Smart pH sensitive swertiamarin loaded nanoformulation

Abstract

Nanomedicine is the latest approach utilized in the field of pharmaceutical and biomedical industries. Drug delivery system is one of its applications that involve the application of a nanocarrier to transport Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) in the human body. An API has its own advantages and limitations. To alleviate its limitations, it can either be altered chemically or be formulated using a nanocarrier. Bioactive compound is a type of biological API that is available in the form of essential oil and its delivery for therapeutic purposes is a great challenge. The current study focuses on the comparative stability, hemocompatibility and anti-cancer activity between the isolated swertiamarin and its nanoformulation. The nano-carrier for the preparation of nanoformulation was synthesized from graphene-based nanoparticles. A carbonization technique that involved melting of mannitol in a catalyst mixture comprising variable concentration of orthophosphoric acid and sodium hydroxide was performed to prepare Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles (GNPs). The Response Surface Design (RSD) revealed that pH of the reaction mixture (8.5-9.5) and reaction temperature (170°C-190°C) were significant parameters to recover gt75% of Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles (GNPs). The High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HRTEM) image demonstrated an inter-lattice constant of 0.212 nm characteristic to that of GNPs. Both, X-Ray Diffractogram (XRD) and TEM image of GNPs exhibited an average particle size of 9.21±3.46 nm. The energy dispersive X-ray (EDAX) spectrum confirmed the level of oxidation to be 39.56%. The nitrogen doping of GNPs with urea shifted one of the UV peaks from 311 nm to 275 nm and created two new peaks at 1691.4 and 1551 cm-1 .A comparative toxic effect of amine functionalized GNPs (AGNPs) and GNPs was evaluated against Artemia salina larvae and germination of cow pea seeds. GNPs and AGNPs were non-phytotoxic up to 200 and 400 mg/L, respectively and were non-larvicidal up to 300 and 400 mg/L, respectively.