EVALUATION THE EFFECT OF NANOTECHNOLOGY ON PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF METRONIDAZOLE

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the application of nanotechnology in improving the solubility and biologic activity as the antibacterial and antifungal drug of metronidazole (MTZ).Methods: Nanoparticles of bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) were used as the nanocarriers for metronidazole (MTZ) and they were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method. Drug loading on Bi2S3 nanoparticles, lattice property alteration and average particles sizes were evaluated using fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). The evaluation of the release of MTZ from Bi2S3 nanoparticles was carried out using USP type II rotating paddle apparatus. The antimicrobial activity of MTZ before and after loading was carried out by disc diffusion method against two aerobic gram+ve and one aerobic gram–ve bacteria, in addition to two fungi.Results: This study showed successful loading process as well as particles size reduction of MTZ after loading on Bi2S3 nanoparticles. In vitro release study showed a significant* increase in solubility and dissolution of MTZ after loading on Bi2S3 nanoparticles. MTZ showed a significant* increase in antibacterial (against gram+ve aerobic staphylococcus aureus and bacillus subtilis) and antifungal (Candida glabrata and Candida tropicalis) activities after loading process.Conclusion: Nanotechnology was applied successfully to improve both, solubility and biologic activity of the model drug used, metronidazole (MTZ).