Easy fabrication and characterization of gelatin nanocarriers and in vitro investigation of swelling controlled release dynamics of paclitaxel

The purpose of the present investigation was to prepare gelatin nanoparticles, capable of releasing the paclitaxel drug in a controllable fashion by regulating the extent of swelling of the nanoparticles. Gelatin nanoparticles were prepared by a single water in oil (W/O) emulsion crosslinking technique. The nanoparticles were characterized by FTIR, SEM, TEM, XRD, particle size analysis, and surface potential measurements. The influence of experimental conditions such as chemical composition of gelatin nanoparticles, pH, temperature, and presence of simulated biological fluids as the release media were investigated on the release profiles of paclitaxel. The drug release processes were analyzed kinetically using Ficks power law, zero-order, first-order, and Korsmeyer–Peppas models, and a correlation was drawn between the quantity of released drug and swelling of the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were judged for in vitro cytotoxicity and the chemical stability of the drug was also accessed.