We describe a facile strategy to synthesize hybrid nanocapsules with an oil core for hindering interactions between payloads and silica shell. Polycaprolactone/silica nanocapsules are synthesized by an interfacial sol−gel process occurring simultaneously with internal phase separation of the polymer produced by a miniemulsion-solvent evaporation technique. The localization of the polycaprolactone in the nanocapsules is depending on the ratio between polymer and silica. Formation of hybrid nanocapsules is found to significantly hinder interactions of drugs such as ibuprofen and carbamazepine with the silica surface.
Encapsulation of poorly soluble drugs in polymer nanoparticles is a common strategy to increase bioavailability of drugs. The miniemulsion-solvent evaporation technique is widely used for encapsulating drugs in polymer nanoparticles because it is a versatile process, allowing many drug-polymer pair combinations. However, above a critical concentration of drug, which depends on the drug and polymer, nanoparticles tend to precipitate. Herein, the importance of drug solubility and miscibility in the polymer phase for selecting the optimal polymer matrix is investigated. Ibuprofen, naproxen methyl ester, and naproxen, as models for poorly soluble drugs, are encapsulated with various loadings in polycaprolactone nanoparticles by the miniemulsion-solvent evaporation method. The miscibility between drug and polymer is estimated by calculating Flory-Huggins interaction parameters ( ) from differential scanning calorimetry measurements and calculating the difference in Hansen solubility parameter of drugs and polymer. Both values can be used for determining the feasibility of the drug encapsulation in polymer nanoparticles.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.