FORMULATION & EVALUATION OF METHOTREXATE LOADED NANOPARTICLE

Abstract

Nanoparticles represent a particulate system, which can be produced with an established technique. Methotrexate
loaded ethyl cellulose nanoparticles was prepared using solvent evaporation method with PVA as dispersion
medium. Nine batches of nanoparticles with varying drug: polymer ratio and dispersion medium were prepared by
using 32 factorial designs. Prepared nanoparticles were evaluated with respect to particle size, drug entrapment
efficiency and in vitro release study. In-vitro release pattern of Methotrexate from Nanoparticles in the phosphate
buffer of pH 7.4, showed a biphasic pattern with an initial burst effect and prolonged release over 24hrs.
Furthermore, the excipients used in the thesis are well accepted worldwide in the pharmaceutical field. Among the
nine formulations, formulation 8 (F8) has been selected as optimized formulation as it proved to be mean particles
267 nm, entrapment efficiency 65.07 % and in-vitro release 96.97 %. Stability studies showed that similar drug
content and closest in vitro release profile to initial data when the sample stored at 250C.