Formulation and evaluation of chitosan based polyelectrolyte complex of levodopa for nasal drug delivery

Abstract

Because chitosan is biodegradable, biocompatible, non-toxic, and mucoadhesive, it is commonly used in the formulation of nasal drug delivery nanoparticles employing polyelectrolyte complexes. However, chitosan's lower solubility in aqueous and alkaline conditions limits its use in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. This needs the development of improved chemically altered chitosan mimics that can overcome the solubility barrier. Although Levodopa is an alternative in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, it has a low oral bioavailability and very low brain absorption due to its extensive degradation by aromatic amino acid decarboxylase in the peripheral circulation. As a result, levodopa and carbidopa, a peripheral amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor, are given together. The nose to brain medication delivery of levodopa desolate via the olfactory pathway and the trigeminal neurons has been investigated in an effort to improve brain uptake and avoid degradation of levodopa in peripheral circulation and the use of carbidopa in combination. Ionic interactions mediate charged functional groups of former polysaccharides at dissimilar pH situations (pH 5, 8, 10, and 12) and identify polyelectrolyte complexes based on chitosan and pectin during physicochemical (particle size and zeta potential) and solid-state characterizations.