ANALYSIS OF QUERCETIN DELIVERY WITH CHITOSAN-PVA CROSSLINKED NANOPARTICLES; IN VITRO

Abstract

Chitosan is a natural polymer widely used in drug delivery and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a synthetic polymer which has the excellent film-forming ability along with non-toxic nature. The present work based on to prepare chitosan-PVA nanoparticles using glutaraldehyde cross-linker for delivering quercetin as well as characterization and evaluation their efficiency in vitro system. Chitosan-PVA polymers were blended in the ratio of (1:0), (1:1), (1:2) and (2:1) with a specific amount of quercetin as well as glutaraldehyde for crosslinking. Morphology of the nanoparticles was analyzed by FE-SEM. Encapsulation efficiency and swelling behaviour were analyzed to perform further examination. In vitro release study showed that the nanoparticles were efficient in retaining a good amount of quercetin in simulated intestinal condition. In-vitro quercetin release analysis at pH of 7.4 (corresponding to simulated GI tract) was examined in which the equivalent amount of copolymers gives optimal release profile. Thus chitosan- PVA nanoparticles show positive results as potential quercetin carrier.