Molecular-level characterization of probucol nanocrystal in water by in situ solid-state NMR spectroscopy

The molecular state of colloidal probucol nanoparticles with additives was evaluated by ¹³C in situ solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The nanoparticles were obtained by dispersing a ternary co-ground mixture of probucol/polyvinylpyrrolidon (PVP)/sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in water. Their mean particle size was found to be approximately 150 nm by dynamic light scattering and cryogenic-scanning electron microscopy measurements. The results of the ¹³C in situ solid-state NMR spectroscopy showed that probucol existed in the crystalline state (form I) in water. ¹³C liquid-state NMR results indicated that PVP and SDS interacted with probucol in water. Their broad signals suggested that the surface interaction of the probucol nanocrystal with PVP and SDS stabilized the suspension. In addition, a freeze-dried sample of the suspension was studied by ¹³C solid-state NMR and powder X-ray diffraction experiments, which confirmed the presence of the probucol nanocrystals. The combination of the in situ solid-state, solid-state, and liquid-state NMR measurement results provided molecular-level insights about the role of intermolecular interactions in the design of nanoformulations.