| AFM | atomic force microscope |
| BBB | blood–brain barrier |
| DE | esterification degree |
| DMEM | Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium |
| FTIR | Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy |
| HA | hyaluronic acid |
| HEPES | N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-piperazine-N’-2-ethanesulfonic acid |
| NP | nanoparticle |
| P0 | pectins with an esterification degree of 0% |
| P50 | pectins with an esterification degree of 50% |