Title : Development of chitosan nanoparticles as drug carriers for pulmonary management of cystic fibrosis
Abstract:
Cystic fibrosis disease is a genetic respiratory disease associated with severe respiratory complications with problematic drug delivery. Pseudomonas aeruginosa pulmonary infections is considered a leading cause of pulmonary morbidity in adult patients with cystic fibrosis. Levofloxacin is recommended for the treatment of Pseudomonal pulmonary infections. Levofloxacin is available as oral and IV formulations. It is, however, not available yet as an aerosol inhaler and there is only limited data available on the pulmonary delivery of inhaled levofloxacin. The present study aimed to prepare and optimize nanoparticles loaded with levofloxacin based on low molecular weight chitosan in combination with mucolytic n-acetylcysteine as a cross linker. Ionic gelation method was used to prepare the nanoparticles. An evaluation of the particle size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity was carried out. Levofloxacin nanoparticles were also evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectral analysis, differential scanning calorimetry analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray diffraction. The morphology of the nanoparticles was observed using scanning electron microscopy and transition electronic microscopy. The optimal formulation that was identified and further underwent characterization and analysis was with a ratio of 2:1 of chitosan to levofloxacin. The size of the developed nanoparticle was 168 nm, with poly dispersity index 0.30, zeta potential +11, encapsulating efficiency 79.94% and the loading capacity 11.99%. The in-vitro release study revealed 65% drug release after 30 hours. These formulas showed burst drug release. The present study found appropriate size of the nanoparticles that encapsulated levofloxacin, which was promptly released in-vitro, which will improve the drug delivery.
