Layer- by- Layer Coated PLA Nanoparticles with Oppositely Charged ∼- Cyclodextrin Polymer for Controlled Delivery of Lipophilic Molecules

The preparation of novel nanoparticles is described, which consist of a poly(lactic acid) (PLA) core obtained by the nanoprecipitation method with a shell made of oppositely charged -cyclodextrin polymer (poly--CD) assembled using the layer-by-layer technique. Characterization of these nanoparticles is accomplished through dynamic light scattering, -potential measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron microscopy. The release of a loaded lipophilic molecule, benzophenone (BP), is mainly controlled by diffusion of BP and by its host-guest interaction with the -CD cavities of the adsorbed poly--CD. Increasing the number of poly--CD layers results in a better control of the release through the partition equilibrium between free BP and BP included in the cavities inside the multilayers. <boxed-text content-type="graphic" position="anchor"> <graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="urn:x-wiley:10221352:media:macp201300693:macp201300693-abs-0001">image</graphic