Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles prepared by high pressure homogenization for paclitaxel chemotherapy

High pressure homogenization was employed in the current work to prepare poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) for controlled release of paclitaxel. The prepared drug-loaded PLGA NPs were found of spherical shape with a size of 200-300nm. The drug encapsulation efficiency ranged from 34.8 +/- 1.6 to 62.6 +/- 7.9% depending on the homogenization pressure and cycles. Paclitaxel was released from the nanoparticles in a biphasic profile with a fast release rate in the first 3 days followed by a slow first-order release. A higher or comparable cytotoxicity against glioma C6 cells was found for the drug formulated in the PLGA NPs in comparison with the free drug Taxol(R). Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) evidenced internalization of the fluorescent coumarin 6-loaded PLGA NPs by the C6 cells. The freeze-dried nanoparticles were found to possess excellent water redispersability. The high pressure homogenization could be applied for large industrial scale production of nanoparticles for drug delivery. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.