In this study, gelatin nanoparticles loaded with (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) were prepared by nanoprecipitation reported by Lee et al. (Bioprocess Biosyst. Eng., 2012, 35, 297-307; J. Biomater. Sci. Polym. Ed., 2011, 22, 753-771) in order to improve cumulative EGCG-release efficiency as well as to extend the period of slow release of EGCG, using dimethyl sulfoxide, which is a polar aprotic solvent, and ethanol as a solvent and a nonsolvent, respectively. Average size and zeta potential of the gelatin nanoparticles loaded with EGCG (GNLE) were 160.5(±7.2) nm and –13.9(±0.14) mV, respectively. In EGCG-release studies, GNLE released 66.5% of the amount of encapsulated EGCG. Moreover, GNLE showed a slow EGCG-release behavior for ca. 60 h except for the period of 2-3 h during which EGCG-cumulative release was increased rapidly due to the acceleration of EGCG-release by the addition of trypsin

본 연구에서는 (-)-epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG)의 방출효율 개선과 서방(slow release) 기간 연장을 위하여 Lee 등이 보고한 나노침전법을 적용하여(Bioprocess Biosyst. Eng., 2012, 35, 297-307; J. Biomater. Sci. Polym. Ed., 2011, 22, 753-771), 극성 비양자성 용매인 dimethyl sulfoxide와 에탄올을 각각 용매와 비용매로 사용하여 EGCG를 담지한 젤라틴 나노전달체를 제조하였다. EGCG 담지 젤라틴 나노입자의 평균 크기는 160.5(±7.2) nm이었고 평균 제타포텐셜 값은 –13.9(±0.14) mV이었다. 본 연구의 방출실험에서 젤라틴 나노입자에 담지된 EGCG의 66.5%가 방출되었다. 본 연구의 방출실험에서 EGCG 담지 젤라틴 나노입자의 방출특성은, 트립신(trypsin)을 첨가하여 EGCG의 누적방출량이 가속화되어 방출이 급격히 증가한 2-3시간을 제외한 방출시간인 약 60시간 동안 EGCG의 서방성을 보였다

Keywords: (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, gelatin, nanoprecipitation, dimethyl sulfoxide, gelatin nanoparticles loaded with EGCG