To optimize the characteristics of stereocomplex polylactide-b-polyethylene glycol nanoparticles (SC-PEG NPs) in terms of pharmacokinetics (PK), we chose continuous anti-solvent precipitation with a T-junction as a preparation method and investigated the effect of using solvents containing an ion excipient (lithium bromide, LiBr) on the characteristics of SC-PEG NPs by changing the processing temperature and total flow rate (TFR). Processing temperatures above the melting temperature (Tm) of the PEG domain produced a sharper polydispersity and denser surface PEG densities of SC-PEG NPs than those produced by processing temperatures below the Tm of the PEG domains. Response surface analysis revealed that a higher LiBr concentration and slower TFR resulted in larger and denser hydrodynamic diameters (Dh) and surface PEG densities, respectively. However, a high concentration (300 mM) of LiBr resulted in a decreased drug loading content (DLC). 14C-tamoxifen-loaded 111In-SC-PEG NPs with larger Dh and denser surface PEG densities showed a prolonged plasma retention and low tissue distribution after intravenous injection in mice. These results indicate that the novel strategy of using solvents containing LiBr at different processing temperatures and TFR can broadly control characteristics of SC-PEG NPs, such as Dh, surface PEG densities, and DLC, which alter the PK profiles and tissue distributions.
Keywords: anti-solvent precipitations; characterization; flow rate; ion excipients; pharmacokinetics; polymeric nanoparticle; process parameters.