Self-assembled lysozyme/carboxymethylcellulose nanogels for delivery of methotrexate

Nanogels (NGs) were fabricated with lysozyme and carboxymethylcellulose via a green self-assembly method. The prepared NGs were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Pyrene and isothiocyanate were introduced as fluorescent probes to research the hydrophobic area of the NGs and cells endocytosis, respectively. Methotrexate (MTX) was used to investigate the drug encapsulation property of the NGs. It turned out to be that the drug loaded NGs were regular spherical shape with a hydrodynamic diameter of about 123 nm. The drug loading efficiency was about 14.2%. The NGs can slowly release the drug and increase the bioavailability of the loaded drug. The NGs are promising carriers for the delivery of drugs and other bioactive molecules.