A new method to prepare microparticles based on an Aqueous Two-Phase system (ATPS), without organic solvents
Florence Dumas1, Jean-Pierre Benoit1, Patrick Saulnier1
1Micro et Nanomédecines translationnelles, MINT, UNIV Angers, UMR INSERM 1066, UMR CNRS 6021, Angers, France.
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
|May 12, 2021
Summary
Researchers created stable microparticle-Aqueous Two-Phase Systems (ATPS) for drug delivery using a novel, green method. This technique avoids organic solvents and enhances formulation stability for encapsulating hydrophilic molecules.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Materials Science
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
Background:
- Aqueous Two-Phase Systems (ATPS) are formed by thermodynamically incompatible, water-soluble polymers.
- ATPS offer potential for pharmaceutical drug delivery due to their aqueous nature.
- Rapid destabilization of traditional ATPS hinders their application in drug delivery systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, green, and rapid process for producing stabilized microparticle-ATPS.
- To overcome the challenge of ATPS destabilization for pharmaceutical applications.
- To create a viable drug delivery system using ATPS without organic solvents.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of ATPS using dextran and polyethylene oxide.
- Stabilization of ATPS via a Pickering-like emulsion technique with chitosan-grafted lipid nanocapsules.
- Formation of microparticles through polyelectrolyte complexation and gelation, followed by structural and stability analysis.
Main Results:
- Chitosan-grafted lipid nanocapsules effectively stabilized the ATPS.
- Incorporation of sodium alginate resulted in microparticles with a gelled shell, enhancing shear stress resistance and long-term stability.
- The developed method successfully demonstrated the formation of stable ATPS-based delivery systems for hydrophilic molecules.
Conclusions:
- A novel, solvent-free method enables the creation of stabilized microparticle-ATPS.
- The stabilized ATPS formulations show promise as robust drug delivery systems.
- This advancement addresses key limitations in ATPS application for pharmaceutical purposes.
