SUSTAINABLE SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF TUNABLE AND MULTIPURPOSE NANOCELLULOSE FROM FRESHWATER AQUATIC WEED AS PHARMACEUTICAL EXCIPIENT

KESHAV S. MOHARIR; KRISHNAKANT B. BHELKAR; VINITA V. KALE; ABHAY M. ITTADWAR

doi:10.22159/ijap.2023v15i2.47100

Authors

KESHAV S. MOHARIR Department of Pharmaceutics, Gurunanak College of Pharmacy, Nagpur
KRISHNAKANT B. BHELKAR Department of Pharmaceutics, Gurunanak College of Pharmacy, Nagpur https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1734-032X
VINITA V. KALE Department of Pharmaceutics, Gurunanak College of Pharmacy, Nagpur
ABHAY M. ITTADWAR Department of Pharmaceutics, Gurunanak College of Pharmacy, Nagpur

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ijap.2023v15i2.47100

Keywords:

Nanocellulose, Excipient, Drug delivery, Characterization, Water hyacinth

Abstract

Objective: The main objective of this work was to understand the basic properties of crystalline nanocellulose (CNC) that can be useful as a novel excipient in pharmaceutical formulations. This covers the isolation and preparation of nanocellulose followed by characterization.

Methods: Cellulose was isolated from aquatic weed by autoclaving and bleaching. Cellulose to CNC conversion involved gluconic acid treatments at different concentrations (40%, 50% and 60%) followed by centrifugation and neutralization. CNC was further characterized by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermo gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) for surface morphology, elemental analysis by Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), crystallinity index by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and optical microscopy.

Results: Acid concentration affects the moisture uptake, particle size, and yield of CNC. CNC size ranged from 350 nm to 900 nm with a crystallinity index 80% to 85%. Moisture uptake was 6.38±0.12% at 33% relative humidity. DSC and TGA established thermal stability over 200 °C. Nanocellulose has shown Angle of repose (28.81°), Carrs index (12.32), zeta potential (33mV) values and heavy metals within pharmacopoeial limits.

Conclusion: CNC from water hyacinth was prepared successfully by sustainable process. CNC physico-chemical characterization revealed the stable nature of CNC, suitable to be used as an excipient in pharmaceutical formulations.

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