2022;15(17):5860.
15- Al-Zebari N, Best S, Cameron R. Effects of reaction pH on self-crosslinked chitosan-carrageenan polyelectrolyte complex gels and sponges. Journal of Physics: Materials. 2018;2(1):015003.
16- Ćirić A, Medarević Đ, Čalija B, Dobričić V, Rmandić M, Barudžija T, et al. Effect of ibuprofen entrapment procedure on physicochemical and controlled drug release performances of chitosan/xanthan gum polyelectrolyte complexes. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 2021;167:547-58.
17- Marras AE, Campagna TR, Vieregg JR, Tirrell MV. Physical property scaling relationships for polyelectrolyte complex micelles. Macromolecules. 2021;54(13):6585-94.
18- Kayitmazer A, Koksal A, Iyilik EK. Complex coacervation of hyaluronic acid and chitosan: effects of pH, ionic strength, charge density, chain length and the charge ratio. Soft Matter. 2015;11(44):8605-12.
19- Argin-Soysal S, Kofinas P, Lo YM. Effect of complexation conditions on xanthan–chitosan polyelectrolyte complex gels. Food hydrocolloids. 2009;23(1):202-9.
20- Van Le H, Dulong V, Picton L, Le Cerf D. Polyelectrolyte complexes of hyaluronic acid and diethylaminoethyl dextran: Formation, stability and hydrophobicity. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects. 2021; 629:127485.
21- Yang J, Shen M, Wu T, Luo Y, Li M, Wen H, et al. Role of salt ions and molecular weights on the formation of Mesona chinensis polysaccharide-chitosan polyelectrolyte complex hydrogel. Food chemistry. 2020; 333:127493.
22- Sun W, Mao S, Mei D, Kissel T. Self-assembled polyelectrolyte nanocomplexes between chitosan derivatives and enoxaparin. European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics. 2008;69(2):417-25.
23- Potaś J, Szymańska E, Winnicka K. Challenges in developing of chitosan–based polyelectrolyte complexes as a platform for mucosal and skin drug delivery. European Polymer Journal. 2020; 140:110020.
24- Le HV, Le Cerf D. Colloidal polyelectrolyte complexes from hyaluronic acid: preparation and biomedical applications. Small. 2022;18(51):2204283.
25- Bourganis V, Karamanidou T, Kammona O, Kiparissides C. Polyelectrolyte complexes as prospective carriers for the oral delivery of protein therapeutics. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics. 2017; 111:44-60.
26- Chen T, Li S, Zhu W, Liang Z, Zeng Q. Self-assembly pH-sensitive chitosan/alginate coated polyelectrolyte complexes for oral delivery of insulin. Journal of Microencapsulation. 2019;36(1):96-107.
27- Luppi B, Bigucci F, Mercolini L, Musenga A, Sorrenti M, Catenacci L, et al. Novel mucoadhesive nasal inserts based on chitosan/hyaluronate polyelectrolyte complexes for peptide and protein delivery. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 2009;61(2):151-7.
28- Sonje AG, Mahajan HS. Nasal inserts containing ondansetron hydrochloride based on Chitosan–gellan gum polyelectrolyte complex: In vitro–in vivo studies. Materials Science and Engineering: C. 2016; 64:329-35.
29- Zuglianello C, Silva NGM, Lemos-Senna E. Polysaccharide-peptide complexes stabilized around nanoemulsion droplets: A new approach for nasal delivering of pramlintide and insulin. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology. 2023; 85:104527.
30- Potaś J, Szymańska E, Basa A, Hafner A, Winnicka K. Tragacanth gum/chitosan polyelectrolyte complexes-based hydrogels enriched with xanthan gum as promising materials for buccal application. Materials. 2020;14(1):86.
31- Potaś J, Szymańska E, Wróblewska M, Kurowska I, Maciejczyk M, Basa A, et al. Multilayer films based on chitosan/pectin polyelectrolyte complexes as novel platforms for buccal administration of clotrimazole. Pharmaceutics. 2021;13(10):1588.
32- Singhvi G, Patil S, Girdhar V, Dubey SK. Nanocarriers for topical drug delivery: approaches and advancements. Nanoscience & Nanotechnology-Asia. 2019;9(3):329-36.
33- Bijukumar D, Choonara YE, Murugan K, Choonara BF, Kumar P, du Toit LC, et al. Design of an inflammation-sensitive polyelectrolyte-based topical drug delivery system for arthritis. AAPS PharmSciTech. 2016;17(5):1075-85.
34- Sharma S, Swetha KL, Roy A. Chitosan-Chondroitin sulfate-based polyelectrolyte complex for effective management of chronic wounds. International journal of biological macromolecules. 2019; 132:97-108.
35- Sun W, Chen G, Wang F, Qin Y, Wang Z, Nie J, et al. Polyelectrolyte-complex multilayer membrane with gradient porous structure based on natural polymers for wound care. Carbohydrate polymers. 2018; 181:183-90.
36- Lopes SA, Veiga IG, Bierhalz ACK, Pires ALR, Moraes ÂM. Physicochemical properties and release behavior of indomethacin-loaded polysaccharide membranes. International Journal of Polymeric Materials and Polymeric Biomaterials. 2019;68(16):956-64.
37- Lefnaoui S, Moulai-Mostefa N, Yahoum MM, Gasmi SN. Design of antihistaminic transdermal films based on alginate–chitosan polyelectrolyte complexes: characterization and permeation studies. Drug development and industrial pharmacy. 2018;44(3):432-43.
