Formulation and Evaluation of 5-Fluorouracil Loaded Polymethacrylic Acid Nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanoparticles represent a promising drug delivery system of controlled and targeted drug release. They are specially designed to release the drug in the vicinity of target tissue. Polymethacrylic acid nanoparticles containing 5-fluorouracil were prepared by emulsion polymerization method. SEM indicated that 5-fluorouracil nanoparticles have a discrete spherical structure without aggregation. The average particle size was found to be 263.66 ± 16.16–723.33 ± 15.27 nm. The particle size of the nanoparticles gradually increased with increase in the proportion of polymethacrylic acid polymer. The drug content of the nanoparticles was increasing on increasing polymer concentration. The in vitro release behaviour from all the drug loaded batches was found to be of zero order and provided sustained release over a period of 24 h.