An investigation of propranolol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles for transmucosal delivery: Physical characterization

Abstract

Keywords: Nanoparticles; Response surface method; Propranolol; Chitosan; Physical characterization

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to develop the propranolol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles for transmucosal delivery and investigate the effect of molecular weight of chitosan and concentrations of propranolol on physical properties, i.e. pH, zeta potential and particle size of nanoparticles using the Design Expert^®.

Methods: The investigated nanoparticles composed of tripolyphosphate (0.1 %w/v), various molecular weights of chitosan solution (0.2% w/v) (at 20, 35, 45 kDa), and various concentrations of propranolol at 10, 20 and 30 mg/mL were prepared and characterized for pH, zeta potential and particle size. The data obtained were analyzed using conventional comparative and response surface method.

Results: The results indicated that the response surface method showed the relationship between the formulation factors and the physical properties of nanoparticles was more markedly than the conventional comparative method. Using the response surface, the physical properties of other nanoparticles over the model formulations can be predicted. Whiles the conventional comparative method can be explained only the physical properties of model formulations. The formulation factors with a significant influence on pH, zeta potential and particle size were the molecular weight of chitosan (X₁) and concentrations of propranolol (X₂). The X₁ supported a positive influence on pH and particle size, whiles X₂ supported a positive influence on particle size. The linear correlation coefficient results for pH and zeta potential were relatively high (0.7–0.9) indicating the reliability of the response surface. Moreover, the vertical spread of the internally studentized residuals was not out of the line from bottom-to-top, indicating all points fall within the limits (at 95% confidence level)

Conclusion: The formulation factors i.e. the molecular weight of chitosan and the concentrations of propranolol significantly affected the physical properties, i.e. pH, zeta potential and particle size of the nanoparticles. Using the response surface method, the relationship between the formulation factors and the physical properties was clearly understood. In this study, we were successful in showing the feasibility of the development of transmucosal delivery of propranolol using nanoparticles. Further study is required to confirm the potential of nanoparticels by in vitro and in vivo drug penetration study.