GCPQ

GCPQ (quaternary ammonium palmitoyl glycol chitosan) is a synthetic, amphiphilic chitosan-derived polymer designed as a versatile drug delivery vehicle. It self-assembles in aqueous environments into polymeric micelles, typically ranging from 20 to 40 nm in diameter, which can encapsulate hydrophobic drugs, peptides, and proteins. The polymer's unique structure, featuring both hydrophobic palmitoyl groups and hydrophilic quaternary ammonium groups, facilitates the transport of therapeutic payloads across challenging biological barriers, including the gastrointestinal epithelium, the cornea, and the blood-brain barrier via intranasal administration. While primarily an academic research tool developed at University College London and its spin-out Nanomerics, it has been investigated in clinical trials for enhancing the delivery of drugs like cyclosporine (as NM133) and various platinum-based chemotherapeutics.

Other names

quaternary ammonium palmitoyl glycol chitosanN-palmitoyl-N-monomethyl-N,N-dimethyl-N,N,N-trimethyl-6-O-glycolchitosanPalmitoyl Glycol Chitosan