Physicochemical characterization of methylprednisolone acetate-PLGA electrosprayed nanoparticles

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to formulate methylprednisolone acetate-PLGA nanoparticles via an electrospraying method. Electrospuns with different drug:polymer ratios and the various solution concentrations were fabricated and particle size and morphology as well as physicochemical features were evaluated. Laser particle size analyzer and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to study particle size and morphology. The drug crystallinity was investigated using X-Ray diffractograms and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was employed to detect any possible interaction between the drug and polymer during the preparation process. Nanobeads with smooth surfaces were formed so that the minimum particle size (164 ط¢آ± 48) was recorded for those particles prepared with the drug:polymer ratio of 1:5 and the solution concentration of 10 %. The drug crystallinity was decreased in the PLGA contained electrospuns and no chemical interaction between the drug and polymer molecules was detected. All the fabricated formulations illustrated slower drug release rates compared to the pure drug and physical mixtures. Considering these findings, it was concluded that electrospraying is a simple and cost effective method for preparing the controlled release drug:polymer nano/micro particles. ط¢آ© ECV ط¢آ· Editio Cantor Verlag, Aulendorf (Germany).