Lamotrigine‐loaded polyacrylate nanoparticles synthesized through emulsion polymerization

Abstract

Abstract A series of copolymeric nanoparticles of the partially water‐soluble monomer ethyl methacrylate and the water‐soluble monomer 2‐hydroxyl ethyl methacrylate were synthesized from emulsions containing sodium dodecyl sulfate via free‐radical polymerization. Lamotrigine, as a model drug, was loaded in nanoparticles during in situ polymerization. A stable and transparent poly(ethyl methacrylate‐ co ‐hydroxyl ethyl methacrylate) nanolatex was produced for all compositions and characterized for particle size by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Particles were found to be smaller than 50 nm in size. Structural characterization of copolymers was done by infrared spectrometry, gel permeation chromatography, and NMR spectroscopy. Drug encapsulation efficiency was determined by ultraviolet (UV)–visible spectrometry and was found to be 26–62% for copolymers with different compositions. UV data suggest molecular‐level dispersion of the drug in the nanoparticles. In vitro drug‐release studies showed the controlled release of lamotrigine. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008