title: Preparation and physicochemical properties of chitosan broadleaf holly leaf nanoparticles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prepare chitosan broadleaf holly leaf nanoparticles and to investigate their physicochemical properties and drug release characteristics in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Broadleaf holly leaf total flavonoids were extracted using an ethanol gradient and the determination of their contents was performed using a UV-vis spectrophotometer. Nanoparticles were prepared by ionic crosslinking. The morphology and distribution of the particles were examined. In addition, several factors affecting drug-loading and the encapsulation rate were explored. Furthermore, studies on the characteristics of in vitro release were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The content of total flavonoids from broadleaf holly leaf was 31.84%. The nanoparticles were spherical in shape, and the size range was between 100 and 600 nm. The polydispersity was 0.137. The optimal preparation process of the nanoparticles was the following: chitosan concentration 1 mg/ml, TPP concentration 1mg/ml, and concentration of broadleaf holly leaf total flavonoids 1 mg/ml. The in vitro release profile showed that the nanoparticles have an initial burst release effect of 45.6-48.9% within the first two hours. The total release was 91.9% in 24 h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chitosan nanoparticles are a potential broadleaf holly leaf delivery system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China.
authors.forename: Hongliang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmaceutical Science of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China.
authors.forename: Qiuyan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China.
authors.forename: Zhenguang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China.
authors.forename: Taotao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China. Electronic address: 277749097@qq.com.
authors.forename: Yuanhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D004339:Drug Compounding; D065546:Drug Liberation; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D030017:Ilex; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves; D011122:Polyphosphates / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011122:Polyphosphates; D048271:Chitosan; C005692:triphosphoric acid
keywords: Broadleaf holly leaf; Chitosan; Nanoparticles; Sodium tripolyphosphate