Synthesis and Optimization of Sodium Alginate-Tween 80 nanocarrier for Berberine delivery

The present study focuses at the synthesis of berberine loaded sodium alginate nanoparticles using tween 80 (BSAT) as a surfactant. Berberine has poor solubility and bioavailability because of its hydrophobic nature, hence modified ionic complexation method was applied to enhance its efficacy. The synthesized nanoformulation was optimized by using Central Composite Design. The BSAT nanoparticles were experimentally characterized for particle size distribution, morphology of nanoparticles and drug encapsulation potential. It was experimentally found that BSAT nanoparticles possessed size within the limits of 50-100 nm with good encapsulation efficiency of 96.00 %. Moreover, sodium alginate at 0.05 %, w/v and tween 80 at 1 %, v/v was capable to produce isolated and free flowing nanoparticles. The nanoparticles of BSAT showed enhanced antimicrobial activity compared to pure berberine by agar well diffusion method against Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis. The current investigation points that sodium alginate-tween 80 nanocarrier can prove to be a promising nanocarrier for hydrophobic drugs