Key words: supercritical drying, aerogel, chitosan, protein, pharmaceutical compositions, drug delivery systems
Protein (egg white) and chitosan aerogel microparticles characterized by low density, developed morphology and high specific surface area, high porosity, large volume and small pore diameter, were obtained. Using the laser diffraction method, particle size distribution curves were obtained, from which the average number and aerodynamic diameters were calculated. The aerodynamic diameter of all obtained biopolymer aerogels lies in the range required for targeted delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to the olfactory region of the nasal cavity. Experimental studies have been carried out on the introduction of API «melatonin» into the pores of biopolymer aerogels at the stages of solvent replacement and supercritical adsorption. Mass fractions of API in the resulting pharmaceutical compositions «biopolymer aerogel — API» were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. X-ray powder diffraction showed that API in pharmaceutical compositions is present mainly in the amorphous state. The results of in vivo experimental studies showed that in the case of intranasal administration of both «biopolymer aerogel — API» compositions, the maximum concentration of API in brainтtissues is reached after 30 minutes. This proves that the resulting biopolymer aerogels based on protein (egg white) and chitosan are promising for use as API carrier matrices in the development of nasal drug delivery systems.
doi:10.34984/SCFTP.2023.18.1.001