Preparation, characterization, and in vitro release study of albendazole-encapsulated nanosize liposomes

Original Research

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Authors: Preety Panwar, Bhumika Pandey, P C Lakhera, et al

Published Date February 2010 Volume 2010:5 Pages 101 - 108

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S8030

Preety Panwar¹, Bhumika Pandey¹, P C Lakhera², K P Singh¹

¹Biophysics and Nanotechnology Research Laboratory, CBSH, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India; ²Department of Biotechnology, H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract: The purpose of the present study was to formulate effective and controlled release albendazole liposomal formulations. Albendazole, a hydrophobic drug used for the treatment of hydatid cysts, was encapsulated in nanosize liposomes. Rapid evaporation method was used for the preparation of albendazole-encapsulated conventional and PEGylated liposomes consisting of egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) and cholesterol (CH) in the molar ratios of (6:4) and PC:CH:polyethylene glycol (PEG) (5:4:1), respectively. In this study, PEGylated and conventional liposomes containing albendazole were prepared and their characteristics, such as particle size, encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro drug release were investigated. The drug encapsulation efficiency of PEGylated and conventional liposomes was 81% and 72%, respectively. The biophysical characterization of both conventional and PEG-coated liposomes were done by transmission electron microscopy and UV-vis spectrophotometry. Efforts were made to study in vitro release of albendazole. The drug release rate showed decrease in albendazole release in descending order: free albendazole, albendazole-loaded conventional liposomes, and least with albendazole-loaded PEG-liposomes. Biologically relevant vesicles were prepared and in vitro release of liposome-entrapped albendazole was determined.

Keywords: albendazole, PEGylated, in vitro release, liposomes, nanosize