Preparation and Evaluation of Pralidoxime-Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles as Potential Carriers of the Drug across the Blood Brain Barrier

Abstract EN

Pralidoxime is an organophosphate antidote with poor central nervous system distribution due to a high polarity.

In the present study, pralidoxime-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles were prepared and evaluated as a potential delivery system of the drug into the central nervous system.

The nanoparticles were prepared using double emulsion solvent evaporation method.

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) in ethyl acetate made the organic phase and pralidoxime in water made the aqueous phase.

The system was stabilized by polyvinyl alcohol.

Different drug/polymer ratios were used (1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 1 : 4) and the fabricated particles were characterized for encapsulation efficiency using UV-VIS Spectroscopy; particle size distribution, polydispersity index, and zeta potential using photon correlation spectroscopy; and in vitro drug release profile using UV-VIS Spectroscopy.

Mean particle sizes were 386.6 nm, 304.7 nm, and 322.8 nm, encapsulation efficiency was 28.58%, 51.91%, and 68.78%, and zeta potential was 5.04 mV, 3.31 mV, and 5.98 mV for particles with drug/polymer ratios 1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 1 : 4, respectively.

In vitro drug release profile changed from biphasic to monobasic as the drug/polymer ratio decreased from 1 : 1 to 1 : 4.

Stable pralidoxime-loaded PLGA nanoparticles were produced using double emulsion solvent evaporation techniques.