Preparation of Polymeric Micelles of Poly(Ethylene Oxide-b-Lactic Acid) and their Encapsulation With Lavender Oil

Nanoparticles comprised of the poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly (lactic acid) diblock copolymer (PEO-b-PLA) with and without the incorporation of lavender oil were prepared by nanoprecipitation. Diblock copolymers based on a fixed PEO block (5(KDa)) and two different PLA segments (4.5 or 10(KDa)) were used. The morphology, encapsulation efficiency, essential oil-polymer interaction and the release kinetics of the active agent in the nanoparticles, were evaluated. The hydrodynamic radius of the nanoparticles determined by light scattering was affected by the size of the poly(lactic acid) (PLA) block. The lavender essential oil encapsulation efficiency (at a concentration of 0.4 mu L mL(-1)) determined by UV-VIS spectroscopy was in the range of 70-75%. The in vitro release suggests that the polymeric barrier is able to control the oil release.