Synthesis and evaluation of berberine loaded chitosan nanocarrier for enhanced in-vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential

Berberine, a naturally occurring isoquinoline plant alkaloid molecule, finds application in traditional medicine due to its extensive pharmacological effects but it cannot be clinically exploited to its fullest as it possesses poor water solubility and bioavailability. In order to address this issue, we have synthesized berberine loaded chitosan nanoparticles (BCNPs) using DMSO as surfactant and chitosan as polymer using modified ionic complexation approach and optimized the process utilizing central composite design. The BCNPs were empirically assessed for various parameters such as particle size distribution, zeta potential, drug encapsulation efficiency, and surface morphology using established methodologies. BCNPs were additionally assessed for in-vitro antibacterial activity, in-vitro antioxidant activity, in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity, and sustained drug release behavior using established techniques. Experimental results showed that chitosan at a concentration of 0.05% (w/v) and DMSO at a concentration of 1% (v/v) successfully generated nanoparticles with a spherical shape with size ranging from 20 to 60 nm and exhibited a stabilizing zeta potential of 26.1 mV. Additionally, they had a high encapsulation effectiveness of 94.01%. Sustained release was observed with 74.30% berberine released in 48 h, respectively from BCNPs. The antimicrobial assays reveal that BCNPs exhibit superior antibacterial effectiveness against all bacterial strains compared to berberine alone as determined by the agar well diffusion method. The BCNPs also exhibited a substantial rise in DPPH activity and a greater percentage of protection compared to berberine. In summary, our research suggests that chitosan nanocarrier can enhance the solubility of berberine and facilitate the development of novel naturally-derived antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. This study will further provide an insight into the future development of natural drug discovery.