Polymeric nanoparticles are small particles that ranges between 1 to 1000 nm, and are made of polymeric materials. In the pharmaceutical field, they represent a promising delivery system due to their unique properties and potential benefits. The electrospraying method allows for the production of polymeric nanoparticles that can convert a drug into an amorphous state, thereby enhancing its metastable solubility and, consequently, its bioavailability. Our goal was to polymeric nanoparticles using polyethylene glycol with incorporated simvastatin through the electrospraying method.
In the first step, we tested the solubility of the drug and polyethylene glycol in various organic solvents. Next, we used electrospraying to produce polymer particles from the selected solvents. Using a design of experiments, we analyzed how factors such as polymer molecular weight, polymer solution concentration, volume flow rate, and the proportion of simvastatin affect particle size. We examined the morphology, size, and size distribution of the particles using images captured with a scanning electron microscope, and then analyzed them with ImageJ, Excel, and Minitab software.
Out of 10 different organic solvents, ethanol proved to be the most suitable for polymer and drug solubility, safety, electrospraying stability, and particle morphology. Our design of experiments analysis revealed that volumetric flow rate had the greatest impact on particle size, while the stability of the process was primarily influenced by the polymer solution's concentration. Spherical particles measuring 0.74 µm were produced from a 13% (w/v) solution of polyethylene glycol (35,000 g/mol) at a volume flow rate of 600 µL/h. We determined the most optimal conditions for creating the smallest particles and successfully incorporated simvastatin into them at varying concentrations. Our findings show that particles with lower simvastatin content tend to be of higher quality, with smoother, more spherical shapes and less aggregation. Although our original aim was to produce nanoparticles, our results indicate that we often worked at the boundary between nano- and microparticles.
The goal of the Master’s degree was achieved with the successful production of polyethylene glycol particles containing simvastatin.
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