Preparation and characteristics of pH‐sensitive derivated dextran hydrogel nanoparticles

Abstract An optimized procedure was used to prepare erythromycin (EM)‐loaded pH‐sensitive glycidyl methacrylate derivatized dextran (dex‐GMA)/acrylic acid (AAc) nanoparticles. The size distribution and drug release profile at different pH demonstrated that poly(dex‐GMA/AAc) nanoparticles possessed pH‐sensitivity. At pH 1.2, the mean diameter of nanoparticles was about 60 nm. While at pH 7.4 it increased approximately to 250 nm. The release of EM was about 7% of initial loading after 2 h at pH 1.2. However, at pH 7.4 it reached to 17.8%, 30.9% after 2 and 6 h, respectively. The results demonstrated that poly(dex‐GMA/AAc) nanoparticles could release EM slightly while passing through acerbic stomach, whereas in the alkaline intestine the drug is released considerably. The prepared nanoparticles were partially degradable and also had satisfactory biocompatibility. This study suggests that the poly(dex‐GMA/AAc) nanoparticles are potential colon‐specific targeting carriers, which can keep promising pharmaceutical dosage form of EM. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers