Preparation, characterization and in vitro evaluation of poly[lactic-co-(glycolic acid)] (PLGA) nanoparticles conjugated with depolymerized hyaluronic acid for drug delivery

A drug delivery formulation is proposed to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of prednisolone while minimizing associated side effects. The method involves making a depolymerized hyaluronic acid conjugated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (dp-HA-g-PLGA) copolymer with a hyaluronan-rich surface that can bind to CD44 receptors. The hydrophobic backbone of PLGA is chemically linked to partially depolymerized hyaluronic acid [dp-HA], augmenting the copolymer's interaction with CD44 receptors. Prednisolone (PSL)-encapsulated dp-HA-g-PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by the single emulsion technique and characterized for key parameters such as size, morphology, drug-loading efficiency, and drug release kinetics study. The average size of the PSL-encapsulated dp-HA-g-PLGA was identified as 271 nm with 74.7% encapsulation efficacy and 6.47% drug-loading efficacy. Furthermore, in vitro assays identify the biocompatibility of the nanoparticles in RAW 264.7 cells. Thus, the findings demonstrate the effectiveness of dp-HA-g-PLGA nanoparticles as a drug carrier for biomedical applications.