Abstract

PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF A BRAIN TARGETED NOVEL NANO FORMULATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA IN RAT MODEL

V. Archana Kossireddi*¹, Noor Zahra²

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to evaluate the pharmacological activity of brain targeted novel nano formulations of the drug sulpiride, in treating the negative symptoms of schizophrenia in rat model. Two different sulpiride (SUL) nanoparticles were prepared using the biodegradable polymer, Poly (butyl cyano) acrylate (PBCA) and the surfactant Polysorbate 80 (P80) and characterized. The formulations and the pure drug were administered (10 mg/kg, i.v.) to the rats and the drug concentration in the whole rat brain homogenate was estimated by HPLC analysis. Schizophrenia was induced by administering subanesthetic doses of Ketamine (30 mg/kg, i.p.) for 5 days. The rats were subjected to various behavioral analysis tests like Forced swim test, Open field test and Sucrose preference test to analyze the effectiveness of the novel nano formulations in comparison with the pure drug. Both the nano forrmulations showed better blood brain barrier penetrability as compared to the pure drug. Our studies confirmed that the PBCA coated sulpiride exhibited better penetrability and therapeutic efficacy when compared to the P80 coated PBCA sulpiride nanoparticles.

Keywords: Schizophrenia, Poly (butyl cyano) acrylate, Polysorbate 80, HPLC, Sulpiride, Ketamine, Blood Brain Barrier.