Inhalable linezolid loaded PLGA nanoparticles for treatment of tuberculosis: Design, development and in vitro evaluation

The present study is aimed to design and develop linezolid loaded PLGA nanoparticles (LZ NPs) for treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. The objective was to prepare LZ NPs with a mean particle size below 300 nm and having Mass Median Aerodynamic Diameter (MMAD) less than 5 μm and sustain the drug release up to 120 h. The LZ NPs were prepared by modified emulsion solvent evaporation method using high-speed homogenization, sonication and subsequent lyophilization. Preliminary studies revealed that dimethyl sulphoxide was a suitable organic phase while α – phosphatidylcholine and PVP S 630 D were the suitable stabilizers for stabilizing the nanoparticles. A 32 full factorial design revealed that both process variables namely homogenization time and homogenization speed had a significant effect (p