1Faculty of Pharmacy, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Pollachi Main Road, Eachanari Post, Coimbatore-641021, Tamil Nadu, India. Email: anujaku88@gmail.com
2*Faculty of Pharmacy, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Pollachi Main Road, Eachanari Post, Coimbatore-641021, Tamil Nadu, India. Email: hemnathelango@kahedu.edu.In
Introduction: Betulinic acid (BA) exhibits broad pharmacological potential but suffers from poor solubility and bioavailability. Chitosan-based nanoparticles optimize BA delivery through enhanced formulation, characterization, and controlled drug release kinetics.
Aim: Develop a nanocarrier system with optimal particle size and high entrapment efficiency for enhanced drug delivery.
Objective: Optimising formulation parameters using Design Expert software and Central Composite Design (CCD), synthesising BA-C-NPs via ionic gelation, characterising the nanoparticles using spectroscopic, microscopic, and crystallographic techniques, and assessing in vitro drug release kinetics.
Methodology: Chitosan (0.15–0.5% w/v) and TPP (0.07–0.75% w/v) concentrations as independent variables in a CCD factorial design, with particle size and entrapment efficiency as responses. Nanoparticles were prepared by dropwise addition of TPP to chitosan-BA solution under stirring, followed by centrifugation and freeze-drying. Characterisation was performed using UV-Vis, FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM, HR-TEM, and dynamic light scattering. Entrapment efficiency was determined spectrophotometrically, and in vitro drug release was evaluated using Franz diffusion cells.
Results: TPP concentration and its interaction with chitosan significantly influenced particle size (p = 0.0155 and 0.0077), while B² affected entrapment efficiency (p = 0.0055). The optimised formulation achieved a mean particle size of 88.84 nm and entrapment efficiency of 80.8%. Characterisation confirmed successful drug encapsulation, uniform morphology, and semi-crystalline structure. In vitro studies revealed a biphasic, sustained release profile with 82.33% cumulative release at 24 hrs.
Conclusion: The optimised BA-C-NPs exhibited desirable physicochemical properties and controlled drug release, highlighting their potential as effective nanocarriers for therapeutic applications.
Keywords: Betulinic acid, Chitosan nanoparticles, Optimization, Characterization, Drug release.
How to cite this article: Anuja KU, Elango H. Optimisation, Formulation, Characterization And Drug Release Study Of Betulinic Acid Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(16s): 355-366. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.16s.37
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None