Development and evaluation of brain targeted intranasal alginate nanoparticles for treatment of depression

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the potential of Venlafaxine loaded alginate nanoparticles (VLF AG-NPs) for treatment of depression via intranasal (i.n.) nose to brain delivery route. The VLF AG-NPs were prepared and optimized on the basis of various physio-chemical characteristics. Pharmacodynamic studies of the VLF AG-NPs for antidepressant activity were carried in-vivo by forced swimming test and locomotor activity test on albino Wistar rats. VLF AG-NPsi.n. treatment significantly improved the behavioural analysis parameters i.e. swimming, climbing, and immobility in comparison to the VLF solutioni.n. and VLF tabletoral. The intranasal VLF AG-NPs also improved locomotor activity when compared with VLF solutioni.n. and VLF tabletoral. Confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy studies were performed on isolated organs of rats after intravenous and intranasal administrations of Rodamine-123 loaded alginate nanoparticles to determine its efficacy for nose to brain delivery and also for its qualitative distribution to other organs. Brain uptake and pharmacokinetic studies were performed by determination of VLF concentration in blood and brain respectively for VLF AG-NPsi.n., VLF solutioni.n. and VLF solutioni.v. The greater brain/blood ratios for VLF AG-NPsi.n. in comparison to VLF solutioni.n. and VLF solutioni.v. respectively at 30 min are indicative of superiority of alginate nanoparticles for direct nose to brain transport of VLF. Thus, VLF AG-NPsi.n. delivered greater VLF to the brain in comparison to VLF solution which indicates that VLF AG-NPs could be a promising approach for the treatment of depression.