Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Effect of surfactants on plasmid DNA stability and release from poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres

Abd Almonem Doolaanea^1,2 , Ahmad Fahmi Harun Ismail¹, Nur Izzati Mansor¹, Nurul Hafizah Mohd Nor¹, Farahidah Mohamed^1,2,3

¹Department of Pharmaceutical Technology; ²IKOP Sdn. Bhd., Pilot Plant Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Faculty of Pharmacy; ³International Institute of Halal Research & Training (INHART), Ground Floor, Block E0, Kulliyyah of Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia IIUM, PO Box 10, 50728, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

For correspondence:- Abd Doolaanea Email: abdalmonemdoolaanea@yahoo.com Tel:+60136238628

Received: 9 May 2015 Accepted: 2 September 2015 Published: 31 October 2015

Citation: Doolaanea AA, Ismail AF, Mansor NI, Nor NH, Mohamed F. Effect of surfactants on plasmid DNA stability and release from poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres. Trop J Pharm Res 2015; 14(10):1769-1778 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v14i10.6

© 2015 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of surfactants on plasmid DNA during preparation and release from polylactic glycolide (PLGA) microspheres.

Methods: Various surfactants, both ionic and non-ionic (Span, Tween, Triton X100, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and sodium dodecyl sulphate), were added during the microsphere preparation and their effect was evaluated. Supercoil index (SCI) was introduced as a harmonised value derived from encapsulation efficiency and supercoil preservation efficiency in order to evaluate the impact of different surfactants on pDNA encapsulation.

Results: Polyvinyl alcohol and Span revealed low SCI whereas Tween increased the SCI in a fraction-dependent manner. The Tween blend of hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of 16 and Triton X-100 (HLB = 13.5) showed the highest SCI. Span revealed high burst release of pDNA whereas Triton X-100 exhibited low burst release. Following the burst release, diffusion mechanism was found to predominate in DNA release.

Conclusion: The microspheres were non-toxic to the neuro-2a cells which suggest they can be potentially used in the gene therapy of neuronal diseases.

Keywords: Surfactant, Gene therapy, Microspheres, Polylactic glycolide, Plasmid DNA, Supercoil index, Hydrophilic-lipophilic balance