Preparation and evaluation of the effect of particle size on the properties of chitosan-montmorillonite nanoparticles loaded with isoniazid

In this report, efforts have been made to develop isoniazid loaded chitosan-montmorillonite nanoparticles by ionic gelation of chitosan with pentasodium tripolyphosphate. The nanoparticles have been characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM and TEM. The effect of surfactant and particle size on chitosan nanoparticles have been assessed with regard to swelling, encapsulation efficiency and release of isoniazid in different mediums. Swelling experiments provide important information on drug diffusion properties, which indicates that the chitosan nanoparticles are highly sensitive to the pH environment. The drug release mechanism has been studied during different time periods using a UV-visible spectrophotometer. Cytotoxicity has been assessed by MTT assay analysis. Mucoadhesion properties have been appraised by an in vitro wash off test and an ex vivo mucoadhesion test. The results imply that chitosan-montmorillonite nanoparticles can be exploited as potential drug carriers for controlled-release applications.