Acta Pharm.
56 (2006) 417-429
Original research paper
Preparation and in-vitro characterization
of slow release testosterone nanocapsules in
alginates
BENOY
BRATA BHOWMIK1, BISWANATH SA2 and ARUP MUKHERJEE1*
amct@caluniv.ac.in, hdct1@yahoo.co.in
1 Division
of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Chemical Technology, University of
Calcutta, 92, A.P.C. Road, Kolkata-700009, India
2 Division of Pharmaceutics, Department of Pharmaceutical
Technology,
Accepted
Slow release
testosterone-loaded nanocapsules in alginate,
biodegradable hydropolymer, were prepared by in
situ nanoemulsion-polymer crosslinking
approach. Different formulations varying in the drug loading solvent phase were
prepared. Four different drug-loading solvents were assayed and the food grade
hexane provided nanocapsules testosterone load of
30%. Testosterone loading was confirmed by FT-IR, DSC and quantitated
by HPLC. Prepared nanocapsules appeared spherical
with a dense drug core in transmission electron microscopy studies.
Hydrodynamic diameter of nanocapsules was 34.5 ± 1.7 nm, with a Gaussian distribution and the zeta potential –5.0 meV. Sustained diffusive drug release was observed in vitro,
following zero order kinetics releasing the drug
payload over a period of 48 hours. Embedding testosterone in alginate provided
sustained release. Different drug loading solvents have distinct influence on
drug loading and nanocapsules size distribution. The nanocapsulation technique developed can be a good choice
for the development of different sustained steroid hormonal drug carriers.