Human Serum Albumin Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Optimization and Immobilization with Antituberculosis Drugs

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health challenge, necessitating innovative drug delivery systems.
• Effective drug carriers are crucial for improving the efficacy and reducing the side effects of anti-TB medications like rifampicin and isoniazid.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize human serum albumin (HSA) nanoparticles loaded with rifampicin and isoniazid.
• To optimize nanoparticle formulation using Central Composite Design (CCD) for improved particle size, polydispersity, and drug loading.
• To evaluate drug-polymer interactions and in vitro drug release profiles.

Main Methods:

• Nanoparticle synthesis via the desolvation method using HSA.
• Central Composite Design (CCD) for optimizing formulation parameters (albumin, urea, L-cysteine, drug concentrations).
• Characterization using particle size analysis, polydispersity index, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).
• In vitro drug release studies using dialysis membranes.

Main Results:

• Optimized nanoparticles exhibited a spherical morphology with an average particle size of 216.7 ± 3.7 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.286 ± 4.9.
• Achieved drug loading degrees of 44% for rifampicin and 27% for isoniazid.
• FTIR, TGA, and DSC analyses confirmed the absence of significant drug-polymer interactions, suggesting physical encapsulation.
• In vitro release studies demonstrated drug release from the nanoparticle matrix.

Conclusions:

• Human serum albumin nanoparticles effectively encapsulate anti-TB drugs rifampicin and isoniazid.
• The desolvation method combined with CCD provides a robust approach for optimizing nanoparticle formulation.
• The characterized nanoparticles, free from drug-polymer interactions, show promise as a drug delivery system for tuberculosis treatment.