Controlling Particle Size of Poly(lactic acid)/Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanoparticles have gained immense attention as drug carriers in biodegradable drug delivery systems. Particle size is one of the most important characteristics of nanoparticles. It determines the in vivo distribution and targeting ability of nanoparticle drug delivery systems. In this study, we developed a surfactant-free method for the preparation of poly(lactic acid)/hydroxyapatite (PLA/HAp) particles for drug delivery applications. PLA/HAp particles decompose safely in the body. In this study, we investigated the effect of PLA content and ionic concentrations on the particle size of PLA/HAp particles. The particle size of PLA/HAp particles with different PLA contents and ionic concentrations was determined by SEM. The results showed that the PLA content played a crucial role in increasing the particle size of the PLA/HAp particles.