Encapsulation-free controlled release: Electrostatic adsorption eliminates the need for protein encapsulation in PLGA...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Traditional encapsulation in polymer particles for controlled release faces limitations like low loading and protein denaturation.
• The established paradigm for polymer particle drug delivery has seen little innovation for decades.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel strategy for controlled release of protein therapeutics that overcomes the limitations of traditional encapsulation.
• To investigate the mechanism of protein adsorption to poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles for drug delivery.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles to adsorb protein therapeutics, bypassing the need for encapsulation.
• Comparing release profiles of proteins with and without encapsulation in PLGA nanoparticles within a hydrogel.
• Investigating the role of electrostatic interactions and varying parameters like nanoparticle concentration, size, and pH.

Main Results:

• Achieved identical, burst-free, extended-release profiles for three different protein therapeutics, with or without encapsulation.
• Demonstrated that short-range electrostatic interactions between proteins and PLGA nanoparticles drive controlled release.
• Showed tunable release kinetics by adjusting nanoparticle concentration, size, and environmental pH.

Conclusions:

• Protein adsorption to PLGA nanoparticles offers an effective alternative to encapsulation for controlled release.
• This approach obviates encapsulation-related challenges, presenting a more translatable strategy for therapeutic biomolecule delivery.
• The findings pave the way for improved and adaptable drug delivery systems for protein therapeutics.