Synthesis of methylprednisolone loaded ibuprofen modified inulin based nanoparticles and their application for drug delivery

Ibuprofen modified inulin was synthesized through a direct esterification linkage in which the in situ activation of the carboxylic acid with N,N'-carbonyldiimidazole was carried out. The critical aggregation concentration of the ibuprofen modified inulin was determined by using pyrene as the fluorescence probe. Methylprednisolone loaded nanoparticles were prepared by the self-assembly of the ibuprofen modified inulin copolymer and methylprednisolone. In vitro release of the methylprednisolone and the cytotoxicity of the methylprednisolone loaded nanoparticles against RSC-96 cells were evaluated. Since the ibuprofen and methylprednisolone could stimulate a significant neurite growth and diminish the human neurological deficits after the spinal cord injury, the methylprednisolone loaded nanoparticles based on the ibuprofen modified inulin copolymer may have a great potential in the synergetic effect treatment for spinal cord injury. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.