Development of chitosan-catechol conjugates as mucoadhesive polymer: assessment of acute oral toxicity in mice.

Development of modified polymers is the focused area of research for developing stable, effective, sustainable and economical polymeric materials for developing different drug delivery systems. Modification of chitosan by catechol functionalization is useful for developing chitosan derivative with the improved mucoadhesive property. Present study was designed to perform single dose acute oral toxicity on chitosan-catechol conjugates in Swiss albino mice as per international guidelines. Oral administration of modified chitosan did not exhibit any significant change in body weight, behavioural pattern, haematology, food intake and clinical symptoms in the experimental animals. In the histopathological study, no pathological changes were observed in the vital organs of mice when administered perorally with 300 mg/kg and 2,000 mg/kg body-weight doses of chitosan-catechol polymeric conjugates. Overall, it was concluded from the acute oral toxicity study that the oral administration of chitosan-catechol conjugates in mice did not produce any toxicity. Hence, chitosan-catechol conjugates could be designated and recommended as safe polymeric material for developing different drug delivery systems.