METHOTREXATE-LOADED NANOPARTICLES - ANALYSIS OF DRUG CONTENT AND STUDY OF THE MATRIX STRUCTURE

Entrapment of methotrexate in biodegradable colloidal systems was studied. Nanospheres were characterized in terms of morphometrical properties, such as particle diameter and particle size distribution. The ability of two surfactants, and dextrans of different molecular weights to improve the entrapment of the drug in a polymeric matrix was also studied. The presence of sodium lauryl sulphate in the polymerization medium increased the drug content in the nanospheres, and this effect was more significant when Dextran T70 was added to the formulation. Thermal methods such as thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry and thermomicroscopy were applied, in order to study the possible interactions between the polymer and the drug. Crystalline methotrexate domains were observed in the polybutylcyanoacrylate matrix by thermomicroscopy.