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Preparation and Characterization of Simvastatin Nanocapsules: Encapsulation of Hydrophobic Drugs in Calcium Alginate

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Stem Cell Nanotechnology

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2125))

Abstract

During past few years, development of methods for physical encapsulation of drugs in biocompatible materials in mild conditions for poorly water-soluble hydrophobic drugs which are sensitive to hydrolytic conditions is of high interest in biomedical and pharmaceutical industries. The encapsulation can improve the drug solubility while decreases its side effects besides controlling its pharmacokinetic profile which results in the overall improvement of the therapeutic efficacy. In the current paper, we provide a detailed protocol for encapsulation of poorly water-soluble hydrophobic drugs which is a development of the previously developed protocol of nanocapsule formation by complex formation on the interface of emulsion droplets. The newly developed protocol is based on nanocapsule formation by complex formation on the interface of emulsion droplets except using no organic solvent for potential targeted drug delivery to glioblastoma cells. Simvastatin as a model of hydrophobic drugs of high hydrolytic sensitivity was encapsulated in calcium alginate hydrogel as a biocompatible matrix using the developed protocol. Simvastatin belongs to a group of mevalonate cascade inhibitors (statins) which have recently been considered as a possible new approach in cancer treatment especially glioblastoma. As a cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitor, it is very important to deliver statins only to target cells and not intact cells using targeted drug delivery strategies to avoid dysregulation of cholesterol biosynthesis in normal tissue. To prepare the statin drug nanocarrier’s, the drug was first dissolved in polysorbate 20 nonionic surfactant solution, and then peptide modified calcium alginate was deposited on the micelles interface at neutral pH and 30 °C. The prepared nanocapsules were spherical in shape and very small in size (i.e., 17 ± 5 nm). The drug content of the nanocapsules was 117.3 mg g−1 and the drug loading efficiency for a 5-mg initial amount of the drug was 23.5% ± 3.1%.

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Acknowledgments

The project was supported by National Institute for Medical Research Development (NIMAD), operating grant number #943267. SG was also supported by Health Science Foundation general operating grant and Research Manitoba New Investigator Operating grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Chemistry, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

    Mazaher Ahmadi & Tayyebeh Madrakian

  2. Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Saeid Ghavami

  3. Biology of Breathing Theme, Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Saeid Ghavami

  4. Health policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Saeid Ghavami

  5. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Mazaher Ahmadi

Authors
  1. Mazaher Ahmadi
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  2. Tayyebeh Madrakian
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  3. Saeid Ghavami
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Saeid Ghavami .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Kursad Turksen

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Ahmadi, M., Madrakian, T., Ghavami, S. (2018). Preparation and Characterization of Simvastatin Nanocapsules: Encapsulation of Hydrophobic Drugs in Calcium Alginate. In: Turksen, K. (eds) Stem Cell Nanotechnology. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2125. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/7651_2018_191

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/7651_2018_191

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-0359-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-0360-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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