P51 PREPARATION OF ASIATIC ACID LOADED NANOPARTICLES FOR DELIVERY ACROSS THE BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER AND ITS EFFECTS ON GLIOBLASTOMA CELLS IN VITRO

INTRODUCTION: Drug delivery across tight junctions of the blood brain barrier poses a significant challenge to glioma treatment. Biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs) formulated with poly- epsilon -caprolactone were prepared to investigate sustained delivery of asiatic acid (AA). METHOD: Blank & drug-loaded NPs were prepared by the solvent displacement method using a two-phase system consisting of acetone & water; drug (AA or cisplatin) was dissolved in the organic phase. NPs were characterised for stability, encapsulation efficiency, biodegradation & rate of drug release. The IC50 values for AA & cisplatin in SVGP12 and U87-MG cell lines were also established. RESULTS: Blank NPs were produced in the range of 131-148nm ( Day 0: 133 plus or minus 2; Day 60: 142 plus or minus 5), with AA- loaded particles in the range of 150-151nm ( Day 0: 153 plus or minus 3; Day 60: 150 plus or minus 1). NPs had a negative surface charge of -17 plus or minus 1 mV to -31 plus or minus 3 mV and -20 plus or minus 1 mV to -30 plus or minus 1 mV for blank & AA-loaded NPs, respectively. Polydispersity index was