Formulation and characterization of acetaminophen nanoparticles in orally disintegrating films

The purpose of this study was to prepare orally disintegrating films containing nanoparticles loaded with acetaminophen. Nanoparticles were prepared by the emulsion-solvent evaporation method where acetone phase containing acetaminophen and poly(lactide-co-glycolide acid) (PLGA) was added to water phase containing hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, poly ethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and aspartame in a rate of 1.5 drops(-1) and agitated at 1200rpm. The size, polydispersity index (PI) and drug entrapment (DE) were measured. The emulsions were cast to form films, which were evaluated physico-mechanically. The effect of different degrees of hydrolization of PVA and polymerization of PLGA and the effect of different ratios of PVA to PLGA was studied. Films with acceptable physico-mechanical properties were further studied. The size and PI of the nanoparticles was dependent on PVA hydrolization, PLGA polymerization and the ratio of PVA to PLGA. All films disintegrated in less than one minute, but acetaminophen was not free in the dissolution media even after six days. These results may indicate that although the nanoparticles released from the films immediately when impressed in solution the drug is sustained in the nanoparticles for longer time, which is to be clarified in future work.