Applying the Taguchi method for optimized fabrication of bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles as drug delivery vehicles

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to optimize the fabrication of bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticle by applying the Taguchi method with characterization of the nanoparticle bioproducts. BSA nanoparticles have been extensively studied in our previous works as suitable carrier for drug delivery, since they are biodegradable, non-toxic and non antigenic. A statistical experimental design method (Taguchi method with L16 orthogonal array robust design) was implemented to optimize experimental conditions of the purpose. Agitation speed, initial BSA concentration, pH and temperature were considered as process parameters to be optimized. As the result of Taguchi analysis in this study, temperature and agitation speed were the most influencing parameters on the particle size. The minimum size of nanoparticles (~74 nm) were obtained at 4°C, pH 7.5, 15 mg ml -1 BSA concentration and agitation speed of 500 rpm. As for characterization of the products, Atomic Force microscopy (AFM), Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM) and Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate- Poly Acrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) as well as Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) techniques were employed.