PLGA/Nano-ZnO Composite Particles for Use in Biomedical Applications: Preparation, Characterization, and Antimicrobial Activity

Ana Stanković,Sonja Kaišarević,Meltem Sezen,Marina Milenković,Magdalena Stevanović,Nebojša Andrić

doi:10.1155/2016/9425289

Abstract

Copolymer poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) is extensively investigated for various biomedical applications such as controlled drug delivery or carriers in the tissue engineering. In addition, zinc oxide (ZnO) is widely used in biomedicine especially for materials like dental composites, as a constituent of creams for the treatment of a variety of skin irritations, to enhance the antibacterial activity of different medicaments and so on. Uniform, spherical ZnO nanoparticles (nano-ZnO) have been synthesized via microwave synthesis method. In addition to obtaining nano-ZnO, a further aim was to examine their immobilization in the PLGA polymer matrix (PLGA/nano-ZnO) and this was done by a simple physicochemical solvent/nonsolvent method. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, laser diffraction particle size analyzer, differential thermal analysis, and thermal gravimetric analysis. The synthesized PLGA/nano-ZnO particles are spherical, uniform, and with diameters below 1 µm. The influence of the different solvents and the drying methods during the synthesis was investigated too. The biocompatibility of the samples is discussed in terms of in vitro toxicity on human hepatoma HepG2 cells by application of MTT assay and the antimicrobial activity was evaluated by broth microdilution method against different groups of microorganisms (Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and yeastCandida albicans).

Highlights

Significant effort has been dedicated to develop micro- and nanoparticles for drug delivery since they offer an appropriate means to distribute the therapeutically active drug molecule only to the site of action, without affecting healthy organs and tissues [1,2,3]
The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), laser diffraction particle size analyzer (PSA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) which demonstrated the successful immobilization of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles within PLGA polymer matrix
We have characterized ZnO and PLGA/ nano-ZnO particles prepared by physicochemical solvent/ nonsolvent method with acetone as solvent and dried at room temperature

Summary

Introduction

Significant effort has been dedicated to develop micro- and nanoparticles for drug delivery since they offer an appropriate means to distribute the therapeutically active drug molecule only to the site of action, without affecting healthy organs and tissues [1,2,3]. Many different polymers, both synthetic and natural, have been employed in making biocompatible and biodegradable nanoparticles. Physicochemical properties of nanoparticles which include small size and very large specific surface area significantly improve their bioavailability and minimize drug toxicity. Inorganic antibacterial nanoparticles especially offer some unique benefits in overcoming major problems related to treatment process such as reducing dosage of antibacterial agent, minimizing side effects, overcoming bacterial resistance, and lowering overall cost of the fabrication process [7, 8]

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