Nanoencapsulation of nsaids naproxen and ibuprofen

Abstract

Naproxen and Ibuprofen, two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are frequently prescribed in modern medicine. In this study, nanoencapsulation by solvent evaporation technique is used to formulate Naproxen and Ibuprofen loaded poly(DL-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) nanospheres by means of Tween 80 and Span 80 as surfactant and cosurfactant respectively. Different formulations are prepared with different drug masses and same quantities of polymer and surfactants. This was done in order to evaluate the effect of the mass variation of the two drugs on the characteristics of the prepared nanospheres. The prepared nanospheres are studied for drug entrapment and drug loading efficiencies, particle size, morphology, FT-IR analysis and in vitro release. As a result, all nanospheres presented a spherical profile and homogeneous size distribution. Naproxen revealed the highest drug entrapment efficiency. FT-IR analysis showed no interaction for both drugs with the polymer. In vitro release of drugs from encapsulated PLC nanospheres showed that Ibuprofen release was faster than Naproxen release. Also the in vitro release was faster for formulations having the lowest amount of drug loaded.