FORMULATION AND IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF SUSTAINED RELEASE TROPICAMIDE LOADED CHITOSAN NANOPARTICLES FOR OCULAR DRUG DELIVERY

Abstract

The present research work deals with the formulation and evaluation of chitosan nanoparticles containing Tropicamide drug. The goal of present work is to enhance the residence time of drug in eye, enhancing bioavailability and reducing dosing frequency.    The nanoparticles were formulated by ionic gelation method using chitosan as polymer and sodium TPP as cross-polymer. Nanoparticles were optimized using (2²) factorial design and characterized by their particle size analysis, drug entrapment efficiency and percentage yield. In-vitro drug release studies were performed with Modified Franz Diffusion Cell. The nanoparticles formed were spherical in shape and size ranged between 402.4 nm to 604.5 nm. Drug entrapment efficiency, percentage drug release of optimized formulation was found to be 54.9% and 30.44% respectively. The drug release pattern of nanoparticles revealed its sustained release properties.   The results of present work reveal that nanoparticles are promising drug delivery for enhancing the residence time by mucoadhesion which leads to enhancement of bioavailability of the tropicamide drug.