Effects of Process and Formulation Parameters on Submicron Polymeric Particles Produced by a Rapid Emulsion-Diffusion...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Pharmaceutical Technology

Background:

• The emulsification-diffusion method is standard for polymeric nanoparticle production but involves complex, time-consuming steps.
• Existing methods often require extensive procedures, limiting widespread adoption and scalability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simplified, rapid method for producing polymeric nanoparticles.
• To investigate the design space of a modified emulsification-diffusion technique using solvent blends.
• To enable robust nanoparticle synthesis with simplified processing and basic equipment.

Main Methods:

• A modified emulsification-diffusion method was employed using solvent blends (25-100% water miscibility) as organic phases.
• Key process simplifications included omitting organic/aqueous phase saturation and post-emulsification water addition.
• Biodegradable (PLGA) and pH-sensitive (Eudragit® E100) nanoparticles were produced via low/medium shear stirring with controlled dropwise addition.

Main Results:

• The method successfully produced nanoparticles with controllable sizes and polydispersity by adjusting solvent ratios, surfactant concentrations (Poloxamer-407, polyvinyl alcohol), and organic phase polarity.
• Poloxamer-407 demonstrated superior performance in reducing particle size (~50 nm) at low concentrations (≤1%) compared to polyvinyl alcohol.
• An inverse linear correlation was established between particle size and solubility parameter, offering a predictive model.

Conclusions:

• A simplified, rapid, and broadly applicable method for nanoparticle preparation using straightforward equipment has been developed.
• The study elucidates the critical parameters influencing nanoparticle characteristics, providing a valuable design space for optimization.
• The established correlation between solubility parameter and particle size offers a predictive tool for nanoparticle engineering.