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Submicronparticles from biodegradable polymers
Monika Jobmann1, Gerald Rafler
1Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Polymerforschung, Geiselbergstrasse 69, 14476, Golm, Germany. jobmann@iap.fhg.de
International Journal of Pharmaceutics
|August 15, 2002
Summary
Spontaneous emulsification can create nanoparticles using poly(D,L-lactide) and poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide). However, this method requires strict conditions for polymer and solution parameters.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Polymeric nanoparticles are crucial for drug delivery and biomaterials.
- Developing simple and scalable methods for nanoparticle synthesis is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prepare nanoparticles in the nanometer (nm) range using poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA) and poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA).
- To investigate the influence of polymer and process parameters on nanoparticle formation via spontaneous emulsification.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the spontaneous emulsification process for nanoparticle preparation.
- Investigated various polymer parameters (e.g., molecular weight, copolymer composition) and process parameters (e.g., solution concentration).
Main Results:
- Spontaneous emulsification is a straightforward technique for producing particles sized between 200-1000 nm.
- The method is constrained by specific conditions, including polymer molecular weight (≤30,000 g/mole), glycolide content in PLGA (≤30 mole%), and polymer solution concentration (≤1% w/v).
Conclusions:
- Spontaneous emulsification offers a simple route to synthesize PDLLA and PLGA nanoparticles.
- Significant limitations exist regarding polymer characteristics and processing conditions, restricting its broad applicability.