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Updated: Oct 6, 2025
Flash NanoPrecipitation for the Encapsulation of Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Compounds in Polymeric Nanoparticles
Published on: January 7, 2019
Miniemulsion polymerization at low temperature: A strategy for one-pot encapsulation of hydrophobic anti-inflammatory
Alicia De San Luis1, Maximilian Kleinsteuber2, Timo Schuett2
1Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, Jena 07743, Germany; Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, Jena 07743, Germany; University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Kimika Aplikatua saila, Kimika Fakultatea, Joxe Mari Korta Zentroa, Tolosa Hiribidea 72, Donostia-San Sebastián 20018, Spain.
Hypothesis:
Conventional synthesis methods of polymeric nanoparticles as drug delivery systems are based on the use of large amounts of organic solvents, hence requiring several steps for the obtaining of waterborne dispersions. In view of the need for new environmentally friendly methods, emulsion polymerization and their related techniques are a good alternative for the production of monodispersed waterborne dispersions of biodegradable nanoparticles in a cleaner, reproducible and faster manner.
Experiments:
Herein, the miniemulsion polymerization technique at low temperature using poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) as surfactant has been developed for poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-lactic acid) and poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory drug BRP-187 was used to proof the potential of this technique in the encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs. The effect of the oligomer composition on the miniemulsion and the final dispersion stability, the final oligomer conversion, the polymer particle size and the drug encapsulation efficiency has been studied.
Findings:
Monodisperse spherical particles ranging between 170 and 250 nm in diameter in long term non-toxic stable waterborne dispersions were obtained with drug encapsulation efficiencies up to 66%. In contrast with conventional synthesis techniques, residual organic solvents are completely removed and, thus, the potential of redox initiated miniemulsion polymerization to obtain stable drug loaded poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-lactic acid) and poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles in an efficient and fast manner is shown.
