Mucoadhesive nanoparticles made of thiolated quaternary chitosan crosslinked with hyaluronan

► Thiolated quaternary chitosans were obtained from a chitosan of 32 kDa MW. ► Nanoparticles were obtained by interaction of these polymers with hyaluronan. ► The nanoparticles were modispersed and showed mucoadhesivity. ► The nanoparticles were internalized by endothelial progenitor cells. ► The nanoparticles improved cell resistance to oxidation.