Enhancement of oral bioavailability of puerarin by polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles

The interest using novel drug delivery systems to improve oral bioavailability of drug with poor solubility is increasing. In this study, a new oral delivery system, polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles (PBCNs), was introduced to improve the oral bioavailability of puerarin (PUE). PUE-loaded PBCN was successfully prepared by anionic polymerization method. Characterization of PUE-loaded PBCN was evaluated with morphology, size, zeta potential, and in vitro release study. The PBCN loading PUE exhibited a spherical shape under transmission electron microscopy with an average size of 159.4 nm, and the zeta potential was -15.0mV. The in vitro release of PUE-loaded PBCN showed an initial burst release followed by a sustained release. Physicochemical state of PUE in PBCN was investigated by differential scanning colorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results indicated that PUE in PBCN was in a noncrystalline state. The oral pharmacokinetic study in rats showed that the relative bioavailability of PUE-encapsulated PBCN to the crude PUE was more than 550%. It can be concluded that PBCN as an oral drug carrier can significantly improve the oral bioavailability of PUE.