Polymeric nanoparticles: influence of polymer, surfactant and composition of manufacturing vehicle on particle size

Abstract

Polymeric nanoparticles gained great concern as one of most important drug delivery systems in the last few decades. The main aim of study was to formulate polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) using pH-sensitive polymers via nanoprecipitation method and investigate the influence of different formulation conditions on nature of nanoparticles including polymer type, polymer concentration, surfactant type, surfactant concentration and ratio of organic: aqueous phases. Mean size of nanoparticles was found to be directly proportional to polymer concentration, but Eudragit S100^® nanoparticles were smaller than HydroxyPropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) phthalate HP55 nanoparticles. Also, surfactant concentration significantly affect nanoparticle size as when surfactant concentration increased, nanoparticle size decrease until certain concentration above which no further size reduction was detected. However, Nanoparticles prepared by using Tween 80^® were smaller than these prepared by Poloxamer 407^®. Nanoparticles size was found to reversibly proportional to organic: aqueous phase ratio. These results suggest that nanoprecipitation is an efficient method for preparation of polymeric nanoparticles and mean size of produced is significantly affected by nanoparticles formulation conditions.