Suppression of agglomeration of ciprofloxacin-loaded human serum albumin nanoparticles.

The present study is aimed at developing and exploring the use of pectin in suppression of agglomeration of ciprofloxacin-loaded human serum albumin (HSA) nanoparticles. The HSA-pectin nanoparticles loaded with ciprofloxacin were prepared by the pH-coacervation method, and various physicochemical parameters such as particle size, morphology, zeta-potential, electrolyte-induced flocculation, pH-dependent zeta-potential, drug loading, in vitro drug release, and stability of nanoparticles, were evaluated. The size of the HSA-pectin nanoparticles (F3) was found to be 180 to 290 nm. The HSA nanoparticles were modified with pectin when the critical flocculation concentration of nanoparticles in Na(2)SO(4) solution was increased from 0.3 M to 0.9 M. The isoelectric points of the formed nanoparticles were found to be relatively lower between pH values 3 and 6. Pectin may be used as a pharmaceutical additive for the suppression of particle agglomeration in HSA nanoparticles, and the effect may be attributed to the pectin segments present on the surface of nanoparticles.