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Flash NanoPrecipitation for the Encapsulation of Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Compounds in Polymeric Nanoparticles
Published on: January 7, 2019
Colloidal stability of polymeric nanoparticles in biological fluids
Stefano Lazzari1, Davide Moscatelli, Fabio Codari
1Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
Summary
Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) were tested for stability in biological fluids. Poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) NPs showed good stability, while poly-lactic acid (PLA) NPs aggregated in certain environments.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Colloid and Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Colloidal stability of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) is crucial for biomedical applications.
- Understanding NP behavior in biological environments informs drug delivery and device design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize and quantify the physical stability of poly-lactic acid (PLA) and poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) NPs in various biological media.
- To evaluate a stability testing method for predicting in vivo nanoparticle aggregation.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of spherical PLA and PMMA NPs (100-200 nm).
- Analysis of NP stability in salt solutions, biological fluids, serum, and tissue homogenates using dynamic light scattering (DLS).
- Spectrophotofluorimetric analysis was used for ex vivo colloidal stability assessment.
Main Results:
- PMMA NPs demonstrated stability across all tested biological fluids.
- PLA NPs exhibited aggregation in gastric juice and spleen homogenate.
- DLS and spectrophotofluorimetric methods yielded comparable results for colloidal stability.
Conclusions:
- The proposed stability test effectively predicts potential in vivo aggregation of NPs.
- PMMA NPs are suitable for a wider range of biomedical applications compared to PLA NPs based on stability.
- This study provides a valuable method for assessing nanoparticle safety and efficacy in biological systems.
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