Stabilization of gelatin nanoparticles without crosslinking

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• Gelatin nanoparticles are promising drug delivery vehicles.
• Stabilization is crucial for effective nanoparticle formulation.
• Eudragit E100 is a pH-sensitive polymer suitable for nanocarrier development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the stabilization of gelatin nanoparticles using Eudragit E100 nanospheres.
• To evaluate the effect of Eudragit E100 concentration and homogenization speed on nanoparticle characteristics.
• To assess the impact of nanosphere formulation on gelatin entrapment efficiency and release profile.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of gelatin nanoparticles entrapped in Eudragit E100 nanospheres.
• Varying homogenization speeds (8000 rpm and 15000 rpm) to control nanosphere size.
• Adjusting Eudragit E100 concentrations (2% and 6%) to influence nanoparticle morphology and surface characteristics.
• Quantifying gelatin entrapment efficiency and in vitro release kinetics.

Main Results:

• Nanosphere size was significantly influenced by homogenization speed, yielding particles of 433 nm (8000 rpm) and 176 nm (15000 rpm).
• Eudragit E100 concentration critically affected nanoparticle morphology; higher concentrations (6%) reduced surface pores compared to lower concentrations (2%).
• Increased Eudragit E100 concentration from 2% to 6% improved gelatin entrapment from 55% to 93% and decreased initial burst release from 30% to 10%.

Conclusions:

• Eudragit E100 nanospheres effectively stabilize gelatin nanoparticles.
• Formulation parameters, including polymer concentration and homogenization speed, allow for tunable control over nanoparticle size, morphology, and drug loading.
• This approach enhances the potential of gelatin nanoparticles for controlled drug delivery applications.