The emulsification-diffusion method to obtain polymeric nanoparticles: Two decades of research

Abstract Nowadays, several methods for preparing submicron particles from polymers are available. The emulsification-diffusion (E-D) method was proposed as an alternative to avoid the toxicity-solvent problems caused by the emulsification-evaporation; additionally, its simple implementation, high reproducibility and versatility have been confirmed for different research groups. This method is one of the first techniques analyzed from a mechanistic point of view and it has been used to encapsulate several kinds of drugs, including peptides and proteins. The objectives of this chapter are focused on the study of the pharmaceutical impact of the emulsification- diffusion method since it was introduced. We review and describe the critical preparative variables, constitutive materials, formation mechanisms and performance of the E-D method. The second part of the chapter includes an extensive collection of different types of drug-loaded nanoparticles obtained by this method. Finally, some novel innovations and applications of the method have also been compiled.