Encapsulation of hydrophobic or hydrophilic iron oxide nanoparticles into poly(lactic acid) micro/nanoparticles via adaptable emulsion setup

Abstract

In this study, a one‐step water‐in‐oil‐in‐water (W/O/W) emulsion process was employed to encapsulate either hydrophilic (∼10 nm) or hydrophobic (∼5 nm) iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) into poly(lactic acid) (PLA). Via the simple adjustment of emulsification temperature to high temperature (HT, 60 °C) or room temperature (RT, 25 °C), a transformation of PLA‐IONPs composite particles from hollow microparticles to solid nanospheres can be achieved. At RT, PLA nanocomposite particles (30–200 nm) encapsulating IONPs were generated regardless of the hydrophobicity of IONPs. On the other hand, at HT, our method resulted in the hollow microparticles (2–5 µm). This study presents a fast and easily adaptable process to encapsulate either hydrophobic or hydrophilic IONPs into the hydrophobic polymeric particles, with different shapes and sizes, by simply adjusting the emulsification temperature through the one‐step W/O/W emulsion. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43749.

Evaluation of a combined emulsion process to encapsulate methylene blue into PLGA nanoparticles

“…18 However, this technique occasionally present low drug loading and encapsulation efficiency for hydrophilic compounds and could be difficult to scale up. 3,16 In order to overcome the low drug loading issue, authors have proposed a wide variety of modications to the commonly used methods, some of these modications include: (1) adjustments on the pH of the aqueous phase with the purpose of modifying lipophilicity of the drug to encapsulate in the single or double emulsication method; 5,19 (2) variations on temperature while encapsulating iron oxide nanoparticles in PLGA in a double emulsion method; 20 (3) the use of different surfactants such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), human serum albumin (HSA), 21 or Pluronic F-108 when a solvent displacement method is used; 22 (4) addition of excipients such as poly(DL-lactide) oligomers or fatty acids into the formulation 23 or stabilizer agents and cyclodextrins; 24 (5) the use of cross-linkers such as anionic surfactant Aerosol (OTTM) and polysaccharide polymer alginate to improve the encapsulation efficiency and to delay the release of water soluble drugs such as methylene blue, doxorubicin, rhodamine, verapamil, and clonidine; 25 among others.…”

A review on polylactic acid‐based blends/composites and the role of compatibilizers in biomedical engineering applications

“…Further, PLA blended with Fe microparticle can also be used as diagnostic agent for tumor detection or cancer therapy. [270][271][272] PLA/Fe composite improves tensile strength and hardness. However, extensive in vivo biocompatibility tests, healing rate and degradation studies are yet to be determined for clinical application.…”

“…The electromagnetic properties of Iron (II, III) oxide nanoparticles contribute in developing magneto-active nano-system for bone regeneration and thermally induced drug delivery systems. 270,418 They also act as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Díaz et al 419 synthesized the magnetic biomimetic porous scaffolds PLLA/Fe 3 O 4 NPs by lyophilization.…”

“…Similar work was performed by Buj‐Corral et al 269 on the 3D printed PLA/SS scaffolds for bone tissue engineering, where the human bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stromal cells were successfully cultured. Further, PLA blended with Fe microparticle can also be used as diagnostic agent for tumor detection or cancer therapy 270‐272 …”

Polymers Based on PLA from Synthesis Using D,L-Lactic Acid (or Racemic Lactide) and Some Biomedical Applications: A Short Review

“…Song et al, developed hydrophilic (10 nm) and hydrophobic (5 nm) encapsulated iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) into PLA using a one-step water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion process [153]. In their syntheses, it was used commercial PDLLA (M w = 551 kDa, T g = 52.5 • C, LakeShore Biomaterials).…”