ABSTRACT
Nanoscience and nanotechnologies is a dynamic and fast developing field of research that can be regarded as genuinely interdisciplinary. Nanoparticles are the most important tool employed in several nanomedical applications like gene therapy, imaging and novel drug discovery and drug delivery. The Covalently Crosslinked Polysaccharide class of nanoparticles are fabricated by covalently linking polysaccharide chains to each other thereby incorporating novel functionalities into the polysaccharide. The dialdehyde homo-bifunctional crosslinker glutaraldehyde was initially the most commonly used crosslinker for preparation of crosslinked polysaccharide nanoparticles. The self-assembled polysaccharide nanoparticles have been recognized as promising drug carriers owing to their hydrophobic cores that act as reservoirs for the delivery of several poorly water-soluble drugs. Conjugating hydrophobic cholesterol to hydrophilic polysaccharides forms amphiphilic copolymer which may further form self-assembled nanoparticles in aqueous solution. Potyelectrolyte complexes are formed by the intermolecular electrostatic interaction between oppositely charged polysaccharides.
