MORE | Spring 2020

Loperamide Encapsulated Nanoparticles for Evaluating Blood Brain Barrier Permeability Post-Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury

Due to traumatic brain injury (TBI) presenting with extensive treatment challenges, this study created nanoparticles to evaluate the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics associated with drug delivery in a compromised blood-brain barrier. Loperamide encapsulated poly(lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLA-PEG) nanoparticles were fabricated for the future assessment of blood-brain barrier permeability. The nanoparticles were produced using a microfluidic system, and optimized the parameters of flow rate, ratio of aqueous to organic solvents, and polymer and drug concentrations. These parameters were then validated through the metrics of size, polydispersity index, and encapsulation efficiency.