A poly(vinyl alcohol) nanoparticle platform for kinetic studies of inhaled particles.

The lack of a well defined nanosystem that retains its physicochemical properties and can be tracked in complex biological environments is one reason why the study of NP transport across biological barriers is currently so difficult. As a result, surprisingly little is known about the fate of sub-micron particles once they deposit in the airways of the lung. The aim of this study was to design and manufacture a novel nanoparticle (NP) core that would be physically stable, i.

The synthesis of high molecular weight partially hydrolysed poly(vinyl alcohol) grades suitable for nanoparticle fabrication.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a highly versatile synthetic polymer that is formed by full or partial hydrolysis of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc). A wide range of PVA partially hydrolysed grades are commercially available, but the amphiphilic grades of the polymer (30-60% hydrolysis), which probably the most interesting in terms of drug delivery, are not readily available. As a consequence few studies have assessed the application of low hydrolysis PVA polymers to form nanocarriers.