Hybrid DIVEMA/PLGA nanoparticles as the potential drug delivery system

The hybrid nanoparticles (NP) consisting of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and polyanionic copolymer of divinyl ether with maleic anhydride (DIVEMA) were prepared by the high pressure homogenization – solvent evaporation technique or by nanoprecipitation and evaluated by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. The nanoparticles formed by PLGA (MM 7–17 kDa) and DIVEMA (MM 20 kDa or 80 kDa) at mass ratios from 1.2:1 to 8:1 had the hydrodynamic diameter of ~ 200 nm, negative zeta potentials of -33 to -40 mV, and were stable upon freeze-drying. The presence of DIVEMA in the PLGA nanoparticles improved their properties as the drug carrier. Thus, loading of the model drug doxorubicin was increased 2-fold and its release time was considerably extended. The enhanced surface functionality of the hybrid nanoparticles was demonstrated by a ~ 5-fold higher content of the surface-conjugated PEGylated bovine serum albumin as compared with the plain PLGA nanoparticles. The DIVEMA/PLGA NP exhibited low cytotoxicity and good hemocompatibility. This is the first study that describes the DIVEMA/PLGA NP and demonstrates their potential as the drug delivery system.