Physical characterization of different molar ratios of CS-SP NPs, the NPs prepared at optimal CS to SP molar ratios (1 : 1) (mean ± SD, n = 3).

Sample	Average diameter (nm)	PdI	Zeta potential (mV)
CS	593.83 ± 28.21	0.75 ± 0.11	0.4 ± 4.1
CS : GA	365.61 ± 26.33	0.88 ± 0.17	12.3 ± 3.2
SP	77.23 ± 1.19	0.07 ± 0.04	−4.4 ± 5.4
SP : GA	69.34 ± 1.41	0.05 ± 0.03	−8.8 ± 6.1
CS:SP NPs (cross-linked with GA)
100 : 1	128.09 ± 3.61	0.34 ± 0.04	12.8 ± 4.6
10 : 1	93.09 ± 1.88	0.09 ± 0.05	7.4 ± 4.7
2 : 1	201.87 ± 4.86	0.25 ± 0.04	1.6 ± 5.1
1 : 1	86.92 ± 1.61	0.10 ± 0.05	2.4 ± 1.0
1 : 2	101.15 ± 2.01	0.10 ± 0.05	−2.5 ± 3.3
Drug loaded CS-SP NPs
TC NPs (optimal)	94.17 ± 4.01	0.27 ± 0.01	9.3 ± 0.2