Quantification of biodegradable PLGA nanoparticles for drug targeting.

Objective. The aim of this work was the development of appropriate analytical methods and assays for determining and monitoring composition and degradation of nanoparticles built from PLGA (poly D, L-lactid-co-glycolid), which can be reloaded with different drugs. A sensitive and precise method for monitoring of nanoparticle degradation in vitro was developed and optimized. Nanoparticles allow a selective enrichment of different drugs and knowledge of the nature and type of their degradation is essential for characterization and control of drug release and dosage. Materials and methods. The first method developed during this work to quantify the PLGA polymer matrix use advantage of the chemical reaction of aliphatic carboxylic acids with ferric chloride (FeCl3) thus quantifying both degradation products of PLGA, lactic and glycol acids, at the same time. A second assay method of choice was to react to the polymer hydrolysate with lactate dehydrogenase, thus assaying selectively the lactic acid part. Results. During development of both of described methods was possible to determine dynamic range for PLGA matrix and nanoparticles, as well as to characterize impact of Pluronic F-68 and glycolic acid on lactate dehydrogenase activity. Conclusion. During our work we were able to develop two sensitive methods for monitoring of biodegradation of polymers which are consecutively used as a nanoparticle matrix in drug targeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]