Albumin nanoparticles are a promising nanocarrier system for active ingredients. These nanoparticles are based on albumin, a molecule of endogenous origin. They have numerous positive properties, such as non-toxicity, biocompatibility, non-immunogenicity, the ability to bind various ligands, and the possibility of targeted delivery and controlled release.
The aim of the master's thesis was to produce dry albumin nanoparticles with an incorporated poorly water-soluble active ingredient. Using the desolvation process, drug-free albumin nanoparticles were produced, with an average hydrodynamic size of 226.2 nm, a narrow particle size distribution (polydispersity index 0.047) and a high absolute zeta potential ( 31.2 mV). Ibuprofen and carvedilol served as model active ingredients. Ibuprofen was added to an aqueous albumin solution with a stock solution in ethanol or dimethyl sulfoxide. It was also added with ethanol for desolvation. As the concentration of added ibuprofen increased, the average size of nanoparticles also grew. They showed poorer stability and greater polydispersity compared to drug-free nanoparticles. Ibuprofen might have stayed adsorbed on the surface of the nanoparticles, as the ibuprofen content in the nanoparticles was negligible. Carvedilol was added only with ethanol for desolvation, and small (~ 200 nm) and monodisperse (polydispersity index 0.140) nanoparticles were produced. As the concentration of added carvedilol increased, the nanoparticles decreased in size. Nanoparticles showed good physical stability in dispersion over a period of 1 month at 8 °C and were comparable to drug-free albumin nanoparticles. The carvedilol content in the prepared nanoparticles ranged from 0.21 to 4.67 % (w/w). Carvedilol release from the prepared formulations was immediate. The most suitable media for lyophilisation of nanoparticles were solutions of 2% sucrose and 1% mannitol (w/V) and 2% sucrose and 2% mannitol (w/V). The lyophilisation process was affected by the active ingredient in the nanoparticles, as nanoparticles with carvedilol retained their properties after lyophilisation and nanoparticles with ibuprofen didn’t.
Although albumin nanoparticles have shown promising results as a nanocarrier system, they do not work for all types of substances that bind to albumin in the blood. Further research could focus on albumin nanoparticles with carvedilol, which could potentially treat cardiovascular diseases.
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