Polydimethylsiloxane-indomethacin blends and nanoparticles

A series of blends of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and indomethacin (IMC), containing 20-80 wt.% IMC were obtained and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction in order to observe the mutual influence of the two components. The main thermal transitions of PDMS remained un-changed. Both the solvent (tetrahydrofuran, THF) and the PDMS influenced the crystalline form of IMC. The blends were subsequently re-dissolved in THF, with or without cross-linking reagents added and precipitated into diluted aqueous solutions of siloxane-based surfactants. The resulted nanoparticles were analyzed by dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy. Most of the particles had diameters between 200 and 300 nm. The surfactants, the IMC content and the cross-linking influenced the particles size and polydispersity, as well as the nanoparticle yield. The maximum drug release from selected aqueous formulations was 30%.