Formulation and evaluation of lovastatin loaded nanosponges

Nanotechnology mediated drug delivery has been reported to enhance the drug efficacy, bioavailability, reduced toxicity and improve patient compliance by targeting the cells and tissues to elicit the desired pharmacological action. The main aim of the study was to formulate lovastatin loaded nanosponges and to evaluate them. Lovastatin loaded nanosponges were prepared by Emulsion solvent diffusion method using different polymers (Ethyl cellulose, Polyvinyl alcohol, β-cyclodextrin, Pluronic F68, Hydroxy Propyl β- cyclodextrin). The FTIR test is conducted as the preliminary test, by this test there was no interaction between the drug and polymers. Then nanosponges were evaluated for particle size, PDI, zeta potential, SEM, entrapment efficiency and invitro drug release. The particle size ranged from 295.5 to 578.8 nm, PDI ranged from 0.189 to 0.465, zeta potential from -17.3 to -35.96 mV and entrapment efficiency was ranged from 78.38 to 95.77 %. The cumulative percentage release from all nanosponges varied from 66.86 to 96.60% after 12 hours depending upon the drug and polymers ratio andF6 formulation showed highest drug release i.e., 96.60%. The release kinetic studies showed that the release first order diffusion controlled and the n value (0.6017) from the Korsmeyer-Peppa’s model indicated the release mechanism was non-fickian type.