Abstract

Shravan L. Nargund*, C. S. R. Lakshmi, Amit Kumar Das, Shachindra L. Nargund

ABSTRACT

In the present study, 5-fluorouracil-loaded-Chitosan nanoparticles are prepared by ionic gelation method. The experimental design is done by COST (changing one variable at one time) method. The concentration of chitosan is varied from 2 to 14mg/ml which is dissolved in a range of acetic acid(1-7%) and sodium tripolyphosphate concentration used as a crosslinker is varied from 2 to 14mg/ml. The drug 5 Fluorouracil (5-FU) is dissolved in the double distilled water. First sodium tripolyphosphate and Drug solution is prepared and added to chitosan solution drop by drop under magnetic stirrer at 500rpm. Nanoparticles were formed by the result of electrostatic interactions between amines of chitosan and phosphates of sodium tripolyphosphate. The particle size, zeta potential, surface morphology and polydispersity index of the 5-FU loaded chitosan nanoparticles were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR). The percentage of drug encapsulation efficiency and in-vitro drug release of the 5-FU loaded chitosan nanoparticles was investigated by UV Spectroscopy. The drug loaded chitosan nanoparticles are spherical in shape with a size distribution range of 100 to 150 nm in diameter. The zeta potential of the chitosan nanoparticles was in the range of 5 to 15 mV, The drug encapsulation efficiency of 5-FU loaded chitosan nanoparticles was 27.05?3.2%.