Issue 2, 2024

Novel alginate nanoparticles for the simultaneous delivery of iron and folate: a potential nano-drug delivery system for anaemic patients

Abstract

Biopolymer nanoparticles have emerged as promising carriers for bioactive agents, offering sustained or controlled release and improved biocompatibility. The purpose of this study was to design novel calcium cross-linked alginate nanoparticles as a delivery system for ferrous ascorbate and folic acid, synthesized through a modified ionic gelation method, to enhance their oral bioavailability. Calcium alginate nanoparticles were successfully prepared using a modified ionic gelation method, and their particle size and zeta potential were characterized. These nanoparticles were then loaded with ferrous ascorbate and folic acid, and successful encapsulation was confirmed using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The morphology of the loaded nanoparticles was also investigated using electron microscopy techniques. The encapsulation efficiency of ferrous ascorbate and folic acid was determined to be 95 ± 1.9% and 80 ± 0.7%, respectively. In vitro release studies demonstrated that the release of ferrous ascorbate and folic acid from the loaded nanoparticles was pH-dependent, with a slower release rate being observed at pH 7.4 compared to that at pH 2. The release kinetics was found to follow the Korsmeyer–Peppas diffusion model, suggesting a combination of Fickian diffusion and anomalous diffusion mechanisms. Overall, the findings of this study indicate that the alginate nanoparticles have the potential to serve as a promising nano-drug delivery system for ferrous ascorbate and folic acid, potentially improving their oral bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy in the treatment and prevention of anaemia.

Graphical abstract: Novel alginate nanoparticles for the simultaneous delivery of iron and folate: a potential nano-drug delivery system for anaemic patients

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
10 Dec 2023
Accepted
13 Feb 2024
First published
04 Mar 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Pharm., 2024,1, 259-271

Novel alginate nanoparticles for the simultaneous delivery of iron and folate: a potential nano-drug delivery system for anaemic patients

W. Rajapaksha, I. H. W. Nicholas, T. Thoradeniya, D. N. Karunaratne and V. Karunaratne, RSC Pharm., 2024, 1, 259 DOI: 10.1039/D3PM00068K

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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