Preparation and characterization of paclitaxel-loaded Human Serum Albumin (HSA) nanoparticles using desolvation technique; Effect of manufacturing parameters on particle characteristics

Nanotechnology has emerged as a new approach for cancer therapy by reducing the dose and increasing the efficiency of chemotherapeutic medicines. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of preparation parameters on paclitaxel loaded human serum albumin nanoparticles (PTX-HSA-NP) using desolvation technique. Nanoparticles were characterized in terms of particle size by dynamic light scattering (DLS), surface morphology and shape by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Drug encapsulation and loading efficiency were also determined using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The effect of manufacturing parameters including pH of primary HSA solution, drug/protein (w/w) ratio, ratio of ethanol (mL) to HSA solution, rate of organic solvent (ethanol) addition (mL/min), glutaraldehyde 8% to protein (μl/mg) ratio, and agitation speed (rpm) on the PTX-HSA-NPs was investigated. The selected variables could efficiently control the production of spherical PTX-HSA-NP with the size between 126 and 275 nm and size distribution (0.016 < PDI < 0.122), as well as the drug loading and encapsulation efficiency of 1.8-17.1 and 12.2-31.0% w/w, respectively. In conclusion, this research highlights the important parameters forcontrolling HSA-NP characteristics produced using desolvation technique. © 2017 American Scientific Publishers.