A reverse microemulsion polymerization method for preparation of bioadhesive polyacrylic acid nanoparticles for mucosal drug delivery: Loading and release of timolol maleate

Polyacrylic acid nanoparticles were successfully synthesized using a reverse microemulsion polymerization process. They had a narrow size range, averaging similar to 50 nm, and were stable in buffer. The particles were isolated and lyophilized in dry powder form, and were redispersible as individual particles in buffer. The drug timolol maleate was loaded into the nanoparticles from aqueous drug solutions and, when the drug-loaded particles were dispersed in a phosphate buffer solution, the drug slowly released over several hours from the nanoparticles.