Stable Polymer Nanoparticles with Exceptionally High Drug Loading by Sequential Nanoprecipitation
Yun Liu, Guangze Yang, Thejus Baby, Tengjisi, Dong Chen, David A. Weitz, Chun‐Xia Zhao
Abstract
Abstract Poor solubility often leads to low drug efficacy. Encapsulation of water‐insoluble drugs in polymeric nanoparticles offers a solution. However, low drug loading remains a critical challenge. Now, a simple and robust sequential nanoprecipitation technology is used to produce stable drug‐core polymer‐shell nanoparticles with high drug loading (up to 58.5 %) from a wide range of polymers and drugs. This technology is based on tuning the precipitation time of drugs and polymers using a solvent system comprising multiple organic solvents, which allows the formation of drug nanoparticles first followed by immediate precipitation of one or two polymers. This technology offers a new strategy to manufacture polymeric nanoparticles with high drug loading having good long‐term stability and programmed release and opens a unique opportunity for drug delivery applications.