Chitosan Based Particulate Carrier of Diterpene Lacton of Sambiloto Prepared by Ionic Gelation-Spray Drying : Effect of Stirring Rate and Nozzle Diameter

Chitosan, a catonic polysaccharide has many advantages as carrier for drug delivery system such as biocompatble, biodegradable and non toxic.Chitosan has amino group that could be crosslinked with polianion such as tripolyphosphate so that the actve ingredient will be entrapped (Agnihotri, 2004, Sinha, 2004). Diterpene lactone fracton of sambiloto (Andrographis paniculata) has antmalarial actvity but it has low solubility in water. Entrapped diterpene lactone into chitosan matrix could improve the bioavailability of the actve substance. The aim of this research is to investgate the effect of process parameter of chitosan carrier preparaton : strring rate (500 rpm and 1000 rpm) during ionic gelaton and nozzle diameter (0.5 mm and 1.0 mm) of spray dryer on physical characteristcs of diterpene lactone fracton-chitosan partcles. Evaluaton of morphology, thermal analysis and drug entrapment were conducte