PLGA nanoparticles for sustained release using sucrose ester as an alternative surfactant / Wan Nurul Huda W. Hasan

Sucrose esters (SE) are surfactants with potential pharmaceutical application as it has low toxicity, excellent biocompatibility and biodegradibilty. The objective of the study is to investigate SE as alternative surfactants in stabilizing emulsions for the preparation of drug-loaded nanoparticles. To achieve this goal, using ibuprofen as drug carrier and 50:50 poly(d,lactide-co-glycolide) as polymer carrier, the study investigated first the influence of the following variables on blank nanoparticle characteristics: (I) hydrophile­ lipophile balance (HLB) of SE palmitate, (2) homogenizing speed and (3) homogenizing time. Results showed that particles characteristic were at best when using HLB 15 of SE at homogenizing speed and time (#I, 60 seconds). The later ibuprofen-loaded nanoparticles made using this optimal parameters revealed a relatively acceptable encapsulation efficiency more than 50%. In term of dug release, there was high initial burst release followed by the more constant release thereafter. This study may suggest that many options can be done in order to optimize the stability, particles characteristics of the nanoparticles as well as drug content and encapsulation efficiency which may be helpful in the development of nanoparticle system for parenteral delivery of drug, protein and gene medicine, by using SE as an alternative surfactant.