title: Synthesis and characterization of pullulan-polycaprolactone core-shell nanospheres encapsulated with ciprofloxacin.
abstract: Nanosphere-encapsulated drugs offer a means to overcome many drug delivery limitations by localizing the site of delivery and providing controlled release. This research details the synthesis and encapsulation of ciprofloxacin in pullulan-polycaprolactone (PCL) core shell nanospheres and the characterization of these materials by 1H-NMR, UV spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).1H-NMR results confirm that the pullulan-PCL grafted copolymer was successfully synthesized. UV spectroscopy showed that the ciprofloxacin loaded nanospheres contain 35-40% ciprofloxacin by weight. DLS and SEM results indicate that the loaded nanospheres are spherical in shape and approximately 142+/-12 nm in size. Under in vitro test conditions, approximately 20% of the ciprofloxacin is released in the first 4 hours, with additional release over 10 days. The nanoparticles demonstrate bioactivity against Escheria coli and do not affect the proliferation of two human cell lines. These results demonstrate the potential of pullulan-PCL core-shell nanospheres as delivery vehicles of hydrophobic drugs, including antibiotics for localized treatments applicable to a wide-range of human bacterial infections.
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Massachusetts, 01854, USA.
authors: Sally Fouad
authors: SF
authors: Shady
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Gaines
authors: Rahul
authors: R
authors: Garhwal
authors: Charles
authors: C
authors: Leahy
authors: Edward
authors: E
authors: Ellis
authors: Kathryn
authors: K
authors: Crawford
authors: Daniel F
authors: DF
authors: Schmidt
authors: Stephen P
authors: SP
authors: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D004058:Diffusion; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005936:Glucans / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D054118:Nanospheres / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005936:Glucans; D053769:Nanocapsules; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; C009109:pullulan