Electrospray Encapsulation of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Drugs in Poly(L-lactic acid) Nanoparticles

An electrospray method is developed for preparation of beclomethasone‐dipropionate‐ and salbutamol‐sulfate‐loaded biodegradable poly(L‐lactic acid) nanoparticles. Different set‐up parameters for electrospraying are examined on particle size, and preparation conditions are optimized for producing spherical‐drug‐loaded nanoscale particles by controllable processing parameters. Polylactide (PLA)–drug nanoparticles with average diameters of around 200 nm are achieved in a stable cone‐jet mode with a flow rate of 4 µL min−1, polymer concentration of 1%, and ammonium hydroxide content of 0.05%. Morphology and size of the drug–polymer nanoparticles are analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Changes in the crystallinity of the PLA polymer and the model drugs are detected by X‐ray powder diffraction, and the absence of molecular interactions are confirmed by thermal analyses. The results indicate clearly that electrospraying is a potential method for producing polymeric nanoparticles and for encapsulating both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs efficiently into the nanoparticles. An electrospray method is developed for preparation of beclomethasone‐dipropionate‐ and salbutamol‐sulfate‐loaded biodegradable poly(L‐lactic acid) nanoparticles. The results indicated clearly that the electrospray is a potential method for producing polymeric nanoparticles and for encapsulating both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs efficiently into the nanoparticles (see image).