In-vitro Characterization of Chitosan Nanoparticles of Fluconazole as a Carrier for Sustained Ocular Delivery

The aim of the present study is to develop and formulate a nanoparticulate carrier for sustained and ocular delivery of Fluconazole and to study its in-vitro release characters. Chitosan nanoparticles of Fluconazole were formulated by spontaneous emulsification and cross-linking method. The mean particle size, drug loading capacity, invitro release profile and release kinetics were studied. The antifungal efficacies of nanospheres were compared with conventional eye drops by cup-plate method. The average particle size was found to be 152.85±13.7nm. The drug loading capacity of all drug loaded nanoparticles was found to be optimum (≤50%). The in-vitro release study revealed the zero order kinetics and Higuchi's diffusion mechanism. The drug bound nanoparticles exhibited good in-vitro antifungal effect in comparison with conventional eye drops. The formulated nanoparticles were found to be a suitable carrier for sustained ocular delivery of Fluconazole in terms of optimum drug loading, sustained release characters and antifungal activity. Keywords: Chitosan, fluconazole, nanoparticles, ocular, sustained release.