Application of Box–Behnken design to prepare gentamicin-loaded calcium carbonate nanoparticles

Abstract

The aim of this research was to prepare and optimize calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) nanoparticles as carriers for gentamicin sulfate. A chemical precipitation method was used to prepare the gentamicin sulfate-loaded CaCO₃ nanoparticles. A 3-factor, 3-level Box–Behnken design was used for the optimization procedure, with the molar ratio of CaCl₂: Na₂CO₃ (X₁), the concentration of drug (X₂), and the speed of homogenization (X₃) as the independent variables. The particle size and entrapment efficiency were considered as response variables. Mathematical equations and response surface plots were used, along with the counter plots, to relate the dependent and independent variables. The results indicated that the speed of homogenization was the main variable contributing to particle size and entrapment efficiency. The combined effect of all three independent variables was also evaluated. Using the response optimization design, the optimized Xl–X3 levels were predicted. An optimized formulation was then prepared according to these levels, resulting in a particle size of 80.23 nm and an entrapment efficiency of 30.80%. It was concluded that the chemical precipitation technique, together with the Box–Behnken experimental design methodology, could be successfully used to optimize the formulation of drug-incorporated calcium carbonate nanoparticles.

Keywords::

• Box–Behnken
• calcium carbonate
• gentamicin sulfate
• nanoparticles

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank the Research Vice Chancellor of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, for financial support provided for the study. This article is a part of a thesis (No. 96) submitted for the PhD degree in the Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.