Aliphatic Polyester Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery Systems

Abstract

Drug delivery systems using aliphatic polyester nanoparticles are usually prepared via an emulsion process. These nanoparticles can control drug release and improve pharmacokinetics. Aliphatic polyesters are linear polymers containing ester linkages, showing sensitivity to hydrolytic degradation. The byproducts then promote autocatalytic degradation. These byproducts could enter the Krebs cycle and be eliminated from the body, resulting in the high biocompatibility of these nanoparticles. The properties of these polyesters are linked to the drug release rate due to biodegradation, i.e., polymer crystallinity, glass transition temperature, polymer hydrophobicity, and molecular weight (MW), all of which relatively influence hydrolysis. Mathematical equations have been used to study the factors and mechanisms that affect drug dissolution compared to experimental release data. The equations used as models for predicting the kinetics of drug release include the zero-order, first-order, Higuchi, Hixson-Crowell, and Korsmeyer-Peppas equations. Aliphatic polyester-based controlled drug delivery has surrounded much of the current activity in the estimation parameters of nanoparticles and stimulated additional research. Polymeric nanoparticles have potential in a wide range of applications, such as in biotechnology, vaccine systems, and the pharmaceutical industry. The main goal of this chapter is to discuss aliphatic polyester nanoparticles as drug carrier systems.