Prilling as an Effective Tool for Manufacturing Submicrometric and Nanometric PLGA Particles for Controlled Drug Delivery to Wounds: Stability and Curcumin Release.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study investigates for the first time the use of the prilling technique in combination with solvent evaporation to produce nano- and submicrometric PLGA particles to deliver properly an active pharmaceutical ingredient. Curcumin (CCM), a hydrophobic compound classified under BCS (Biopharmaceutics Classification System) class IV, was selected as the model drug.

METHODS

Key process parameters, including polymer concentration, solvent type, nozzle size, and surfactant levels, were optimized to obtain stable particles with a narrow size distribution determined by DLS analysis.

RESULTS

Particles mean diameter (d) 316 and 452 nm, depending on drug-loaded cargo as Curcumin-loaded PLGA nanoparticles demonstrated high encapsulation efficiency, assessed via HPLC analysis, stability, and controlled release profiles. In vitro studies revealed a faster release for lower drug loadings (90% release in 6 h) compared to sustained release over 7 days for higher-loaded nanoparticles, attributed to polymer degradation and drug-polymer interactions on the surface of the particles, as confirmed by FTIR analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings underline the potential of this scalable technique for biomedical applications, offering a versatile platform for designing drug delivery systems with tailored release characteristics.