Polymeric liposomes of emtricitabine employing modified pullulan—an attempt to reduce associated hepatotoxicity

Emtricitabine (FTC) a BCS class I drug, is used for HIV prevention. The high solubility of the drug is the leading cause of severe hepatotoxicity and lactic acidosis. This research focuses on the use of modified pullulan for the preparation of polymeric liposomes of FTC. Modified pullulan was synthesized using cholesterol, and succinic anhydride in a controlled chemical environment. The formation of the polymer was established through analysis of spectra. Varying the drug-polymer ratio (1:1, 1:2, and 1:3), the drug-polymer composite was loaded in the vesicular system of soya phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol. Formulations were evaluated for drug entrapment, particle size, surface morphology, and