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Formulation and Evaluation of Levofloxacin Nanoparticles by Ionic Gelation Method

Abstract

Nanoparticles of Levofloxacin were prepared by ionic gelation method using chitosan as a biodegradable polymer and tripolyphosphate as the cross linking agent. A total of nine formulations, F1A, F1B, F1C, F2A, F2B, F2C, F3A, F3B and F3C were prepared and evaluated for particle size, spectral studies, thermal studies, drug entrapment efficiency and in vitro drug dissolution studies. The particle size of the prepared formulations varied between 190 and 632 nm. The nanoparticles showed favorable drug entrapment efficiency which varied between 60.06 ± 0.06 % and 74.29 ± 0.04 % and the drug content ranged between 67.20 ± 0.30 % and 76.10 ± 0.61 %. Among all the formulations, three formulations F1C showed maximum of drug release 94.87%, F2C showed 98.54% and F3C showed 93.12 % after 18 h in a controlled manner. The FTIR spectral studies and DSC thermogram indicated that there was no interaction between the drug and polymers used. The scanning electron microscopy indicated that prepared nanoparticles were discrete, uniform and spherical with a smooth surface. All the selected formulations (FIC, F2C and F3C) were best fitted to Higuchi model. According to this model, the drug releases from these formulations may be controlled by diffusion through the micropores. During and at the end of the stability study, the tested formulation showed non-significantly different drug content, entrapment efficiency and in vitro drug release from that observed at the beginning of the study. No color changes were also observed during the study period.

Beny Baby, Nagaraja Sree Harsha, Korlakunta Narasimha Jayaveera, Abin Abraham

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