The aim of this in vitro study is to prepare and characterize drug free and pentamidine\nloaded chitosan glutamate coated niosomes for intranasal drug delivery to reach the brain through\nintranasal delivery. Mucoadhesive properties and stability testing in various environments were\nevaluated to examine the potential of these formulations to be effective drug delivery vehicles for\nintranasal delivery to the brain. Samples were prepared using thin film hydration method. Changes\nin size and �¶-potential of coated and uncoated niosomes with and without loading of pentamidine\nin various conditions were assessed by dynamic light scattering (DLS), while size and morphology\nwere also studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Bilayer properties and mucoadhesive behavior\nwere investigated by fluorescence studies and DLS analyses, respectively. Changes in vesicle size\nand �¶-potential values were shown after addition of chitosan glutamate to niosomes, and when in\ncontact with mucin solution. In particular, interactions with mucin were observed in both drug free\nand pentamidine loaded niosomes regardless of the presence of the coating. The characteristics of the\nproposed systems, such as pentamidine entrapment and mucin interaction, show promising results\nto deliver pentamidine or other possible drugs to the brain via nasal administration.
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