Abstract
The use of polymeric materials as drug carriers has several advantages, such as prolongation of drug action and reduction of drug side effects. In this study, we consider the methods for the preparation of polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) polymeric nanoparticles with the anti-tuberculosis drug (ATD), isoniazid, by nanoprecipitation. Polymeric nanocarriers were obtained by varying individual parameters such as the nature of solvent and non-solvent, drug/polymer ratio, and stabilizer concentration. It was determined that the aver-age particle size depends on the type of non-solvent. When alcohols were used, the average size increased in the sequence: ethanol < isopropanol < isobutanol. The type of solvent is an important factor in the formation of nanoparticles and their final characteristics. With an increase in the drug/polymer ratio, the average size of nanoparticles also increased. The size of obtained nanoparticles varied from 93 to 869 nm. Thermogravi-metric and differential scanning calorimetry analyses were carried out to confirm the incorporation of the drug into the polymer matrix. In addition, polymer degradation and the degree of release of isoniazid from the polymeric matrix at different pH were studied. It was identified that the nanoprecipitation method can be used not only for hydrophobic but also for hydrophilic drugs.