PREPARATION OF SIZE CONTROLLED ALBUMIN NANOPARTICLES AND ITS IN- VITRO SAFETY EVALUATION

Neetika Taneja* and K. K. Singh

ABSTRACT

Human serum albumin has gained popularity among researchers for the fabrication of nanoparticles (NPs) due to its biocompatible, biodegradable and non-toxic nature. Particle size is one of the critical parameter for determining the in-vitro cellular uptake and in-vivo behavior of NPs. The objective of the present study was to prepare the size controlled albumin NPs and study the impact of product and process related parameter on particle size and size distribution.The NPs were prepared by the desolvation technique. Influence of various factors including ethanol rate addition, stirring speed, amount of ethanol, albumin concentration and glutaraldehyde concentration on particle size and size distribution were extensively investigated. NPs were freeze-dried using mannitol (2%) as the cryoprotectant to inhibit the particle growth during lyophilization. The particle size and polydispersity index of the optimized albumin NPs were found to be 71.09 ± 3.12 nm and -24.5mV respectively. The images from scanning electron microscope demonstrated the spherical shape of NPs. The results from the stability studies did not show any significant change in the particle size up to 4 days at 4º and 25ºC. Moreover, the developed NPs exhibited cell viability more than 85% on HT29 and HCT cells indicating the non-toxic nature of the developed NPs.

Keywords: desolvation, glutaraldehyde, cryoprotectant, lyophilization.