Preparation and characterization of dexamethasone polymeric nanoparticle by membrane emulsification method

Abstract

The objective of this study was to prepare and characterize dexamethasone polymeric nanoparticles by membrane emulsification method. Shirasu porous glass was used as a membrane for the emulsification process. The mean particle size was determined by photon correlation spectroscopy, and the drug release test was performed in the dialysis cell. The size of nanoparticles was increased with increasing applied pressure, membrane pore size, the polymeric content of the oily phase, and oil/aqueous phase ratio and replacing chloroform with dichloromethane. As ethanol content in the organic solvent increased (0, 2.5, and 5% w/w), dexamethasone solubility was increased (0.35, 3.5, and 6.4 mg/g, respectively) with a minimal effect on the particle size. The agitation speed of 800 rpm is needed to ensure the oil phase-membrane detachment. Encapsulation efficiency was higher, and the drug release was faster from Eudragit® RL and RS nanoparticles than ethylcellulose nanoparticles. For polymeric nanoparticles, size differences have no impact on the drug release. It is concluded that the particle size could be controlled by an organic solvent and polymer type in addition to process parameters in the membrane emulsification technique. Additionally, zero-order release kinetic could be achieved from polymeric nanoparticles.