Synthesis of Chitosan Nanoparticles for Controlled Release of Amiodarone

This work is based on a natural polymer chitosan used in a nanoparticulate drug delivery system for the controlled release of amiodarone along with beta-cyclodextrin. Amiodarone-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were prepared using the ionic gelation method aided by sonication. Amiodarone loading on chitosan nanoparticles was done under optimum conditions. For particle characterization; zeta-sizer, UV/Vis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, differential scanning calorimeter and scanning electron microscope techniques were used. In vitro drug release studies of amiodarone-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were performed using the dialysis diffusion technique. Drug loading and release values were determined using UV/Vis spectroscopy. Amiodarone encapsulated in nanoparticles was completely released at the end of 14 days. About 38 % was released at the end of day 1, 44% released at the end of day 3, 50 % released at the end of day 5 followed slow release. Amiodarone-loaded chitosan nanoparticles could serve as a model for controlled delivery of many antiarrhythmic drugs.