In this study we analysed the bioadhesive properties and the enzyme inhibit
ory effects of different chitosan-complexing agent conjugates. Etylenediami
netetraacetic acid (EDTA) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), re
spectively, were covalently attached to chitosan by the formation of amide
bonds between the primary amino group of the polymer and the carboxylic aci
d groups of the complexing agents. Whereas almost each primary amino groups
of chitosan could be modified by EDTA, DTPA was bound to only 63.8 +/- 5.8
% (n = 3; +/-SD) of the amino groups of chitosan. The remaining primary ami
no groups of the chitosan-DTPA conjugate lead to strongly reduced adhesive
properties, with a maximum detachment force of 3.0 +/- 1.3 mN in contrast t
o the chitosan-EDTA conjugate with 81.7 +/- 9.9 mN in the tensil studies de
scribed here (n = 4; +/-SD). However, both polymer conjugates displayed an
inhibitory effect towards the zinc-dependent proteases carboxypeptidase A (
EC 3.4.17.1) and aminopeptidase N (EC 3.4.11.2). The results of this compar
ative study should provide substantial knowledge for the development of bio
adhesive polymers as auxiliary agents for the peroral administration of pep
tide and protein drugs.