Nanoparticle formulation having ability to control the release of protein for drug delivery application

•More than 95% of the total protein (BSA) can be encapsulated and released from folic acid nanoparticles having size between 200 and 300 nm.•Release of BSA and carrier folic acid can be controlled by changing the concentration of crosslinking salt.•Similar release patterns of protein and carrier folic acid suggest that particle is formed by FA-protein association.•Release behavior of both folic acid and protein is dependent on salt concentration in the release medium.•Release behavior of drug from folic acid nanoparticles is same irrespective of molecular weight of drug.

Controlled release of therapeutic protein is desirable for protein delivery applications. This study discuss about a unique nanomaterial which is capable to provide the protein release in controlled manner. The nanomaterial has been synthesized from folic acid molecules and bovine serum albumin (BSA1) is loaded in these nanoparticles as a model protein. The size distribution of the synthesized folic acid nanoparticles was observed between 200 and 300 nm. The release study using high performance liquid chromatography suggests that more than 90% of BSA can be encapsulated in the nanoparticles having BSA loaded up to 19.29 mg (57% of folic acid loaded). Release study also reveals that more than 95% of the total folic acid and BSA were released in phosphate buffer saline solution within 48 h. Investigation of folic acid release along with BSA release reveals that the particles are formed through folic acid-protein complex. Salt concentration in the release medium and crosslinked cations in the nanoparticles are found to be the key parameters to control the release rate. Thus, folic acid nanoparticles are efficient carrier for protein encapsulation and release in the controlled manner with minimum drug loss.

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