Electrospray technique for solid lipid-based particle production.
BACKGROUND
Different preparation methods for the production of lipid micro- and nanoparticles as controlled release formulations have been widely developed. Novel techniques are attracting increasing attention for their preparation.


METHODS
The objective of the present investigation was to produce solid lipid-based micro-nanospheres using the electrohydrodynamic atomization (electrospraying) and to evaluate whether it is a suitable method to prepare drug-loaded particles.


RESULTS
Narrowly dispersed spherical particles lower than 1 mum, easily internalized in cells, were obtained using stearic acid and ethylcellulose in a 4.5:0.5 (w/w) ratio. Tamoxifen, as model drug, was encapsulated with good entrapment efficiency. The in vitro release, after an initial burst effect, showed a prolonged drug release.


CONCLUSIONS
The electrospraying method might be proposed to prepare in a single-step monodisperse lipid-based micro- and nanoparticles in powder form for drug delivery.
Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia del Farmaco, University of Turin, Torino, Italy. michele.trotta@unito.it
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Trotta
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Cavalli
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Trotta
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Bussano
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Costa
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D008863:Microspheres; D054118:Nanospheres / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012995:Solubility; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000737:chemistry*
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011108:Polymers; D013629:Tamoxifen