A Novel Delivery Method of Cyclovirobuxine D for Brain-Targeting: Chitosan Coated Nanoparticles Loading Cyclovirobuxine D by Intranasal Administration

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) restricts the delivery of most drugs to the brain. In our previous study, the feasibility of cyclovirobuxine D delivery to the brain by a non-invasive nasal route was evaluated. In this study, a suitable drug delivery system by way of intranasal administration was developed, which could improve brain targeting. First, a formulation of cyclovirobuxine D (CVB-D) based on chitosan nanoparticles (CS-CVB-D-NPs) was prepared by the modified ionotropic gelation method through single-factor screening experiment. The CS-CVB-D-NPs with a entrapment efficiency (EE) of (62.82 +/- 2.59)% were found to be of a narrow polydispersity index (PI) (0.19 +/- 0.01) and (235.37 +/- 12.71) nm in size, with a zeta potential of (33.9 +/- 1.7) mV. The NPs possessed a sustained release characterization with in vitro release of 88.03 +/- 2.30% at 24 h. In vivo, the higher AUC(0-t(brain)) of CS-CVB-D-NPs by intranasal administration revealed the development of a novel brain-targeting delivery method of CVB-D.