Evaluation of biocompatible stabilised gelled soya bean oil nanoparticles as new hydrophobic reservoirs

Ariane Boudiera, Plamen Kirilova, Sophie Franceschi-Messanta, Haouaria Belkhelfab, Laila Hadiouib, Christine Roquesb, Emile Pereza* & Isabelle Rico-Lattesaa Laboratoire IMRCP, UMR 5623, Universite Paul Sabatier, Toulouse Cedex, Franceb Fonderephar, Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Faculté de Pharmacie, 35, Chemin des Maraïchers, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France* Correspondence: Emile Perez, Laboratoire IMRCP, UMR 5623, 118, route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cedex, France +33.0(5)61556808 +33 5 61 55 73 82 perez@chimie.ups-tlse.frBased on the organogel concept, in which an oil is trapped in a network of low-molecular-mass organic gelator fibres creating a gel, a formulation of gelled soya bean oil nanoparticles was evaluated for its capacity to form biocompatible hydrophobic reservoirs. The aqueous dispersions of nanoparticles were prepared by hot emulsification (T° > Tgel) and cooling at room temperature in the presence of polyethyleneimine (PEI). The dispersions were stabilised by the electrostatic interactions between the positively charged amino groups of the PEI and the negatively charged carboxylates of the gelator fibres present at the surface of the particles. The aqueous dispersions were highly stable (several months) and the gelled particles were able to entrap a hydrophobic fluorescent model molecule (Nile red), allowing testing in cells. The gelled oil nanoparticles were found to be biocompatible with the tested cells (keratinocytes) and had the ability to become rapidly internalised. Thus, organogel-based nanoparticles are a promising hydrophobic drug delivery system.