A novel drug carrier: lipophilic drug-loaded polyglutamate/polyelectrolyte nanocontainers

A novel lipophilic drug carrier, "oil-in-water" multifunctional composite nanocontainers, is developed by combining ultrasonic technique and layer-by-layer assembly. Polyglutamate/polyethyleneimine/poly(acrylic acid) nanocontainers loaded with the lipophilic drug, rifampicin, dissolved in soybean oil were fabricated. Raman confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy proved the successful incorporation of rifampicin into composite water-dispersible polyglutamate/polyelectrolyte nanocontainers. Transmission electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy indicated that the drug can be released by changing the pH value of the media due to the pH-responsive properties of the polyglutamate/polyelectrolyte shell.