Preparation, Characterization and In Vitro Evaluation of Etoposide Loaded PCL Nanoparicles

The present investigation involves the Preparation and Characterization of etoposide loaded PCL Composite micropartices on account to control initial burst release. The prepared composite particles were characterized physicochemically for Encapsulation efficiency, Mean particle size, Release kinetic and compared with nanoparticles and simple microparticles prepared by the same double emulsion method. The major objective of the present study is to incorporate a hydrophilic drug etoposide within hydrophobic polymer poly (ε-caprolactone) for the preparation of composite micro particles to minimize initial burst release of the drug which is generally associated with micro and nanoparticles. Micro particles and nanoparticles were prepared by W/O/W emulsion solvent extraction and W/O/W solvent evaporation method respectively using different ratios of drug to polymer (0.1:1, 0.2:1 and 0.4:1). These prepared nanoparticles were further fabricated in micro particles using double emulsion method in ratio of (0.05:1, 0.1:1, 0.2:1).When PCL nanoparticles were encapsulated into the microparticles, there was a large decrease in the burst release again; this decrease is much more marked when p < 0.05. When nanoparticles formulated in to composite micropartices the burst released is suppressed only 50% of the drug was released in 8 hrs. Therefore, the advantage of encapsulating nanoparticles in microparticles (composite microparticles) has been definitely demonstrated for a hydrophilic drug.