Preparation of ultrafine poly(methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) biodegradable nanoparticles loaded with ibuprofen

Ibuprofen-loaded polymeric particles with around 9.2 nm in mean diameter, as determined by electron microscopy, dispersed in an aqueous media containing up to 12.8% solids were prepared by semicontinuous heterophase polymerization. The polymeric material is a (2/1 mol/mol) methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid copolymer similar to Eudragit S100, deemed safe for human consumption and used in the manufacturing of drug-loaded pills as well as micro- and nanoparticles. The loading efficiency was 100%, attaining around 10-12% in drug content. Release studies showed that the drug is released from the nanoparticles at a slower rate than that in the case of free IB. Given their size as well as the pH values required for their dissolution, it is believed that this type of particles could be used as a basis for preparing nanosystems loaded with a variety of drugs.