Abstract:
In the present study, an attempt was made to develop galactosylated albumin nanoparticles of Simvastatin for treatment of hypercholesterolemia. By developing the galactosylated nanoparticulated delivery the reqiured action of drug at the target site i.e at liver can be provided. The advantage of targeting helps to reduce the systemic side effects which may be occur due to the distribution of the drug to the other organs and thus helps in maintaing the required concentration of drug at the desired site. The galacotsylated albumin nanoparticles were prepared for the selective delivery of an, Simvastatin to the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) the rate limiting enzyme in the pathway of cholesterol biosynthesis which is particularly presents on liver. The albumin nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by using desolvation method and efficiently conjugated with galactose. Various parameters such as particle size, % entrapment efficiency and drug loading efficiency, percentage yield, in vitro drug release, were determined. The size of nanoparticles (both plain and coated NPs) was found to be 200 and 250 nm.The maximum drug content was found to be 79.98 and 79.8 % respectively in plain and galactose coated nanoparticles while the maximum entrapment efficiency was found to be 70.10% and 71.03% in plain and coated nanoparticles. It was also found that coating of nanoparticles increases the size of nanoparticles.

Keywords: Hepatotoxicity, Galactose, Targeting, Asialoglycoprotein Receptor.