Project Abstract

<p> Metformin loaded silver nanoparticles were synthesized using ecofriendly method with<br>extract of Azadiractha indica as reducing agent and two natural polymers; guar gum and<br>xanthan gum, Sodium alginate, and a semi- synthetic polymer (AMS) as stabilizing agents.<br>Twelve batches of nanoparticles were synthesized. Nanocomposites synthesized from AMS<br>were designated as AMS 1% NANOmet, AMS3% NANOmet and AMS5% NANOmet. Guar<br>gum stabilized nanoparticles were designated as GG1% NANOmet, GG3% NANOmet and<br>GG5% NANOmet while Xanthan gum nanocomposites were coded as XG1% NANOmet,<br>XG3% NANOmet and XG5% NANOmet respectively. Sodium alginate stabilized<br>nanocomposites were designated as NaALG1% NANOmet, NaALG3% NANOmet and<br>NaALG5% NANOmet respectively. The percentage yield of nanocomposites was high with<br>values ranging from 80 % to 99.87 %. The entrapment efficiencies of the samples ranged<br>from 63.06 % to 80.22 % while the loading capacities were in the range of 7.24 % to 24.10<br>%. Differential scanning calorimetry showed there was no interaction between the polymers<br>and metformin. Characterization of the metformin nanocomposites using UV- vis<br>spectroscopy, zeta sizer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and polydispersity were<br>performed. The UV-vis spectroscopy showed surface plasmon resonance of 371nm for all the<br>nanocomposites except XG5%NANOmet which had SPR of 335nm. The mean particle size<br>of GG1%NANOmet was ideal with a value of 188.7nm followed by AMS1%NANOmet<br>(386.7 nm). All the batches showed extended and sustained release profile with initial burst<br>effect at the first 30 min of release studies. Release of metformin in SIF was predominantly<br>higher than in SGF. The kinetics of release was mainly zero order for all the nanocomposites<br>with the exception of NaALG5% NANOmet which released the drug by higuchi kinetics.<br>Antimicrobial property of the optimized nanocomposites were similar (P&gt;0.05). Generally,<br>MIC values of the samples against the microorganisms tested ranged from 2500- 5000μg/ml.<br>16<br>In vivo anti hyperglycemic property of the optimized metformin nanocomposite using<br>glucose hyperload model results showed GG5%NANOmet as the optimum batch. At equal<br>doses it produced sustained and consistent significant (p&lt;0.001) decrease in elevated blood<br>glucose level in glucose loaded hyperglycemic rats when compared with metformin and other<br>nanocomposites treated groups. <br></p>

Project Overview

<p> 1.0. INTRODUCTION<br>In recent years, there has been an exponential interest in the development of novel<br>drug delivery systems using nanoparticles [1]. The transition from microparticles to<br>nanoparticles has led to a number of changes in physical properties of materials [2]. Two of the<br>major factors in this are the increase in the ratio of surface area to volume, and the size of the<br>particle moving into the realm quantum effects predominate. The increase in the surface-area-tovolume<br>ratio, which is a gradual progression as the particle gets smaller, leads to an increasing<br>dominance of the behaviour of atoms on the surface of the particle over that of those in the<br>interior of the particle. This affects both the properties of the particle in isolation and its<br>interaction with other material. [2]<br>There have been tremendous developments in the field of Nanotechnology in recent<br>time with various technologies formulated to synthesize nanoparticles with specific<br>characteristics on morphology and distribution [3]. Although, there are several methods for<br>the synthesis of nanoparticles, they are very expensive and involve the use of toxic and<br>hazardous chemicals which cause danger to humans and the environment [4]. To overcome<br>these challenges, the eco-friendly synthesis of nanoparticles using environmentally benign<br>materials like Plants [5], microorganisms [4,5], seaweed [6] and enzymes [7] were employed.<br>It is a single step and offers several advantages such as time reducing, cost effective and Nontoxic.<br>Nanocrystalline silver is a known Noble metal and they have tremendous applications<br>in the field of Detection, Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Antimicrobial activity [8].<br>In general, nanoparticles offer significant advantages over the conventional drug delivery in<br>terms of high stability, high specificity, high drug carrying capacity, ability for controlled<br>release, possibility to use in different route of administration and the capability to deliver<br>both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drug molecules. <br></p>