In-vitro drug release and kinetics of Chitosan NPs in 0.1 N HCl media

The in vitro drug release study of the DTG-loaded Chitosan NPs was compared with the pure DTG in 0.1 N HCl pH 1.2 by dialysis bag method (Dialysis membrane Himedia, cut-off value—12–14 kDa). About 10 mg of pure drug and a similar dose equivalent amount of nanoparticles were taken for the drug release experiments. The test samples were mixed with 0.5 mL of the corresponding media, placed inside the dialysis bag, and immersed in 10 mL media in a vial. The temperature and magnetic stirring speed of the sample were retained at 37 °C ± 2 °C and 200 rpm, respectively throughout the 24 h study period. At every predetermined time point, the 10 mL samples were collected and immediately replaced with the fresh corresponding medium. The concentration of the drug in each sample was quantified by a UV–Visible spectrophotometer. The UV visible spectrophotometer (UV 1800, Shimadzu, Japan) was initialized with λmax of 260 nm. The absorbance of the test solution was recorded using the quartz cuvette (volume-3.5 mL, path length-1.5 cm) and the calculations were made based on the standard calibration curve by following the Beer Lamberts law. The obtained release data were fitted into the various drug release kinetics namely zero order, first order, Higuchi, Hixson–Crowell, Korsmeyer–Peppas, Makoid Banakar, Gompertz, Hopfenberg, and Baker Lonsdale. The R² value and the n-value obtained from these models were compared to conclude the perfect fitting model for each trial. The drug release modelling was analysed using DD solver Software³⁶.