Drug delivery system for controlled release of empagliflozin from alginate-chitosan nanocarrier system

A biocompatible nanocarrier system was prepared in this research through the reaction of calcium alginate (CA) with chitosan (CS). The structure of developed nanocarriers (CS-CA) was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transforms infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Swelling properties of CS-CA and CA, and their ability for loading and in vitro release of empagliflozin (EMP) were also investigated. The results showed the higher loading capacity of CS-CA compared to CA. For both nanocarriers, the drug release was higher at neutral pH (7.4 and 6.8) when compared to acidic pH (1.2). Despite the higher release of CA than CS-CA, the latter exhibited a favorable sustained drug release in all pH levels. As a result, CS-CA nanocarrier (EMP@CS-CANC) can be suggested as a new candidate for colon drug delivery of EMP.