Solvent emulsification evaporation and solvent emulsification diffusion techniques for nanoparticles

Abstract

Nowadays, there has been an increased demand of nanoparticulate-based drug delivery as nanoparticles (NPs) generally give more advantages over the conventional drug carriers for targeting in various parameters like more drug encapsulation, more stability and site specificity, sustained release profile and the ability to deliver both lyophilic and lyophobic types of drug particles using different modes of administration. Nanocarriers have been expansively studied as particulate drug delivery in the field of pharmaceuticals, due to their controlled and sustained release properties, small size and biocompatibility with body tissues. Manufacturing technique used to prepare nanoparticles plays a vital role in achieving their desired properties for a particular application. Several methods to formulate nanoparticles have been developed during the last many decades, and these are classified based on whether the particle formation undergoes a polymerization reaction or a nanoparticle forms directly from a preformed polymer or ionic gelation method. The choice of method for the preparation of nanoparticle is highly dependent on the physicochemical properties of both the polymer and the drug compound. Polymeric nanoparticles are generally manufactured by polymerization of monomers using anionic polymer or by preparing homogeneous dispersion of the dissolved polymers which gives nanoparticles using various methods such as solvent evaporation, emulsification solvent diffusion, salting out, emulsification diffusion and supercritical fluid (SCF) technology. This chapter emphasizes on how emulsification followed by solvent evaporation and solvent diffusion permits an emulsion of a polymer solution to customize as nanoparticles. The chapter also provides concise information on recent trends of research in specified domain.