Formulation and characterization of intranasal mucoadhesive nanoparticulates and thermo-reversible gel of levodopa for brain delivery

Abstract Levodopa is the drug of choice in the treatment of Parkinson's disease but it exhibits low oral bioavailability (30%) and very low brain uptake due to its extensive metabolism by aromatic amino acid decarboxylase in the peripheral circulation. Hence, levodopa is co-administered with carbidopa, a peripheral amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor. In an attempt to improve brain uptake and to avoid degradation of levodopa in peripheral circulation and the use of carbidopa in combination, nose to brain drug delivery of levodopa alone via the olfactory route and the trigeminal nerves has been investigated. Chitosan nanoparticles loaded with levodopa (CNL) were prepared and were incorporated in a thermo-reversible gel prepared using Pluronic PF127 (CNLPgel). The preparation of CNL and CNLPgel was optimized for formulation parameters such as chitosan:TPP ratio, drug load Pluronic concentration to obtain desired particle size of CNL, gelling temperature, gelling time and mucoadhesive strength of CNLPgel. Rheological studies indicated a change in the rheological behavior of plain pluronic gel from Newtonian system at 30 °C to pseudoplastic behavior at 35 °C on incorporation of CNL. In vitro release studies from CNL obeyed Higuchi kinetic model, whereas the drug release from CNLPgel followed the Hixson-Crowell model. In vivo studies indicated a maximum recovery of the drug in brain following intranasal administration of CNL suspension in saline closely followed by the drug dispersed in plain pluronic gel.