Abstract

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF POLYMERIC NANOPARTICLES LOADED IN HYDROGEL FOR OPTIMUM ANTIFUNGAL PURPOSE

Akansha Mourya*, Rahul Sharma and Jagdish Chandra Rathi

Abstract

Objective: To develop miconazole nitrate -loaded chitosan nanoparticles by modified ionic gelation method for optimum antifungal purpose. Methods: Miconazole nitrate -loaded chitosan nanoparticles were prepared by ionic gelation method with the aid of sonication. The prepared hydrogel formulations were evaluated for physico chemical parameters like physical appearance, pH, drug release, drug content and rheological parameters like spredability and extrudability. Parameters such as the zeta potential, particle size, entrapment efficiency and in vitro drug release of the polymeric nanoparticles loaded in hydrogel were assessed for optimization. Results: All hydrogel formulations showed acceptable physico chemical and rheological properties and results were found to be within the limits. The drug release was found to decrease with increase in polymer concentration. The mean particle size of optimized formulation F2 nanoparticles was found to be 85.6 nm. and zeta potential of optimized formulation F2 nanoparticles was found to be -36.2 mV. There was a steady increase in the entrapment efficiency on increasing the polymer concentration in the formulations. The in vitro release behaviour of optimized formulation GF2 was found to follow Korsmeyer-Peppas model and provided sustained release over a period of 24 h. Conclusion: Polymer and crosslinking agent concentrations and sonication time are rate-limiting factors for the development of the optimized formulation. The chitosan nanoparticles developed would be capable of sustained delivery of a miconazole nitrate for optimum antifungal purpose.

Keywords: Nanoparticles, Hydrogel, Antifungal, Chitosan, Sodium tripolyphosphate, Miconazole Nitrate.