Objective: Anxiety and depression are disorders which are related with reuptake of monoamine neurotransmitter serotonin. Escitalopram (ETP) which is an hydrophobic antidepressant, an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), and s-enantiomer of citalopram is exclusively used and due to its extensive hepatic metabolism, reduced drug efficacy and potential side effects, has less therapeutic index therefore, present study is focused on developing and characterizing chitosan based nanoparticles by ionic gelation method for Escitalopram oxalate (ETP).
Materials and Methods: The nanoparticles were prepared by ionic gelation method using chitosan and tripolyphosphate. The formulated nanoparticles were optimized and further characterized by various techniques like particle size, zeta potential analysis, TEM, SEM, EDX, rheological parameters and FT-IR techniques. Also, in vitro drug diffusion was studied to evaluate its pattern of drug release.
Result and Discussion: The optimized ETP loaded nanoparticles were made with chitosan: tripolyphosphate (1:1.5) ratio, showing particle size range of 60 115nm, with polydispersity index of 0.117, which was further confirmed by TEM analysis whereas; zeta potential was estimated to be -1.89mV. The SEM EDX scans showed almost smooth morphology of the same.The FT IR results confirmed that there is no interaction between the polymers and drug molecules. The in vitro drug release study using dialysis membrane showed sustained drug release pattern of ETP nanoparticles.
Conclusion: ETP loaded chitosan nanoparticles were prepared successfully from ionic gelation method, suggesting a comparatively suitable option for treatment of disease with fewer side effects and increased affinity of drug.
Key words: Neurotransmitter, General Anxiety Disorder, permeability kinetics, Polymeric nanoparticle
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