Design fabrication and characterization of lovastatin nanoparticles by nanoprecipitation-solvent displacement method

Abstract

Nanoparticles are particles between 1 and 100 nanometers in size. In nanotechnology, a particle is defined as a small

object that behaves as a whole unit with respect to its transport and properties. Particles are further classified

according to diameter. The present study was to formulate nanoparticles containing Lovastatin prepared with Poly (D,

L Lactide-co- Glycolide) by nano-precipitation-solvent displacement method to achieve a better release profile

suitable for per oral administration with enhanced efficacy. The formulations were fabricated according to a 3² full

factorial design, allowing the simultaneous evaluation of two formulation independent variables and their interaction.

The dependent variables that were selected for study were particle size and % drug entrapment. The influence of

various formulation factors (drug: polymer ratio and concentration of surfactants) on particle size, size distribution,

zeta potential, drug loading and encapsulation efficiency were investigated. Encapsulation efficiency and drug

loading capacity were found to be increased as drug concentration increases with respect to polymer. Addition of

surfactants showed a promising result in decreasing particle size of NPs. Dissolution study revealed increased release

of SV from NPs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study revealed spherical morphology of the developed

NPs. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies confirmed phase transition behavior of NPs. They also showed

very significant change in saturation solubility in comparison with pure drug. The in vitro release data follows matrix

and first order release kinetics mechanism, good correlation coefficients (R2 ≥ 0.9915) could be obtained.