Electrosprayed polyelectrolyte complexes between mucoadhesive N,N,N,-trimethylchitosan-homocysteine thiolactone and alginate/carrageenan for camptothecin delivery

► Novel polyelectrolyte complexes of mucoadhesive thiolated chitosan were first developed. ► Microspheres thiolated quaternized chitosan/alginate PEC can be easily formed by electrospray. ► Thiolated chitosan/alginate exhibited good swelling behavior and sustained release of drug. ► They might be suitable polymers for drug delivery systems in any mucus site organs.