Clarithromycin Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles: Development and Characterization

Abstract

Background:: Chitosan nanoparticles have been extensively studied and used due to their well-recognized applicability in various fields. Chitosan, a natural polysaccharide polymer and is extensively used in pharmaceuticals to deliver a wide variety of therapeutic agents. Chitosan is a biocompatible and biodegradable mucoadhesive polymer that has been extensively used in the preparation of multi particles, particularly nano- and microparticles. Objective:: The main aim of the present study was to optimize the conditions for the preparation of chitosan nanoparticles to get optimal particle size, with optimal zeta potential and narrow polydispersity index, and antibacterial activity. Methods:: Methods include the ionic gelation technique for chitosan nanoparticle preparation. The influence of formulation parameters and process parameters on the Chitosan nanoparticles were investigated. Besides, the suspension stability of the prepared nanoparticles is also assessed on storage at 4°C. Results: clearly showed that the formulation and process parameters showed a significant effect on the physicochemical and morphological characteristics of the chitosan nanoparticles. The chitosan nanoparticles prepared under optimum conditions (chitosan concentration of 0.5% w/v, CS: TPP mass ratio of 1:3, initial pH of chitosan solution of 4.5, stirred at 750 rpm for 30 min) had shown a mean particle size of ~326.8±15 nm, the zeta potential of +28.2 ± 0.5 mV, PDI of 0.21 ± 0.02. The encapsulation of the clarithromycin slightly increased the polydispersity index but the zeta potential of the unloaded nanoparticles was not affected while the particle size increased. Under optimum conditions, clarithromycin encapsulation efficiency into nanoparticles was found to be 70%. Additionally, chitosan-tripolyphosphate nanoparticles were shown to be stable for a minimum of fifteen days in deionized water at 4°C. Conclusion:: The current study concludes on the optimal conditions to formulate the chitosan nanoparticles with optimal physicochemical characteristics.