Abstract

DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND IN VITRO CHARACTERIZATION OF BROMHEXINE SOLID LIPID NANOPARTICLES

Dr. Ganesh N. S.*, Zahra Mafibaniasadi and Vineeth Chandy

ABSTRACT

Bromhexine is a BCS class II therapeutic agent and is used as mucolytic and expectorant in the treatment of chest congestion and cough, but it has a low oral bioavailability due to its poor aqueous solubility. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) are novel delivery techniques which have the ability to considerably enhance solubility, thus enhancing bioavailability of poorly water soluble drugs. The present work was aimed to formulate and optimize Bromhexine solid lipid nanoparticles and evaluate its in vitro characteristics and subsequently predict it’s in vivo bioavailability. Bromhexine loaded solid lipid nanoparticle were prepared by cold emulsification technique. The prepared formulation was characterized for drug polymer compatibility, drug content, scanning electron microscopy, zeta potential, percentage entrapment efficacy, in vitro dissolution study and stability study. The results obtained indicated that stearic acid concentration as a lipophilic phase has a considerable effect on the particle size and uniformity of vesicles. The optimized batch of Bromhexine SLNs F3) showed drug content and entrapment efficacy of 96.50% and 78.33% respectively. SEM images revealed the formation of uniform spherical particles. The data showed enhanced results compared to conventional forms of the drug. The prepared Bromhexine SLNs were stable for a period of 90 days with very low level of degradation. Hence, from the present study it may be concluded that Bromhexine loaded SLNs is an effective technique to enhance the bioavailibity of drug and thereby decrease dosage frequency as well.

Keywords: Bromhexine, Solid lipid nanoparticles, Solubility, Bioavailability.