Formulation and Evaluation of Cilnidipine Loaded Nanoparticles for Enhanced Solubility

Introduction: Poorly water-soluble drugs present challenges in development of formulation using conventional methods and are resulting in poor drug performance. Formulating these molecules into nanoparticles based drug delivery, enhances the drug solubility and efficacy. Objectives: The objective of this study is to prepare and evaluate cilnidipine loaded nanoparticles to improve the solubility. Materials and Methods: Nanoparticles loaded with cilnidipine was prepared by solvent evaporation method and characterized for particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, drug content, entrapment efficiency, morphological characteristics, in vitro drug release and stability studies. Results: The particle size of cilnidipine loaded polymeric nanoparticle was found to be in nanometer range and zeta potential was in negative value indicates that preventing aggregation and improves stability and shelf life. Drug entrapment efficiency was within prescribed range and the drug release studies indicate that the drug release increases when the polymer concentration decreases and possibility of releasing the drug for longer period of time. The correlation coefficient value of Higuchi’s model was near one which indicates that the nanoparticles follow diffusion rate-controlled mechanism with non-fickian diffusion. Conclusion: The characteristics studies show that cilnidipine nanoparticle can improve the solubility and dissolution rate and also prolong the drug release, thereby increasing the therapeutic activity.