Amorphous polymeric binary blend pH-responsive nanoparticles for dissolution enhancement of antiviral drug

The aim of this study was to develop and optimize a nanoparticulate carrier based on polymeric blends of cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) to enhance dissolution profile of an antiviral drug. These nanoparticles are studied by means of X-ray powder diffraction, FTIR and DSC while the morphology evaluated using SEM analysis. Drug-loaded nanoparticles were produced in spherical shape with sizes and encapsulation efficiency ranging from 322 to 434 nm and 50% to 70% respectively. The effects of different CAB/PVP ratios, concentration of drug and emulsifier on the nanoparticle size, drug encapsulation and in vitro release were studied in detail. In vitro release along with mechanism and kinetics were studied in different pHs indicating that the release of drug from nanoparticles was pH-responsive. All the nanoparticles displayed a slowed release pattern with the reduced burst release. The mechanism and kinetics of the drug delivery system was also systematically studied using various models such as zero order, first order, Higuchi model and Korsmeyer-Peppas. The results indicate that the new CAB/PVP nanoparticles have a promising potential to serve as an antiviral controlled delivery system.