Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Formulation and characterization of artemether-loaded sodium alginate microcapsules

Petra O Nnamani¹, Adaeze C Echezona¹ , Obialunamma C Metu¹, Simeon U Onoja², John-Dike N Ogbonna¹, Paul A Akpa¹, Godswill C Onunkwo³, Ifeanyi T Nzekwe⁴, Anthony A Attama¹

¹Drug Delivery and Nanomedicines Research Group, Department of Pharmaceutics; ²Department of Home Science, Nutrition and Dietetics; ³Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; ⁴Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.

For correspondence:- Adaeze Echezona Email: adaeze.echezona@unn.edu.ng Tel:+2348067281663

Accepted: 24 June 2020 Published: 31 July 2020

Citation: Nnamani PO, Echezona AC, Metu OC, Onoja SU, Ogbonna JN, Akpa PA, et al. Formulation and characterization of artemether-loaded sodium alginate microcapsules. Trop J Pharm Res 2020; 19(7):1341-1349 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v19i7.1

© 2020 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To increase the solubility of artemether (ART) in Transcutol® HP through microencapsulation in sodium alginate polymer to achieve sustained in vivo release.

Method: Graded concentrations of ART (0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00 g) microcapsules were produced using Tween® 80 by the cold homogenization method at 24 x 1000 rpm for 15 min. Characterization based on yield, encapsulation efficiency (EE), particle size, pH stability, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and in vivo release using Peter’s four-day suppressive protocol in Wistar mice infected with Plasmodium berghei, were determined.

Results: The results obtained indicate that 0.5 g ART-loaded microcapsules (AMC) showed the highest yield of 96.85 %. The EE of 88.3 % corresponded to 0.75 g ART-loaded microcapsules. DSC results revealed that there was a significant reduction in enthalpy in all the formulations compared to the crystalline drug, but no strong bond interaction occurred except for the blank microcapsules. The AMC1.0 showed high dose-dependent plasmodial growth inhibition of 88.75 % while AMC0.25 had the least (68.13 %).

Conclusion: The artemether microcapsules showed sustained release characteristics for oral delivery of artemether and therefore may reduce some of the adverse effects associated with high dose artemether therapy in conventional oral tablets

Keywords: Malaria, Artemether, Transcutol® HP, Sustained-release, RBC count, Antiplasmodial activity