BSA/polyelectrolyte core–shell nanoparticles for controlled release of encapsulated ibuprofen

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) based core–shell nanoparticles were developed as carrier systems for drug transportation. At pH = 3, the oppositely charged polyelectrolytes: poly(sodium-4-styrene)sulphonate (PSS) and the chitosan (Chit) bind to the positively charged protein via electrostatic interactions. We applied ibuprofen (IBU) as model molecule which has low solubility. The changes in the BSAʹs secondary structure during the steps of the synthesis were inspected by FT-IR measurements. The size and the zeta potential were determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The changes in the structure and in the size were investigated by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) too, for each composite. The release of the ibuprofen was studied by vertical diffusion cell (Franz cell) at pH 7.4 at 25 and 37.5 °C. The structure of the core–shell nanoparticles have significantly changed as the pH has risen from 3.0 to 7.4. Kinetic models were used to describe the release mechanism. The experimental results demonstrated that the BSA has an ordered structure at pH = 3 which will become random coil by adding ibuprofen. The first shell restores the ordered structure of the protein. The controlled release was carried out; the IBU release decreased by 40% in the case of two-layered composites compared with the “naked” BSA.