Abstract

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF LIQUID CRYSTALLINE NANOPARTICLES FOR THE TREATMENT OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

S. Chandra*, B. Nandhini*, R. Suresh, S. Kavibharathi, S. Sangeetha and Shahul Hameed K.

Abstract

The rationale of the research was to formulate and evaluate a novel triamcinolone loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles delivered through periocular sub conjunctival route for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. The liquid crystalline nanoparticles were prepared by fragmentation of bulk cubic gel by high pressure homogenization method. The drug was loaded to the optimized formulation and characterization of triamcinolone loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles were studied. FTIR was carried out to identify their functional groups and DSC was carried out to determine their melting point. The particle size, poly dispersity index and zeta potential obtained for the optimized formulation was found to be 6.626 (d.nm), 0.241 and - 29. 31mV and for the formulation loaded with triamcinolone was found to be 5.352 (d.nm) 0.243 and – 31.3 mV respectively. The pH of the optimized formulation was found to be 6.87 and for drug loaded formulation was found to be 7.36. The encapsulation efficiency of triamcinolone loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles was 84.3% indicating most of the drug was encapsulated. The scanning electron microscopy and X-Ray diffraction studies was done to know the surface morphology of the nanoparticles and crystallinity of the drug, polymer and the liquid crystalline nanoparticles. The drug release from the liquid crystalline nanoparticles shows greater release till 20 h when compared with pure triamcinolone solution. The stability studies were done for the optimized formulation and the formulation loaded with triamcinolone at 25°C, 40°and 5°C. Hence, it was concluded that the triamcinolone loaded liquid crystalline nanoparticles can be used for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy through periocular subconjunctival route.

Keywords: Triamcinolone, Periocular Subconjunctival Route.