Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanoparticles were prepared to be used as potential platform for vaccine systems. Commercial high molecular weight PLA (PLA HMW) with Mw 1.5 × 10(5) and low molecular weight poly(lactic acid) (PLA LMW) with Mw 9.3 × 10³ were obtained by direct polycondensation from D,L lactic acid and used to prepare nanoparticles by solvent displacement method. The effect of the molecular weight on the physicochemical properties of the polymers, on the nanoparticles dispersions and the amount of ovalbumin (OVA) adsorption was studied. The PLA HMW and PLA LMW were characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetrical analysis (TGA), modulated temperature differential scanning calorimetry (MTDSC) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The particle size distribution and ζ-potential of the obtained dispersions were measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and electroacoustic spectroscopy, respectively. The ovalbumin adsorption on nanoparticles was evaluated by the Bradford method. PLA LMW dispersion showed lower ζ-potential values and larger sizes compared to PLA HMW dispersion. A minor OVA adsorption was achieved for PLA LMW.
poly(lactic acid); nanoparticles; ovalbumin; adsorption
