FORMULATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND EVALUATION OF SOLID LIPID NANOPARTICLES OF SELECTED ANTITUBERCULAR AGENT

The purpose of this work was to develop prolonged-release solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) of Rifampicin (RIF) for oral drug delivery and to improve the bioavailability of RIF. SLNs were designed by using Glycerol monostearate (GMS) and lipid core materials and polaxamer 188 as a stabilizer. SLNs were prepared by o/w microemulsion technique and characterized by particle size analysis, Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), drug entrapment efficiency, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Zeta potential, in-vitro evaluation studies, storage stability, membrane permeation study. At the highest speed, the resultant SLNs were smaller in size, and their size increased with an increase in lipid concentration. Nanoparticles prepared using 2.5% lipid, 1% Poloxamer 188, and 21,500 rpm show smaller particle size, better drug entrapment, excellent surface characteristic, and controlled drug release. Release from RIF-SLNs was studied using a dialysis bag method. The results of the released in-vitro study show that the dialysis membrane after 12 and after 24 h, the release pattern of drug slightly increases. The surface characters were found to be smooth with all the lipid carriers. Short term stability studies indicated no significant change when stored between 2-8 °C for 1 month.