Development and characterization of PLGA nanospheres and nanocapsules containing xanthone and 3-methoxyxanthone

The aim of the present work was to develop and characterize two different nanosystems, nanospheres and nanocapsules, containing either xanthone (XAN) or 3-methoxyxanthone (3-MeOXAN), with the final goal of improving the delivery of these poorly water-soluble compounds. The xanthones-loaded nanospheres (nanomatrix systems) and nanocapsules (nanoreservoir systems), made of poly(dl-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), were prepared by the solvent displacement technique. The following characteristics of nanoparticle formulations were determined: particle size and morphology, zeta potential, incorporation efficiency, thermal behaviour, in vitro release profiles and physical stability at 4 °C. The nanospheres had a mean diameter <170 nm, a narrow size distribution (polydispersity index <0.1), and a negative surface charge (zeta potential <−36 mV). Their incorporation efficiencies were 33% for XAN and 42% for 3-MeOXAN. The presence of the xanthones did not affect the nanospheres size and zeta potential. DSC studies indicated that XAN and 3-MeOXAN were dispersed at a molecular level within the polymeric nanomatrix. Nanocapsules were also nanometric (mean size <300 nm) and exhibited a negative charge (zeta potential <−36 mV). Their incorporation efficiency values (>77%) were higher than those corresponding to nanospheres for both xanthones. The release of 3-MeOXAN from nanocapsules was similar to that observed for the correspondent nanoemulsion, indicating that drug release is mainly governed by its partition between the oil core and the external aqueous medium. In contrast, the release of XAN from nanocapsules was significantly slower than from the nanoemulsion, a behaviour that suggests an interaction of the drug with the polymer. Nanocapsule formulations exhibited good physical stability at 4 °C during a 4-month period for XAN and during a 3-month period for 3-MeOXAN.