Enhanced antithrombotic effect of hirudin by bovine serum albumin nanoparticles

The aim of this study was to design hirudin-loaded bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles to control release and improve antithrombotic effect of hirudin. BSA nanoparticles were designed as carriers for delivery of hirudin. Hirudin–BSA nanoparticles were prepared by a desolvation procedure and cross linked on the wall material of BSA. The hirudin–BSA nanoparticles were characterised by particle size distribution, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD). The in vitro release characteristics and pharmacological availability were investigated. The morphology of hirudin–BSA nanoparticles was approximately spherical. The mean particle size was 164.1 ± 5.40 nm and the zeta potential was −20.41 ± 0.64 mV. The mean entrapment efficiency and drug loading were 85.14% ± 4.79% and 66.38% ± 3.54%, respectively. Results from DSC and PXRD revealed that hirudin in BSA existed in an amorphous state. The release behaviours of hirudin from BSA ...