PREPARATION AND IN VITRO CHARACTERIZATION OF CARBAMAZEPINE-LOADED CHITOSAN-COATED/UNCOATED PLGA AND ZEIN NANOPARTICLES

The aim of this study is to prepare CBZ-loaded chitosan (Ch)- coated/uncoated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and Zein (using 20 mg or 40 mg Zein) nanoparticles (CBZ-PLGA-Zein-NPs or CBZ-PLGA-Zein-Ch-NPs) and to characterize (Particle size, PDI, zeta potential, percent encapsulation efficiency (EE%), FT-IR, DSC and XRD analyzes, and in vitro release study) them in vitro. These nanoparticles were prepared using a modified emulsification-solvent evaporation method. The particle sizes of CBZ-PLGA-Zein(20)-NPs, CBZ-PLGA-Zein(40)-NPs and CBZ-PLGA-Zein(20)-Ch-NPs were found to be about 222 nm, 245 nm and 221 nm, respectively. The PDI value of all NP formulations was below 0.3. This indicates a narrow particle size distribution. The EE% values of CBZ-PLGA-Zein(20)-NPs, CBZ-PLGA-Zein(40)-NPs and CBZ-PLGA-Zein(20)-Ch-NPs were determined as about 64%, 56% and 62%, respectively. The coating of the optimum formulation (containing 20 mg Zein) with chitosan did not lead to a significant difference in the particle size and EE% value of this formulation (P>0.05). A sustained release of CBZ from all prepared NPs formulations was achieved until 48th h. In conclusion, CBZ-PLGA-Zein(20 mg or 40 mg)-NPs and CBZ-PLGA-Zein(20 mg)-Ch-NPs were successfully prepared and characterized in vitro.