The aim of present study was to formulate and evaluate nanoparticles of acyclovir by using different hydrophilic polymers. Acyclovir was selected as a suitable drug for gastro-retentive nanoparticles due to its short half life, low bioavailability, high frequency of administration, and narrow absorption window in stomach and upper part of GIT. The nano-precipitation method was used to prepare nanoparticles so as to avoid both chlorinated solvents and surfactants to prevent their toxic effect on the body. Nanoparticles of acyclovir were prepared by using hydrophilic polymers such as bovine serum albumin, chitosan, and gelatin. The prepared formulations were then characterized for particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, loading efficiency, encapsulation efficiency and drug-excipient compatibility. The prepared nanoparticulate formulations of acyclovir with different polymers in 1:1 ratio have shown particle size in the range of 250.12-743.07 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) in the range of 0.681-1.0, zeta potential in the range of -14.2 to +33.2 mV, loading efficiency in the range of 8.74-17.54%, and entrapment efficiency in the range of 55.7%-74.2%. Nanoparticulate formulation prepared with chitosan in 1:1 ratio showed satisfactory results i.e. average particle size 312.04 nm, polydispersity index 0.681, zeta potential 33.2 mV, loading efficiency 17.54%, and entrapment efficiency 73.4%. FTIR study concluded that no major interaction occurred between the drug and polymers used in the present study.

The objective of this study was the selection of the most influential variable for the preparation of gastroretentive mucoadhesive nanoparticles of acyclovir. Nanoparticles were prepared by one-step desolvation method; effect of formulation and processing variables on various response variables were studied by a Taguchi standard orthogonal array L8 design. Independent variables studied were the amount of gelatin, amount of glutaraldehyde, amount of Pluronic F-68, acetone addition rate, pH, stirring time, and stirring speed. The dependent variables studied were the particle size, polydispersity index, amount of drug released in 6 h, time required to release 60% of drug, entrapment efficiency, loading efficiency, and mucoadhesiveness. The size of all nanoparticulate formulations prepared as per the experimental design (Taguchi screening design) varied between 165 and 1610 nm, PDI between 0.360 and 1.00, bioadhesiveness between 3.959 and 11.02 g, cumulative percent drug release in 24 h between 40.74 and 72.48, entrapment efficiency between 15.70 and 83.12, and loading efficiency between 39.72 and 80.49. Pareto ranking analyses showed that the two most important factors affecting the selected responses were amount of gelatin and amount of Pluronic F-68 (P<0.05).

The aim of our study was to improve the bioavailability of acyclovir (ACV) by delivery of mucoadhesive nanoparticles (NPs) and controlled delivery of drug at its absorption window. Central composite design was used by which the effects of independent variables (gelatin and Pluronic F-68) on various responses such as particle size, polydispersity index, entrapment efficiency, loading efficiency, drug release and mucoadhesive strength were studied. The optimised formulation was evaluated for morphology, stability, pharmacokinetic and gastrointestinal tracking. The optimised NPs were found to be nearly spherical. Changes in characteristics of NPs were not significant after six months of accelerated stability studies. In vivo mucoadhesion study showed significant retention of mucoadhesive NPs in upper gastro-intestinal tract for more than 12 h. Pharmacokinetic study in rats revealed that mucoadhesive NPs could maintain relatively steady plasma concentration of ACV for more than 10 h. The AUC0-∞ and mean residence time of optimised formulation (7527.9 ng h/mL and 12.09 h) were significantly high than tablet dispersion (3841.13 ng h/mL and 7.97 h).

The objective of this study was selection of most influential variable for the preparation of gastro adhesive nanoparticles of acyclovir. Effect of formulation and processing variables on various response variables were studied by a Taguchi standard orthogonal array L8 design. Independent variables studied were the amount of gelatin, amount of glutaraldehyde, amount of Pluronic F-68, acetone addition rate, pH, stirring time and stirring speed. The size of all nanoparticulate formulations prepared as per the experimental design (Taguchi screening design) varied between 165 and 1610 nm, PDI between 0.360 and 1.00, Q6 between 7.31-34.93%, T60% between 19.2-37.6 h, entrapment efficiency between 15.70 and 83.12%, loading efficiency between 39.72 and 80.49% and mucoadhesive strength between 3.959-11.02 g. Pareto ranking analyses showed that the two most important factors affecting the selected responses were amount of gelatin and amount of Pluronic F-68 (p < 0.05).