38- Altam AA, Zhu L, Huang W, Huang H, Yang S. Polyelectrolyte complex beads of carboxymethylcellulose and chitosan: The controlled formation and improved properties. Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications. 2021;2:100100.
39- Alsaide NH, Maraie NK. Insights into medicated films as attractive dosage forms. Al Mustansiriyah Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2023;23(1):1-13.
40- Jacob S, Nair AB, Shah J, Sreeharsha N, Gupta S, Shinu P. Emerging role of hydrogels in drug delivery systems, tissue engineering and wound management. Pharmaceutics. 2021;13(3):357.
41- Li D, Göckler T, Schepers U, Srivastava S. Polyelectrolyte complex-covalent interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels. Macromolecules. 2022;55(11):4481-91.
42- Li D, Göckler T, Schepers U, Srivastava S. Polyelectrolyte Complex-Covalent Interpenetrating Polymer Network Hydrogels. Macromolecules. 2022.
43- Kumar A, Zo SM, Kim JH, Kim S-C, Han SS. Enhanced physical, mechanical, and cytocompatibility behavior of polyelectrolyte complex hydrogels by reinforcing halloysite nanotubes and graphene oxide. Composites Science and Technology. 2019; 175:35-45.
44- Hu X, Wang Y, Zhang L, Xu M. Formation of self-assembled polyelectrolyte complex hydrogel derived from salecan and chitosan for sustained release of Vitamin C. Carbohydrate polymers. 2020; 234:115920.
45- Nayak AK, Saquib Hasnain M, Pal D. Gelled microparticles/beads of sterculia gum and tamarind gum for sustained drug release. Polymer Gels: Springer; 2018. p. 361-414.
46- Verma A, Kumar P, Rastogi V, Mittal P. Preparation and evaluation of polymeric beads composed of Chitosan–Gellan Gum–Gum Ghatti/-Gum Karaya polyelectrolyte complexes as polymeric carrier for enteric sustained delivery of Diclofenac sodium. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2021;7(1):1-13.
47- Rosenbaum C, Großmann L, Neumann E, Jungfleisch P, Türeli E, Weitschies W. Development of a Hot-Melt-Extrusion-Based Spinning Process to Produce Pharmaceutical Fibers and Yarns. Pharmaceutics. 2022;14(6):1229.
48- Cui Q, Bell DJ, Rauer SB, Wessling M. Wet‐Spinning of Biocompatible Core–Shell Polyelectrolyte Complex Fibers for Tissue Engineering. Advanced Materials Interfaces. 2020;7(23):2000849.
49- Balafouti A, Pispas S. Hyperbranched Polyelectrolyte Copolymers as Novel Candidate Delivery Systems for Bio-Relevant Compounds. Materials. 2023;16(3):1045.
50- Moradi S, Barati A, Salehi E, Tonelli AE, Hamedi H. Preparation and characterization of chitosan-based hydrogels containing cyclodextrin inclusion compounds or nanoemulsions of thyme oil. Polymer International. 2019;68(11):1891-902.
51- Avhad PS, Gupta RA, Firke SN, Roge AB, Sarje SK, Raut AS, et al. Formulation and evaluation of chitosan-based polyelectrolyte complex of levodopa for nasal drug delivery. International Journal of Health Sciences. 2022(III):1316-27.
52- Ortiz JA, Sepúlveda FA, Panadero-Medianero C, Murgas P, Ahumada M, Palza H, et al. Cytocompatible drug delivery hydrogels based on carboxymethylagarose/chitosan pH-responsive polyelectrolyte complexes. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 2022; 199:96-107.
53- Guarino V, Caputo T, Altobelli R, Ambrosio L. Degradation properties and metabolic activity of alginate and chitosan polyelectrolytes for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications. AIMS Materials Science. 2015;2(4):497-502.
54- Sarika P, James NR. Polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles from cationised gelatin and sodium alginate for curcumin delivery. Carbohydrate polymers. 2016; 148:354-61.
55- Komoto D, Furuike T, Tamura H. Preparation of polyelectrolyte complex gel of sodium alginate with chitosan using basic solution of chitosan. International journal of biological macromolecules. 2019; 126:54-9.
56- Nikolova D, Simeonov M, Tzachev C, Apostolov A, Christov L, Vassileva E. Polyelectrolyte complexes of chitosan and sodium alginate as a drug delivery system for diclofenac sodium. Polymer International. 2022;71(6):668-78.
57- Deb TK, Ramireddy B, Moin A, Shivakumar H. In vitro-in vivo evaluation of xanthan gum and eudragit inter polyelectrolyte complex based sustained release tablets. International journal of pharmaceutical investigation. 2015;5(1):65.
58- Ćirić A, Medarević Đ, Čalija B, Dobričić V, Mitrić M, Djekic L. Study of chitosan/xanthan gum polyelectrolyte complexes formation, solid state and influence on ibuprofen release kinetics. International journal of biological macromolecules. 2020; 148:942-55.
59- Pervaiz F, Mushtaq R, Noreen S. Formulation and optimization of terbinafine HCl loaded chitosan/xanthan gum nanoparticles containing gel: Ex-vivo permeation and in-vivo antifungal studies. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology. 2021; 66:102935.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Mina Emaad Taha, Nidhal Khazaal Maraie, Ram Kumar Sahu

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.