(480f) Doxorubicin- Loaded Albumin Nanoparticles: Formulation and Characterization

Nanoparticles have the unique property to accumulate at the site of solid tumors and therefore are very suitable for targeted drug delivery1. Different kinds of drugs like pilocarpine, ibuprofen, flubiprafen and ganciclovir have been delivered by entrapping in nanoparticles 2, 3. The objective of the present study was to develop Doxorubicin (Dox) loaded albumin nanoparticles for regional drug release in solid tumors. Bovine serum albumin nanoparticles were prepared by the coacervation method. Drug loading was carried out by two different methods: magnetic stirring the albumin nanoparticles with drug solution as well as shaking the nanoparticles with the drug solution. The entrapment of Dox in albumin nanoparticles was determined to be 39.45% for the magnetic stirring method and 18.58% for the shaking method. In vitro release of the drug was also studied. More than 90% of drug was released in a sustained manner from Dox loaded albumin nanoparticles. To characterize the nanoparticles, particle diameter, zeta potential, and polydispersity were determined by Zetasizer 3600 ZEN Malvern UK. The differential scanning calorimetric method (DSC Perkin Elmer Germany) was used to understand the thermotropic properties and phase transition behavior. Scanning electron microscope methods (2360 Leo Oxford, England) were used to analyze the surface and shape characteristics of the particles after they were coated with gold. The results show that, the size of albumin nanoparticles before drug loading increased from an average of 67 nm to 98 nm for the magnetic stirring method and 106 nm for the shaking method. In addition, the SEM results confirm the uniform shape of particles.

1- A. Arnedo et al., Albumin nanoparticles improved the stability, nuclear accumudation and anticytomegaloviral activity of a phosphodiester oligonucleoide J of Controlled Release 94 pp. 217-227 2004. 2- Das. S. et al., Aspirin loaded albumin nanoparticles by coacervation Trends Biomater. Artif. Organs. 18 pp. 203-211 2005. 3- Merodio M. et al., Ganciclovir ? loaded albumin nanoparticles: characterization and in vitro release properties. Europ. J pharm. sci. 12 pp. 251-259 2001.