DESIGN, OPTIMIZATION and CHARACTERIZATION of NOVEL ATORVASTATIN- ALGINATE NANOGEL USING 32 CENTRAL COMPOSITE FACTORIAL DESIGN

Atorvastatin is a USFDA approved anti hyperlipidemic drug. It is highly lipophilic, used in treatment of decreasing the elevated lipid levels in blood. In conventional dosage form, it is unable to decrease the hyperlipidemia to significant extent. Orally administered atorvastatin-loaded nanogels are better in treatment of hyperlipidemia. Nanogels are nano-sized 3D-hydrogel structures, formed by cross-linking of polymer network with a high ability to hold water. Hyperlipidemia is defined as disorder with excess levels of lipids, triglycerides and cholesterol. This study is intended to design as well as evaluate new drug release system of atorvastatin nanogel. Atorvastatin-loaded alginate nanoparticles had been prepared with the aid of the ionic gelation technique and the prepared nanoparticles have been transformed into nanogel. Optimized formulations were evaluated for parameters like drug entrapment efficiency, swelling ratio, invitro release of drug and hemolytic action. The invitro release of drug from the atorvastatin nanogel had shown the sustained release pattern. The optimized formulation had shown higher drug entrapment efficiency. The hemolytic activity confirmed that there is no toxicity in the prepared formulation. These results suggest the potential use of orally given atorvastatin nanogel as a powerful and secure drug delivery system.