Abstract

GLUTARALDEHYDE CROSS-LINKING BASED VALACYCLOVIR LOADED GELATIN NANOPARTICLES, A CONTROLLED RELEASE DELIVERY FOR ANTI-VIRAL THERAPY

Purna Chandra Pujari and Nityananda Sahoo*

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To develop gelatin based valacyclovir nanoparticles for controlled release delivery and compared the active constituent release from orally administered optimised formulation (F4) with commercially available “Valcivir” tablet in rabbit plasma with HPLC method. Method: We have synthesized valacyclovir loaded gelatin nanoparticles by two-step desolvation method using acetone as disolvating and glutaraldehyde as cross-linking agent along with a number of variables. The characteristics of nanoparticles were performed by FESEM, FTIR, Zetasizer, XRD and DSC study. In vitro dissolution study was done by Franc diffusion cell. In vivo study was carried out with rabbit using a rapid, simple and sensitive HPLC method having reverse phase C18 analytical column with PDA detector. Results: The optimised formulation (F4) showed spherical nanoparticles of 110 nm diameter with 0.046 PI. The FTIR study confirmed the absence of drug-excipients interaction. The highest entrapment efficacy of 89 % and in vitro release of valacyclovir approximately 91% at 48 hrs were found. The Tmax values of optimised formulation (F4) and Valcivir were found 5h and 2h respectively in rabbit plasma. The mean AUC0-24 of optimised formulation was found 50% higher than that of marketed drug (Valcivir). Conclusion: The study revealed that valacyclovir loaded GNPs is not only simple and cost efficient delivery but also offers a promising controlled release with anti-viral therapy through oral administration.

Keywords: Valacyclovir; Nanoparticles; Gelatin; Controlled release; in vivo study.