Polymeric nanoparticles have been produced by pre-formed polymers using aliphatic polyesters, which have been widely used to incorporate lipophilic drugs. The production of nanoparticles (nanospheres and nanocapsules) by pre-formed polymers can be performed by emulsification-solvent evaporation, solvent replacement, salting out or by emulsification-solvent diffusion. These methods are reviewed and discussed in this article, highlighting the technological parameters that influence the physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles, such as the solubility of drug, the volume and pH of polymerization, the molecular weight and monomer concentration and the nature and concentration of the surfactant.
Pre-formed polymers; emulsification-solvent evaporation; solvent replacement; salting out or by solvent emulsification-diffusion