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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Flash NanoPrecipitation for the Encapsulation of Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Compounds in Polymeric Nanoparticles
Published on: January 7, 2019
Micronization of gemfibrozil by reactive precipitation process.
Qiao-Ping Huang1, Jie-Xin Wang, Gui-Zhi Chen
1Sin-China Nano Technology Center, Key Lab for Nanomaterials, Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, PR China.
Ultrafine gemfibrozil (GEM) particles were synthesized using reactive precipitation. This method significantly improved GEM
Area of Science:
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Materials Science
Background:
- Gemfibrozil (GEM) is a lipid-regulating drug with poor aqueous solubility.
- Improving GEM's dissolution rate is crucial for enhancing its bioavailability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for preparing ultrafine gemfibrozil (GEM) particles.
- To investigate the impact of process parameters on particle characteristics.
- To evaluate the effect of particle size reduction on GEM's dissolution properties.
Main Methods:
- Reactive precipitation using methyl cellulose (MC) as a growth inhibitor.
- Optimization of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) concentrations.
- Characterization using SEM, XRD, FT-IR, BET surface area analysis, and dissolution testing.
Main Results:
- Ultrafine GEM particles with a mean size of 1.25 µm were successfully prepared.
- Specific surface area increased approximately sixfold compared to bulk GEM.
- Dissolution rate dramatically improved, with 91.2% dissolved in 120 min for ultrafine GEM versus 23.6% for bulk GEM.
Conclusions:
- The reactive precipitation method effectively produced ultrafine GEM with enhanced properties.
- Reduced particle size and increased surface area are key factors for improved GEM dissolution.
- This approach offers a promising strategy for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of poorly soluble drugs like GEM.
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