Synthesis of Poly(DL-lactide-Co-glycolide) nanoparticles with entrapped magnetite by emulsion evaporation method

The goal of this study was to synthesize Poly(DL-lactide-Co-glycolide) nanoparticles with entrapped magnetite, of under 100 nm in diameter, for future drug delivery applications. The emulsion evaporation method was selected to form poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles with entrapped magnetite (Fe3O4) in the polymeric matrix, in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a surfactant. Magnetite, a water-soluble compound, was surface functionalized with oleic acid to ensure its efficient entrapment in the PLGA matrix. The inclusion of magnetite with oleic acid (MOA) into the PLGA nanoparticles was accomplished in the organic phase. Synthesis was followed by dialysis, performed to eliminate the excess SDS, and lyophilization. The synthesized nanoparticles ranged in size from 38.6 to 67.1 nm for naked PLGA nanospheres and from 78.8 to 87.2 nm for MOA-entrapped PLGA nanospheres. The entrapment efficiency ranged from 57.36% to 77.3%.