title: Nanoprecipitation and the "Ouzo effect": Application to drug delivery devices.
abstract: Biodegradable nanocarriers such as lipid- or polymer-based nanoparticles can be designed to improve the efficacy and reduce the toxic side effects of drugs. Under appropriate conditions, nanoprecipitation of a hydrophobic compound solution in a non-solvent can generate a dispersion of nanoparticles with a narrow distribution of sizes without the use of surfactant ("Ouzo" effect). The aim of this review is to present the main parameters controlling the nucleation and growth of aggregates in a supersaturated solution and the characteristics of the obtained nanoparticles. The importance of the kinetics of mixing of the solution containing the hydrophobic compound and the non-solvent is highlighted. Illustrative examples of polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery or terpenoid-based nanoprodrugs obtained by nanoprecipitation are reported.
authors.affiliation: UMR CNRS 8612, Institut Galien Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Sud, France.
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lepeltier
authors.affiliation: UMR CNRS 8612, Institut Galien Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Sud, France.
authors.forename: Claudie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bourgaux
authors.affiliation: UMR CNRS 8612, Institut Galien Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Sud, France.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Couvreur
mesh_terms: D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D008055:Lipids; D011108:Polymers; D012997:Solvents
keywords: Nanoparticles; Nanoprecipitation; Nucleation and growth; Ouzo effect; Squalenoylation; Terpenoid prodrug