Development and in Vitro Evaluation of Levofloxacin-Loaded Polymeric Nanoparticles for Sustained Release

AbstractThe present study aimed to develop and evaluate Levofloxacin-loaded polymericnanoparticles for sustained drug delivery using the emulsification–sonication method.Levofloxacin, a broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic, exhibits excellent antibacterialactivity but requires frequent administration due to its pharmacokinetic profile. Polymericnanoparticles were prepared using PLGA, Carbopol 934P, and Eudragit RL in varyingconcentrations to improve drug encapsulation and sustain drug release. Nine formulations(F1–F9) were prepared and evaluated for particle size, percentage yield, drug content,entrapment efficiency, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, in vitro drug release, andcompatibility studies. The optimized formulation (F6) exhibited a particle size of 281.72 ± 23nm, percentage yield of 86.34%, drug content of 98.84%, entrapment efficiency of 87.92%,PDI of 0.309, and zeta potential of −32.61 mV. In vitro release studies demonstratedsustained drug release of 99.37% over 12 h. FTIR analysis confirmed the absence of drug–polymer interaction, while SEM studies revealed spherical nanoparticles with smoothsurfaces. The findings suggest that Levofloxacin-loaded polymeric nanoparticles can serve asan effective sustained-release drug delivery system with improved therapeutic performance.