| Purpose of the present research work was to evaluate the effect of carrier composition and nanoparticles
surface charge on the physicochemical and antifungal properties of the Nystatin nanoparticles. For
preparation of the nanoparticles, a positively charged polymer, Eudragit RS100, and a negatively chargedPLGA
were used in different ratios. The nanoparticles were evaluated for size, zeta potential, polydispersity
index, loading efficiency, and release properties. DSC, SEM, XRPD, and FT-IR were performed to
analyze the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles. Antifungal activity of the nanoparticles was
evaluated by determination of MICs against C. albicans. All nanoparticles were spherical with mean size,
polydispersity index, zeta potential and loading efficiency in the range of 128 ± 6.5e362.9 ± 2.6 nm,
0.196 ± 7.1e0.279 ± 4.3, e0.885e(þ5.65) mV and 18.75 ± 2.4, 47.58 ± 2.1%, respectively. The results from
XRPD and DSC studies showed reduced crystallinity in the formulations. The FT-IR spectra revealed that
there was no chemical interaction between the drug and polymers. The results demonstrated that the
antifungal properties of the nanoparticles were increased with decreasing PLGA concentration. In
conclusion, the prepared Nystatin nanoparticles with appropriate physicochemical properties and
improved potency against C. albicans were formulated. This improvement could be attributed to the
modified surface characteristics as well as increased fungal drug adsorption. |