One-Pot Phenolic-Initiated Mechanochemical Synthesis of Poly(lactic acid) Nanoparticles: Application of the Artificial Neural Network Algorithm to Perform Sensitivity Assessment Models

Abstract

Due to its biodegradable and biocompatible nature, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) has found widespread use in biomedical applications. Controlled drug delivery using PLA-based nanoparticles (PLA-NPs) is an important tool for tuning the bioavailability of therapeutics. Traditional methods to prepare PLA-NPs require a multistep process that is time-consuming and produces significant aqueous and organic waste streams. This work reports a one-pot mechanochemical synthesis of lactide to PLA-NPs. In this report, we developed and trained an artificial neural network algorithm to optimize PLA and PLA-NP preparation. Our results demonstrate a robust and optimized one-pot method for preparing precisely defined nanoparticles that generates minimal waste.