Loading studies of the anticancer drug Camptothecin into dual stimuli-sensitive nanoparticles. Stability scrutiny

Publication date: Available online 6 September 2018Source: International Journal of PharmaceuticsAuthor(s): Nieves Iglesias, Elsa Galbis, M. Jesús Díaz-Blanco, M.-Violante de-Paz, Juan A. GalbisAbstractIn recent years, the preparation of valuable drug delivery systems (DDS) from self-assembled amphiphilic copolymers has attracted much attention since these nanomaterials provide new opportunities to solve problems such as the lack of solubility in water of lipophilic drugs, improve their bioavailability, prolong their circulation time and decrease the side effects associated with their administration. In the current study two types of biocompatible pH-responsive nanoparticles derived from poly(2–hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) have been used as drug nano-carriers, being one of them core cross-linked to circumvent their instability upon dilution in human fluids. The present paper deals with the optimization of the loading process of the labile, hydrophobic and highly active anticancer drug, Camptothecin (CPT) into the nanoparticles with regard to four independent variables: CPT/polymer ratio, sonication, temperature and loading time. Forty experiments were carried out and a Box–Behnken experimental design was used to evaluate the significance of the independent variables related to encapsulation efficiency and drug retention capacity. The enhanced drug loading and encapsulation efficiency values (58% and>92%, respectively) of CPT were achieved by the core cross-linked ...
Source: International Journal of Pharmaceutics - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research