DEVELOPMENT OF STIMULI-RESPONSIVE NANOPARTICLES FOR CONTROLLED DRUG RELEASE UNDER PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS
Keywords:
Stimuli-responsive nanoparticles, controlled drug delivery, PLGA nanoparticles, pH-sensitive release, temperature-responsive systems, nanomedicine, targeted drug delivery, polymeric nanoparticles, drug encapsulation efficiency, in-vitro release study, smart drug delivery systems.Abstract
Background: Conventional drug delivery systems often fail to provide controlled and site-specific release, leading to reduced therapeutic efficiency and increased systemic side effects. Stimuli-responsive nanoparticles have emerged as a promising strategy to overcome these limitations by enabling drug release in response to specific physiological triggers such as pH and temperature.
Objective: This study aims to formulate stimuli-responsive nanoparticles that release drug in response to pH or temperature changes. The nanoparticles will be characterized for size, stability, entrapment efficiency, and release behavior under different conditions. The objective is to design a smarter controlled drug delivery system.
Study Type: Advanced controlled-release study
Methods: Nanoparticles were formulated using a polymer-based emulsion solvent evaporation technique employing PLGA as the carrier matrix and a model drug for encapsulation. Polyvinyl alcohol was used as a stabilizing agent. The formulated nanoparticles were characterized for particle size, surface charge, morphology, entrapment efficiency, and drug loading capacity. In-vitro release studies were conducted under different pH conditions (5.5, 6.5, and 7.4) and at physiological temperature to evaluate stimuli-responsive behavior.
Results: The developed nanoparticles exhibited a mean particle size of approximately 165 nm with a narrow size distribution and stable surface charge. Entrapment efficiency was found to be around 78%, indicating effective drug loading within the polymeric matrix. Morphological analysis confirmed spherical and uniform nanoparticle structures. In-vitro release studies demonstrated a clear pH-dependent release pattern, with maximum drug release observed at acidic pH (96% at pH 5.5 over 48 hours), compared to moderate and slower release at pH 6.5 (82%) and pH 7.4 (65%).
Conclusion: The study confirms that PLGA-based stimuli-responsive nanoparticles provide an efficient and controllable drug delivery platform. Their ability to release drugs preferentially under acidic conditions highlights strong potential for targeted therapy in pathological environments such as tumor tissues. These findings support further development of smart nanocarrier systems for improved therapeutic outcomes in modern medicine.
