Preparation, Characterization and Optimization of Egg Albumin Nanoparticles as Low Molecular-Weight Drug Delivery Vehicle

Protein nanoparticles have been recognized as carriers to deliver low molecular-weight drugs, anticancer drug, DNA, vaccines, oligonucleotides, peptides and etc. The purpose of this research was preparation of Egg Albumin (EA) nanoparticle with suitable size/size distribution and good surface properties for drug delivery application based on simple coacervation method along with optimization of the nanoparticles by employing Taguchi method. Several synthesis parameters were examined to characterize their impacts on nanoparticle size and topography. These variables were including temperature, EA concentration, desolvating agent volume, pH value and agitation speed. In addition, size and morphology of prepared nanoparticles were analyzed by photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) as well as atomic force microscopy (AFM). As result of Taguchi analysis in this research, desolvating agent volume and pH were most influencing factors on particle size. The minimum size of nanoparticles (similar to 51?nm) were obtained at Temperature 55?degrees C, 30?mg/ml EA concentration, desolvating agent volume 50?ml, agitation speed of 500?rpm and pH similar to 4. The mechanistic of optimum conditions for preparing protein nanoparticles from Egg Albumin for the first time and their characterization as delivering nano system are discussed.