Preparation of poly(butylcyanoacrylate) drug carriers by nanoprecipitation using a pre-synthesized polymer and different colloidal stabilizers

Classically, drug-loaded poly(alkylcyanoacrylate) colloidal carriers are prepared by the drug entrapment during emulsion polymerization. However, a number of chemically sensitive drugs are unstable in the conditions of polymerization or can be irreversibly inactivated by the highly reactive monomer. Furthermore, the particle size distribution and the molecular weight of formed polymer depend strongly on the polymerization conditions. Here, we investigate the nanoprecipitation approach for the preparation of pure and drug-load poly(butylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticles. This method allows the successful entrapment of lipophilic and chemically labile drugs by avoiding the contact with highly reactive monomers. The anticancer agent chlorambucil is chosen as the model drug for the incorporation and release studies. Pure and drug-loaded nanoparticles are successfully prepared using various stabilizers (Polysorbate 80, Pluronic F68, Dextran 40). The nanoparticles coated with Polysorbate 80 are of highest interest since they could overcome the blood–brain barrier and the multidrug resistance in cancer cells. Such nanoparticles can be easily prepared by the nanoprecipitation approach reported here.