Desolvation process and surface characteristics of HSA-nanoparticles

The objective of the present study was to characterise and optimise the desolvation process of human serum albumin (HSA) for the preparation of nanoparticles. Following the desolvation of the protein. the resulting nanoparticles were stabilised by the addition of varying amounts of glutaraldehyde. The particle size and the number of available amino groups on the surface of the nanoparticles were determined. The results indicated that the particle size depended mainly on the amount of desolvating agent added, but not on the amount of cross-linker. Increasing volumes of glutaraldehyde reduced the number of amino groups on the surface of HSA nanoparticles. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.