From these
results it was conclude that to sustain highly water soluble drug higher molecular weight intermediate ethoxyl content (48–49.5%) ethylcellulose polymer was more suitable. All authors have none to declare. Authors gratefully acknowledge the support of Department of Science and Technology, Nanomission (SR/NM/NS-101/2008), New Delhi for providing financial assistance. We also thankful to Aarti Drugs Pvt. Ltd. and Colorcorn Asia Pvt. Ltd. for providing Metformin hydrochloride and ethylcellulose respectively as gift samples. “
“Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disorder that involves a huge number of pathophysiologic mechanism, including insulin resistance, decreased insulin secretion, and excess glucose production by liver among others.1 An oral hypoglycemic agent Repaglinide (REPA) is the first member of meglitinide class used in type 2 diabetes mellitus acts by binding to specific site on pancreatic β-cell buy Paclitaxel and block ATP-dependent potassium channels to stimulate insulin release.2 Due to its short half-life (<1 h) required frequent dosing before meal and this may cause side effects
like headache, skeletal muscle pain and gastrointestinal effects.3 To enhance the bioavailability and decrease the side effects of REPA, a sustained release new drug delivery system is necessitate. Solvent evaporation, solvent diffusion, solvent extraction or any modification in the basic principle of emulsification technique produces the drug loaded controlled release nanoparticles of desired properties.4 Ethylcellulose Cytoskeletal Signaling inhibitor (EC) is a non-biodegradable and biocompatible polymer which is extensively studied as encapsulating material for the controlled release of pharmaceuticals.5 and 6 A comparative study by Ubrich et al concludes that EC was efficiently sustained drug for maximum time than other polymers like PLGA and polycaprolactone.7 Therefore we selected EC as polymeric material for the preparation of repaglinide loaded ethylcellulose nanoparticles (REPA-EC
NPs). The aim of present study was to formulate REPA-EC NPs by solvent diffusion technique and characterize it. The characterization includes particle size and zeta potential determination, encapsulation efficiency, drug content, surface Endonuclease morphology, drug–polymer interaction study by FTIR, comparative XRD, in vitro dissolution study and drug release kinetics determination by different models. Repaglinide (REPA) was kind gift from Wockhardt Research Centre (Aurangabad, India). Ethylcellulose (300 cps viscosity grade) procured from Sigma–Aldrich USA. Ethyl acetate was purchased from Merck (Mumbai, India). Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA, MW Approx. 1,25,000) from SD Fine Chem Ltd. (Mumbai, India). The experimental work was performed by using triple distilled water filtered with 0.22 μ membrane filter. REPA-EC NPs were prepared by emulsion solvent diffusion technique.