Production of PMMA Nanoparticles Loaded with Praziquantel Through "In Situ" Miniemulsion Polymerization

PZQ is the primary drug for treatment of schistosomiasis, but its efficiency is severely affected by its bitter taste. The main objective of this paper is the preparation of PMMA nanoparticles loaded with PZQ through in situ miniemulsion polymerizations and intended for oral formulations. Polymerizations are performed with an ultra turrax and a high-pressure homogenizer. Obtained nanoparticles are analyzed by DSC, HPLC, DLS, GC, SEM, and PZQ dissolution profiles. Obtained results indicate the successful encapsulation of PZQ in all runs. Obtained data also show that the high-pressure homogenizer leads to the best performance, allowing for preparation of stable latexes, with narrower particle size distributions and higher encapsulation efficiencies.