Preparation and Evaluation in vitro of Salicylic Acid-pachyman Nanoparticles

Pachyman based nanoparticles loading salicylic acid as model drug (SA-PNPs) were prepared by an inverse microemulsion crosslinking approach using epichlorohydrin (ECH) as crosslinker. The effects of crosslinking reaction time, initial volume ratio of oil to aqueous phase and dosage of crosslinker on the particle size of SA-PNPs were optimized by orthogonal experimental design. SA-PNPs prepared under the optimal conditions had the average size of 230 nm and high encapsulation efficiency of 90%. The in vitro drug release was also investigated and the release data were analyzed using zero order, first order and Higuchi's kinetics model. According to the determined coefficients, release data fitted to Higuchi's model, which suggested that the release of SA from SA-PNPs in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) was diffusion controlled release. The experimental results indicated that pachyman possesses a promising potential to be applied as nanocarriers for controlled drug release.