Glycopolymeric gel stabilized N-succinyl chitosan beads for controlled doxorubicin delivery

•Chitosan was 88% and 75% succinylated and designated as NSC88 and NSC75.•NSC was converted to beads by ionic crosslinking and stabilized by Glc-gel.•DOX loaded NSC/Glc-gel beads gave slow and sustained delivery at pH 5.•DOX loaded NSC75/Glc-gel beads follow a zero order release profile.•The synthesized beads showed specificity to lectin, Concanavalin A. Here we report the synthesis and study of N-succinyl chitosan based hydrogel beads, stabilized with glycopolymeric network (NSC/Glc-gel) for application in anticancer drug delivery of doxorubicin (DOX). The bio-recognition of lectins by NSC/Glc-gel bead was also studied by UV–vis spectrophotometry. The beads were characterized using FT-IR, SEM and Thermogravimetric analysis. The extent of DOX loading was proportional to the degree of succinylation and the swelling kinetics of the beads showed pH dependency. The beads exhibited sustained release of DOX over a period of more than 15 days in an acidic pH, mimicking the microenvironment of tumor cells, and even lesser release at physiological pH. Release exponent ‘n’ derived from Korsmeyer–Peppas model implied that NSC88/Glc-gel (88% succinylation of chitosan) beads followed fickian diffusion controlled release mechanism whereas NSC75/Glc-gel (75% succinylation of chitosan) beads follow zero order release profile. The synthesized beads also displayed specificity to lectin Concanavalin A.