Formulation of stabilizer-free, nontoxic PLGA and elastin-PLGA nanoparticle delivery systems

Zachary R. Stromberg, M. Lisa Phipps, Harsha D. Magurudeniya, Christine A. Pedersen, Trideep Rajale, Chris J. Sheehan, Samantha J. Courtney, Steven B. Bradfute, Peter Hraber, Matthew N. Rush, Jessica Z. Kubicek-Sutherland, Jennifer S. Martinez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Biocompatible nanoparticles composed of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) are used as drug and vaccine delivery systems because of their tunability in size and sustained release of cargo molecules. While the use of toxic stabilizers such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) limit the utility of PLGA, stabilizer-free PLGA nanoparticles are rarely used because they can be challenging to prepare. Here, we developed a tunable, stabilizer-free PLGA nanoparticle formulation capable of encapsulating plasmid DNA and demonstrated the formation of an elastin-like polymer PLGA hybrid nanoparticle with exceptional stability and biocompatibility. A suite of PLGAs were fabricated using solvent evaporation methods and assessed for particle size and stability in water. We find that under physiological conditions (PBS at 37˚C), the most stable PLGA formulation (P4) was found to contain a greater L:G ratio (65:35), lower MW, and carboxyl terminus. Subsequent experiments determined P4 nanoparticles were as stable as those made with PVA, yet significantly less cytotoxic. Variation in particle size was achieved through altering PLGA stoichiometry while maintaining the ability to encapsulate DNA and were modified with elastin-like polymers for increased immune tolerance. Overall, a useful method for tunable, stabilizer-free PLGA nanoparticle formulation was developed for use in drug and vaccine delivery, and immune targeting.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number120340
JournalInternational Journal of Pharmaceutics
Volume597
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 15 2021

Keywords

  • Delivery system
  • Elastin like polymer (ELP)
  • Intrinsically disordered protein
  • Nanoparticle
  • Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)
  • Polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)
  • Vaccine

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmaceutical Science

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