Development of albumin-based nanoparticles for the delivery of abacavir

The study was designed to prepare and evaluate albumin nanoparticles containing antiviral drug abacavir sulphate. Various batches of albumin nanoparticles containing abacavir sulphate were prepared bydesolvation method. The abacavir loaded particles were characterized for their yield, percentage of drugloading, surface morphology, particle size, surface charge, pattern of in vitro drug release and releasemechanism studies. Drug loading ranged from 1.2 to 5.9%w/w. The mean particle size and the surfacecharge were 418.2 nm and -40.8 mV respectively. The in vitro drug release varied between 38.73 and51.36%w/w for 24 h. The n value for Korsmeyer–Peppas was 0.425 indicating Fickian type drug release. The preliminary findings indicated that albumin nanoparticles of abacavir can be prepared by desolvationmethod with good yield, high drug loading and sustained release.