Preparing composite nanoparticles for immediate drug release by modifying electrohydrodynamic interfaces during electrospraying

Abstract

At present, all electrospraying processes are conducted in air environment without considering the importance of electrohydrodynamic interfaces, thereby preventing the development of new possibilities. In this study, a modified coaxial electrospraying process for preparing multicomponent composite nanoparticles was investigated, in which solvents were explored as the shell working fluids to create dynamic air–solvent solution interfaces. The coaxial process was conducted using a blending solution (comprising hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, paracetamol (APAP), and polyvinylpyrrolidone in a mixture of dichloromethane and ethanol) as the core fluid and a solvent mixture as the shell fluid under a series of shell-to-core fluid flow rate ratios. Results demonstrated that the interface modification by the additional shell solvent generated significant influences on the final particulate multicomponent composites. An exponential relationship between the shell-to-core fluid flow rate ratio (F) and the particle diameters (D, μm) could be determined as D=0.54F−0.39 (|R|=0.9890). APAP was amorphously distributed within its solid “cocktails” to form a multicomponent nanocomposite. The resultant particles from the modified coaxial process could provide an immediate drug release, with a best value of four times faster than the counterparts from traditional blending electrospraying. The synergistic actions of particle size, amorphous drug status, and combined usage of hydrophilic polymers could ensure the fast dissolution and immediate release of APAP. The protocols reported in this study paved a new way for developing new types of functional nanomaterials via coaxial electrospraying.