Abstract
This study focuses on the production and characterization of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-chitosan (CS)-based nanoparticles loaded with vitamin E (VitE) and ephedrine (Ep) via electrospraying for intranasal drug delivery in narcolepsy treatment. The nanoparticles were successfully synthesized using optimized parameters (15.5 kV voltage, 0.3 mL/h flow rate, 25 G needle size, and 14 cm distance). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed the formation of spherical particles with an average size of 350–500 nm, while energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping revealed a homogeneous elemental distribution with oxygen (51.74%), silicon (24.48%), carbon (6.47%), zinc (6.08%), and aluminum (3.82%). Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra demonstrated the successful encapsulation of VitE and Ep through characteristic peaks at 3285 cm−1 (OH stretching), 1731 cm−1 (C=O stretching), and 1086 cm−1 (C-O-C stretching). In vitro drug release analysis indicated a controlled and sustained release profile, with cumulative VitE and Ep release reaching 78.6% and 84.3%, respectively, over 48 h in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4). Antioxidant activity assessment using the DPPH assay confirmed an R2 value of 18.84 µg/mL, demonstrating significant free radical scavenging potential. The antibacterial activity, tested via the disk diffusion method, exhibited inhibition zones of 18.31 ± 5.8 mm (E. coli) and 21.51 ± 1.57 mm (S. aureus), confirming strong antimicrobial properties. These findings suggest that the developed electrosprayed PVA/CS nanoparticles loaded with VitE and Ep offer a promising intranasal delivery system with enhanced bioavailability, controlled release, antioxidant capacity, and antibacterial properties, making them a viable candidate for narcolepsy treatment.