OPTIMIZATION OF THE FORMULATION AND IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF CHLOROQUINE LOADED CHITOSAN NANOPARTICLES USING IONIC GELATION METHOD

Biodegradable nanoparticulate carriers have important potential applications for administration of therapeutic molecules. Chitosan based Nanoparticles have attracted a lot attention upon their biological properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility and bioadhesivity. The aim of the present study is to optimize the formulation and the In-vitro evaluation of Chloroquine Phosphate loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles. Chloroquine Phosphate is an anti-malarial drug. In this present study, Chloroquine loaded Chitosan–tripolyphosphate Nanoparticles were prepared by ionic gelation method in five different batches with variable drug to polymer ratios (1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:6 and1:7). The drug follows linearity in the concentration range 5-30 µg/ml with regression coefficient value of 0.994. The drug content of Nanoparticles increases on increasing the polymer concentration up to a particular level. Entrapment efficiency of 92.87% was achieved with drug to polymer ratio 1:6. In-vitro release of Chloroquine Phosphate from Chitosan Nanoparticles was 85.13% within 24 h. TEM image indicates that the nanoparticles have a discrete spherical structure and particle size was in the range nanometer. FTIR studies show the evidence of cross linking between positively charged amino group of Chitosan and negatively charged Phosphate group of TPP (TriPolyPhosphate) without any significant interaction between Chloroquine Phosphate and Chitosan Nanoparticles after encapsulation. Good stability is observed at refrigeration condition compared to other temperature conditions during eight weeks of storage.