Biodegradable submicron carriers for peptide drugs: Preparation of dl-lactide/glycolide copolymer (PLGA) nanospheres with nafarelin acetate by a novel emulsion-phase separation method in an oil system

Abstract

PLGA nanospheres, biodegradable polymeric carriers for peptide drugs, were prepared by a novel emulsion-phase separation method. The preparation was carried out in an oil phase system in order to improve the entrapment efficiency of water-soluble peptide. An LH-RH analogue (nafarelin acetate (NA)) was employed as a model peptide drug to investigate the encapsulation efficiency. An aqueous solution of the drug was emulsified by addition with stirring to a dichloromethane-acetone mixture containing dissolved PLGA. The gradual addition of Triester oil (caprylate and caprate triglyceride) into the resultant w/o emulsion induced phase separation of PLGA at the interface of aqueous droplets. It was found that the aqueous droplets effectively worked as a coacervation-inducing agent of the polymer. PLGA coacervates precipitated around the aqueous emulsion droplets containing the peptide which were hardened by evaporation of the solvent, producing spherical drug carriers. The presence of surfactant significantly reduced the size of the aqueous droplets, resulting in submicron-sized PLGA spheres (mean diameter, 500–800 nm). The recovery of drug entrapped in the nanospheres was markedly increased compared with our previous preparation technique in a water system. Further, optimum conditions in the present method for preparing nanospheres were established to enhance the recovery of nanospheres and the efficiency of drug entrapment.