Nanoparticles containing luteolin flavonoid were prepared by using interfacial polymer deposition following solvent displacement. The formulation was optimized using factorial design. The parameters studied were the type of polymer [poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)], nature oil (isodecyl oleate and oleic acid) and the quantity of luteolin. Nanocapsules and nanospheres were also prepared and evaluated. Colloidal suspensions were characterized by evaluating pH, the particle size, the zeta potential, the morphological aspect and the kinetic release. A new High Performance Liquid Chromatography method was developed and validated in order to quantify luteolin in colloidal suspension allowing the analyses of the absolute recovery, entrapment efficiency and the kinetic release. The luteolin-absolute recovery ranged from 61.6% to 95%; entrapment efficiency was nearly 100% in all formulations and the particle sizes were smaller than 185.5 nm. The nanoparticles prepared with isodecyl oleate show a negative zeta potential. On the other hand, when oleic acid was utilized, the zeta potential was positive. The nanoparticles prepared by using isodecyl oleate have a more perfect spherical shape with a regular surface and form, homogeneity, and lower size dispersion. Nanocapsules and nanospheres have a similar release mechanism of pure diffusion according with Korsmeyer-Peppas’s model
