Albumin nanospheres as carriers for passive drug targeting: an optimized manufacturing technique

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a new method to produce albumin particles in the sub-200-nanometer range with a narrow size distribution and in a controlled and reproducible manner.

Methods: A new emulsion crosslinking method was developed using ultrasound and static mixing as homogenization steps and a central composite design was used to evaluate the influence of different process parameters on particle size, polydispersity and yield.

Results: Response surface analysis allowed the location of the most important factors. Of all the factors investigated, only the albumin concentration and the aqueous phase volume showed a significant influence on response parameters. Albumin nanospheres with sizes below 200 nm in diameter and very narrow size distributions were obtained in high yields ( > 80%).

Conclusions: This study describes a new preparation method for albumin nanoparticles which are suitable for future drug targeting studies.