Formulation of para-coumaric acid loaded chitosan nanoparticles: In Vitro neuroprotective effect against neuroblastoma cell line

The prevalence of neurological diseases is increasing too rapidly in ageing population in world. In traditional practice of medicine of natural products has been reported to treat neurological disorders. Para-coumaric acid is a hydroxycinnamic acid and reported for various pharmacological activities such as anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-cancer, anti-ulcer and anti-inflammatory effects. But clinical application of para-coumaric acid is limited due to its poor dissolution rate. Polymeric nanoparticles have been reported for targeted drug delivery system. With this information, our study focused to formulate para-coumaric acid loaded chitosan nanoparticles in order to evaluate its neuroprotective potential against neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell line. Different formulations (F1, F2, F3) of Para-coumaric acid loaded chitosan nanoparticles (PCA-NPs) was prepared by simple ionic cross-linking method. Formulated PCA-NPs were subjected to characterization methods such as SEM analysis, Drug loading and Entrapment efficiency, in-vitro drug release and Stability studies. The in vitro cyto-toxicity assay of formulated PCA-NPs was performed against neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell line. This study indicated that F2-formulationof PCA-NPs showed improved dissolution rate of drug and considerable neuro-protective activity against neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell line in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, the study concluded that nanoparticle formulation could be suitable for targeted drug delivery system against neurological disorder