Relationship between the process variables and physicochemical features of liquid-core nanocapsules produced via nanoprecipitation

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between the physicochemical features of liquid-core nanocapsules created via nanoprecipitation and the adopted process variables. The process variables evaluated are the amount of coating polymer (poly--caprolactone), the amount of stabilizer polymer (poloxamer-188) and the stirring velocity. A statistical response surface methodology is employed to analyze the effect of the process variables on the physicochemical variables of size, polydispersity, zeta potential and efficiency in encapsulating a non-polar drug (carbamazepine). The results show that, although the process variables do not have a statistically significant effect on the response variables, the amount of coating polymer, the amount of stabilizer, and the stirring rate are physicochemically relevant. It is also found that the nanocapsules can contain more than 98% of the model drug, but the efficiency of the drug released may be affected by the process conditions.