A new process for drug loaded nanocapsules preparation using a membrane contactor

In this paper, we describe a new process for the preparation of drug loaded nanocapsules using a membrane contactor which may be scaled up for industrial applications. Nanocapsules are prepared according to the nanoprecipitation method. The organic phase (solvent, polymer, oil, and drug) is pressed through the pores of an ultrafiltration membrane via the filtrate side. The aqueous phase (water and surfactant) circulates inside the membrane module, and sweeps away the nanocaspules forming at the pore outlets. Two model drugs are selected for the preparation of drug loaded nanocapsules: indomethacin and vitamin E. It is shown that indomethacin loaded nanocapsules with a mean diameter of 240 nm and vitamin E loaded nanocapsules with a mean diameter of 230 nm are obtained with a 150,000 daltons ultrafiltration membrane, a transmembrane pressure of 3 bar, and a crossflow rate of 1.7 m.s(-1) . High fluxes are also obtained (around 0.6 m(3)/h.m(2) ), leading to the preparation of 1.8 10(-3) m(3) drug loaded nanocapsules in 8 min. The advantage of this membrane contactor compared to other processes for drug loaded nanocapsules preparation is shown to be its scale-up ability.