Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2026
09:34
Uptake of New Lipid-coated Nanoparticles Containing Falcarindiol by Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Published on: February 9, 2019
PLGA-lecithin-PEG core-shell nanoparticles for controlled drug delivery
Juliana M Chan1, Liangfang Zhang, Kai P Yuet
1Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Biomaterials
|December 30, 2008
Summary
Biodegradable core-shell nanoparticles combining polymer and lipid properties offer controlled drug delivery. Formulation parameters influence nanoparticle characteristics, stability, and drug release, suggesting potential for novel therapeutic systems.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Liposomal and biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) are established drug delivery systems.
- Existing NPs include clinically approved therapeutics like Doxil/Caelyx and Genexol-PM.
- Recent advancements involve core-shell NP systems merging liposomal and polymeric NP benefits for controlled release.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate parameters affecting core-shell NP characteristics, stability, drug release, and cytotoxicity.
- To define scalable processes for reproducible NP formulation.
- To evaluate the potential of poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)-lecithin-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA-lecithin-PEG) NPs as a drug delivery platform.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized core-shell NPs using modified nanoprecipitation and self-assembly.
- Investigated formulation parameters: lipid/polymer mass ratio and lipid/lipid-PEG molar ratio.
- Encapsulated docetaxel to study drug release kinetics and performed MTT assays for cytotoxicity.
- Assessed NP physical stability, size, and in vitro biocompatibility on HeLa and HepG2 cell lines.
Main Results:
- Formulation parameters significantly controlled NP physical stability and size.
- Lipid coverage influenced the drug release kinetics of encapsulated docetaxel.
- Demonstrated scalable processes for NP formulation, purification, and storage.
- PLGA-lecithin-PEG NPs exhibited biocompatibility in vitro.
Conclusions:
- PLGA-lecithin-PEG core-shell NPs offer tunable physicochemical and biological properties.
- Scalable formulation processes were established for these novel NPs.
- These core-shell NPs represent a promising platform for controlled drug delivery systems.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Site-Targeted Drug Delivery Systems: Polymeric Carriers
Polymeric carriers enhance targeted drug delivery by increasing efficacy while minimizing off-target effects. These carriers comprise a biodegradable polymeric backbone integrated with functional elements that enable targeting, improve physicochemical properties, and regulate drug release.Targeting MechanismsThe targeting ability of polymeric carriers is mediated by a homing device, which is a molecular recognition component designed to selectively bind to specific tissues or cells. Monoclonal...
01:24Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Site-Targeted
Site-targeted drug delivery systems enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity and treatment costs. Unlike conventional methods, these systems ensure precise drug delivery, improving bioavailability and reducing side effects. Targeted drug delivery is classified into three levels. First-order targeting directs drugs to the capillary beds of specific organs or tissues. Second-order targets specific cell types, such as tumor cells, using receptor-mediated interactions.
01:19Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Overview
Modified-release dosage forms are designed to address the limitations of drugs with short biological half-lives. These forms maintain stable therapeutic drug concentrations over extended periods, reducing the need for frequent dosing. A consistent drug level helps minimize peak-trough fluctuations, which can reduce adverse effects, lower the risk of drug resistance, and improve overall treatment effectiveness.One common type of modified-release form is the extended-release (ER) formulation. ER...
01:16Drug Delivery: Overview
The selection of a drug's delivery route depends upon its physicochemical properties, including lipid or water solubility and ionization, as well as the therapeutic requirement, such as immediate or sustained effect. These routes can be divided into three primary categories: enteral, parenteral, and topical.
Enteral delivery involves administering drugs directly through swallowing, sublingual placement, or buccal application. Orally administered drugs predominantly navigate the gastrointestinal...
Enteral delivery involves administering drugs directly through swallowing, sublingual placement, or buccal application. Orally administered drugs predominantly navigate the gastrointestinal...
01:22Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Drug Release Characteristics
Drug release from modified-release dosage forms is designed to achieve specific therapeutic effects by controlling the rate and extent of drug release. The classification of these drug release systems is based on key pharmacokinetic assumptions: drug disposition follows first-order kinetics, drug release is the rate-limiting step in absorption, and the released drug is rapidly and completely absorbed.There are four major models of drug release patterns. The first model is the slow zero-order...
01:11Oral Drug Delivery Systems: Delayed-Release Systems
Delayed-release drug delivery systems are specialized pharmaceutical formulations designed to postpone the release of active compounds until the drug reaches a specific region of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, typically the intestine. These systems are essential for drugs that may cause gastric irritation, are unstable in acidic environments, or need to exert therapeutic effects locally in the intestinal or colonic regions.The core feature of delayed-release systems is the use of enteric...