NANOPARTICLE PREPARATION OF SNAKEHEAD FISH EXTRACT (CHANNA STRIATA) BY IONIC GELATION METHOD USING SODIUM ALGINATE AS POLYMER

Objective: The extract from the snakehead fish (Channa striata) is a rich source of albumin, a protein recognized for its wound healing properties. In this study, we developed albumin-loaded nanoparticles using sodium alginate as the polymer matrix. We also examined how varying sonication durations affected the characteristics of the nanoparticles. Methods: Nanoparticles were prepared using ionic gelation using 0.1% sodium alginate and 0.01% calcium chloride (CaCl₂) as a cross-linker, stirred for 2 h at 1500 rpm, and sonicated for 1 h (Formula 1) or 2 h (Formula 2) using 45Hz frequency. After freeze-drying, characterization included visual appearance, %transmittance, particle size, and polydispersity index. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and entrapment efficiency tests further evaluated the optimal formula. Results: There were notable differences in the characteristics of the nanoparticles between F1 and F2. F1 exhibited an average transmittance of 93.22%, a particle size of 606.43 nm, and a polydispersity index of 0.563. In contrast, F2 demonstrated a higher transmittance of 99.41%, a smaller particle size of 483.26 nm, and a slightly lower polydispersity index of 0.558. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference (p