Fabrication and characterisation of micro- and nano- particles of drugs for pharmaceutical applications

Abstract

This project explores the anti-malarial drug named Artemisinin. Artemisinin is a highly potent cure for malaria, which is a relatively new cure, compared to other known cures like chloroquine. Artemisinin falls in class II of the Biopharmaceutics Classification which means that it has a high membrane permeability coupled with a low solubility. Having a low solubility means that most of Artemisinin, when introduced orally, do not reach the site of required action as it is unable to be dissolved easily into the blood stream.

This shortcoming of Artemisinin can be addressed as it having a low bioavailability, which is the ability of the medication to be available at the site of required action. This project attempts to develop a method of increasing the bioavailability of Artemisinin by micronization. It has been proven that the smaller the particles, the easier it is for them to dissolve. In this report, micronization of Artemisinin drug particles are achieved by a method called the spray drying method. In addition to micronization, I have included a polymer called polyethylene glycol which aids in reducing the crystallinity of Artemisinin, thereby, increasing the solubility of the drug.

In order to study the effects of micronization on the eight samples of Artemisinin and polyethylene glycol, I have to uptake certain characterization of the samples. With the intention of examining the particle morphology, I have carried out Scanning Electron Microscopy. With the purpose of examining the crystallinity of the samples, I have performed the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and the X-ray Diffraction analysis. In order to determine the heat of fusion in the samples, I have completed the Differential Scannng Calorimetry analysis. Finally, to understand the dissolution and solubility of the samples, I have carried out dissolution tests and solubility tests using the dissolution tester and the High Performance Liquid Chromatography analysis.