Polyelectrolyte Coated PLGA Nanoparticles: Templation and Release Behavior

Poly[(D,L-lactide)-co-glycolide] nanoparticles coated with polyethyleneimine on their surface were prepared by an emulsification-solvent evaporation method and subsequently surface modified by LBL assembly. The assembly of poly(acrylic acid) and polyethyleneimine on a planar substrate and on the PLGA nanoparticles was monitored by QCM-D, zeta-potential, flow cytometry and TEM. Carboxylic and amino groups in the multilayers were crosslinked by carbodiimide condensation, which was also later used to graft poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Rhodamine 6G, 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein and fluorescein were incorporated into the nanoparticles and their release profiles were recorded at 60 degrees C and at 37 degrees C for rhodamine 6G, for nanoparticles with a multilayer coating, and those that were crosslinked and grafted with PEG.