PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF METFORMIN LOADED STEARIC ACID COUPLED F127 NANOPARTICLES

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to prepare and evaluate metformin nanoparticles (MN) using stearic acid-coupled F127 (SAF127) copolymer and polyvinyl alcohol by emulsion solvent evaporation technique.Method: Metformin is the first-line drug for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus belongs to Biopharmaceutical Classification System Class III. The prepared MN was characterized for particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, drug entrapment, percentage yield, in vitro drug release, and stability studies. The compatibility studies were performed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The crystallographic and surface properties were studied by X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy, respectively.Results: The mean particle diameter of prepared nanoparticles ranged from 207.8 to 977.64 nm, PDI value ranged from 0.146 to 0.694, and zeta potential ranged from −20.5 to −6.97 mV. The drug entrapment efficiency of these nanoparticles varies between 18.81 to 69.01 %. The drug to SAF127 copolymer (10/30 w/w) ratio (MN3) showed optimum results. The MN3 had spherical morphology with semi-amorphous nature. The results of FTIR and DSC analysis showed that there was no significant interaction between drug and excipients. The prepared polymeric nanoparticles were stable at 5±3°C up to 3 months. In vitro release of drug from MN3 was 20.52% in the first 1 h and remaining drug was released up to 30 h.Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed the sustained drug release profile of metformin loaded SAF127 copolymer nanoparticles. These nanoparticles can be best stored up to 3 months.