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Review
. 2020 Aug 15;25(16):3731.
doi: 10.3390/molecules25163731.

Polymeric Nanoparticles: Production, Characterization, Toxicology and Ecotoxicology

Aleksandra Zielińska  1   2 , Filipa Carreiró  1 , Ana M Oliveira  1 , Andreia Neves  1 , Bárbara Pires  1 , D Nagasamy Venkatesh  3 , Alessandra Durazzo  4 , Massimo Lucarini  4 , Piotr Eder  5 , Amélia M Silva  6   7 , Antonello Santini  8 , Eliana B Souto  1   9
Affiliations
Review

Polymeric Nanoparticles: Production, Characterization, Toxicology and Ecotoxicology

Aleksandra Zielińska et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) are particles within the size range from 1 to 1000 nm and can be loaded with active compounds entrapped within or surface-adsorbed onto the polymeric core. The term "nanoparticle" stands for both nanocapsules and nanospheres, which are distinguished by the morphological structure. Polymeric NPs have shown great potential for targeted delivery of drugs for the treatment of several diseases. In this review, we discuss the most commonly used methods for the production and characterization of polymeric NPs, the association efficiency of the active compound to the polymeric core, and the in vitro release mechanisms. As the safety of nanoparticles is a high priority, we also discuss the toxicology and ecotoxicology of nanoparticles to humans and to the environment.

Keywords: ecotoxicology.; nanocapsules; nanospheres; polymeric nanoparticles; targeted drug delivery; therapeutic potential; toxicology.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of the structure of nanocapsules and nanospheres (arrow stands for the presence of drug/bioactive within the nanoparticles).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic representation of the solvent evaporation method.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematic representation of the emulsification/solvent diffusion method.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Schematic representation of the emulsification/reverse salting-out method.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Schematic illustration of the nanoprecipitation method.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Different possibilities of the drug association with nanospheres and nanocapsules.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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