Summary: | Biodegradable poly(D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and PLGA-based polymeric nanoparticles are
widely used for sustained release of protein and peptide drugs. These formulations are usually prepared
by water/oil/water (W/O/W) and solid/oil/water (S/O/W) double emulsion solvent evaporation method.
Other methods of preparation are nanoprecipitation, emulsion solvent diffusion and salting-out. This
review attempts to address the effects of PLGA molecular weight, lactide to glycolide ratio, crystallinity,
hydrophilicity as well as nanoparticles preparation variables (e.g., homogenizer speed, surfactants
nature and concentration) on the size, morphology, drug encapsulation efficiency and release profile of
PLGA mico/nanoparticles. The current knowledge of protein instability during preparation, storage and
release from PLGA micro/nanoparticles and protein stabilization approaches has also been discussed in
this review.
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