title: Formation of nanocarrier systems by dense gas processing.
abstract: Nanocarrier systems, such as liposomes, polymersomes, and micelles, find applications in the delivery of a wide range of compounds, including targeted delivery of pharmaceuticals. Nanocarrier systems have the ability to increase the bioavailability, reduce toxicity, and avoid undesirable interactions of active pharmaceutical ingredients. In this work, a novel dense gas technique known as depressurization of an expanded solution into aqueous media (DESAM) was used to produce different types of nanocarrier systems. The effects of using different types of dense gases and different operating temperatures were investigated. Encapsulation of hydrophilic compounds in the vesicles (liposomes and polymersomes) was also studied. The highest encapsulation efficiencies in liposomes and polymersomes achieved were 10.2 and 9.7%, respectively. The DESAM process was also able to reduce the residual solvent content in the product to 2.2% (v/v), which is significantly lower than the solvent residual levels reported for conventional processing.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW) , Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Chau Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Beh
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mammucari
authors.forename: Neil R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D005740:Gases