10.57647/inl.2025.1401.04

Formulation and In Vitro Evaluation of Metformin-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles Using Ionic Gelation Technique

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  • Airemwen Collins Ovenseri1,
  • Ahmad Saleh Malkawi*1,2,
  • Obarisiagbon A. Johnbull3,
  • Uhumwangho U. Michael4,
  1. Faculty of Pharmacy, Cyprus International University, Nicosia, Cyprus
  2. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isra University, Queen Alya Airport Street, Amman 11622, Jordan
  3. College of Pharmacy, Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Nigeria
  4. Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin-City, Nigeria

Received: 2025-01-02

Revised: 2025-02-25

Accepted: 2025-03-18

Published in Issue 2025-03-31

Copyright (c) 2025 Airemwen Collins Ovenseri, Ahmad Saleh Malkawi, Obarisiagbon A. Johnbull, Uhumwangho U. Michael (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Ovenseri, A. C., Malkawi, A. S., Johnbull, O. A., & Michael, U. U. (2025). Formulation and In Vitro Evaluation of Metformin-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles Using Ionic Gelation Technique. International Nano Letters, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.57647/inl.2025.1401.04
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Abstract

This study formulated and characterized metformin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) using the ionic gelation technique and evaluated their drug release kinetics. Characterization confirmed successful drug encapsulation, with FTIR indicating compatibility, XRD showing  reduced crystallinity, and particle sizes ranging from 184.28 to 246.82 nm. The NPs exhibited stable zeta potentials (+42.38 to +49.06 mV) and high entrapment efficiencies (68.42% − 81.26%). In vitro drug release studies at pH 7.4 and pH 2 demonstrated an initial burst release, followed by sustained release over 24 hours. The cumulative drug release ranged from 81.92% to 97.72% at pH 7.4 and 89.4% to 98.1% at pH 2, with a faster release at pH 2. Drug release kinetics followed First-order for MN1, while MN2 and MN3 best fitted the  Higuchi model, indicating diffusion-controlled release through the chitosan polymeric network. These findings highlight the potential
of metformin-loaded chitosan NPs for sustained drug delivery, which may enhance patient compliance by reducing dosing frequency. Future studies should further explore their clinical applications.

Keywords

  • Metformin,
  • Chitosan nanoparticles,
  • Ionic gelation,
  • Drug release kinetics,
  • Controlled drug delivery
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