Abstract
Drug release kinetics plays an important role in determining the mechanism of drug release, which in turn helps in formulating controlled/sustained release formulations. In our study, different concentrations of green tea polyphenols (GTP) were encapsulated into casein nanoparticles which showed a maximum encapsulation efficiency (76.9%) at a GTP concentration of 5 mg/mL. The casein nanoparticles were characterized through particle size analysis, zeta potential, AFM, and HR SEM, followed by molecular docking studies, which confirmed the binding of GTP to casein nanoparticles. In-vitro release studies carried out at different temperatures and pH showed no significant difference in the release pattern, but the release was prolonged even up to 48 h. On varying pH of the release medium, an increase in the percentage of release was observed as the pH shifted from acidic to basic. All release data showed good correlation with Zero order kinetics, an ideal model for release of drugs from nanoparticulate sustained release formulations, with anomalous mode of drug transport. Antioxidant activity of the released GTP determined through DPPH assay showed potent antioxidant effect of GTP even after 48 h of its release. Our data indicated that casein nanoparticles could be used as a potent vehicle for the delivery of GTP for achieving a sustained release.