Abstract

PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF CHITOSAN NANOPARTICLES CONTAINING CURCUMIN FOR INTRANASAL ADMINISTRATION

Mamatha G. T. and Shashikiran Y. H.*

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Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the possibility of targeting drug Curcumin to the brain using polymeric nanoparticles. Curcumin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were prepared by an ionic gelation method. The Curcumin-Chitosan nanoparticles were characterized for particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency and in vitro release study after intranasal administration. The chitosan nanoparticles having particle diameter ranging approximately 299- 344nm and a zeta potential 0.1mV. There was steady decrease in the entrapment efficiency and increase in the polymer concentration in the formulation. The in vitro release behaviour form all the drug loaded batches were found to follow first order and provided prolonged release over a period 24h. No appreciable difference was observed in the drug co tent of product during 60d in which nanoparticles were stored at 5˚C and room temperature. According to the data obtained, this chitosan-based delivery system opens new and interest in perspectives as drug carriers. The formulation showed the superiority of nose to brain delivery of Curcumin using nanoparticles compared with other delivery routes reported earlier.

Keywords: Nanoparticles, Curcumin, Chitosan, Ionic gelation method, Intra nasal administration.