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Novel feasibilities for preparation of serum albumin-based core-shell nanoparticles in flow conditions

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Abstract

We first demonstrate a simple and rapid fabrication protocol of bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles (NPs), as potential drug carriers using a microchannel flow technique with the successful encapsulation of a water-soluble kynurenic acid (KYNA) having neuroactive property has also been performed. By comparison, the preparation of a hydrophobic α-Tocopherol (TP)-loaded polylactide-co-glycolide 50:50 (PLGA50)-based NPs was also carried out under flow conditions. We highlight several benefits of the flow technique over the commonly known self-assembly and nanoprecipitation processes. The average particle diameter, the size distribution, the encapsulation efficiency (EE%) and the drug release kinetics of these different core-shell type NPs prepared by the flow as well as the above-mentioned classic methods were compared. The decisive role of the flow rate (FR), the relative flow rate (RFR) of the components in the particle size of both BSA- and PLGA50-based NPs have also been verified. By utilization of the optimal flow conditions, the average size can be decreased with ca. 15–20% and lower polydispersity index (PDI) can be also achieved. It was confirmed that the systematic change of the RFR values resulting in the controlled size of the drug-loaded BSA NPs between 120 and 140 nm, while d = 149 nm was obtained for self-assembled NPs. However, for BSA-based NPs quite similar EE% was obtained for both methods (ca. 11–12%), but for PLGA50/TP NPs the application of flow device increased the EE% from 67.0% to 71.5%.

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Acknowledgements

The research was supported by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office-NKFIH through the project GINOP-2.3.2-15-2016-00034 and FK 131446. V. Hornok acknowledges the Premium Post Doctorate Research Program of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences for the financial support. This paper was supported by the János Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (E. Csapó). The Ministry of Human Capacities, Hungary grant TUDFO/47138-1/2019-ITM is acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, H-6720 Rerrich B. Square 1, Szeged, Hungary

    Alexandra N. Kovács, Norbert Varga, Gyöngyi Gombár, Viktória Hornok & Edit Csapó

  2. MTA Premium Post Doctorate Research Program, University of Szeged, H-6720 Rerrich B. Square 1, Szeged, Hungary

    Viktória Hornok

  3. Department of Medical Chemistry, MTA-SZTE Biomimetic Systems Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, H-6720 Dóm Square 8, Szeged, Hungary

    Edit Csapó

Authors
  1. Alexandra N. Kovács
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  2. Norbert Varga
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  3. Gyöngyi Gombár
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  4. Viktória Hornok
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  5. Edit Csapó
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Highlights

- Controllable preparation of serum albumin nanocarriers containing kynurenic acid has been presented under flow conditions

- By optimized flow conditions, a reproducible and large-scale production of BSA-based core-shell nanoparticles can be obtained

- Utilization of flow device results in smaller particle sizes compared to self-assembly and nanoprecipitation methods

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Kovács, A.N., Varga, N., Gombár, G. et al. Novel feasibilities for preparation of serum albumin-based core-shell nanoparticles in flow conditions. J Flow Chem 10, 497–505 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41981-020-00088-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41981-020-00088-4

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