Fabrication of pectin-based nanoemulsions loaded with itraconazole for pharmaceutical application

The aim of this study was to prepare nanoemulsions containing itraconazole (ITZ), a poorly water-soluble drug, using pectin as a polymeric emulsifier. Nanoemulsions were prepared by simple homogenization to avoid high-pressure conditions. The influences of type of internal phase, type and concentration of pectin on the droplet size, morphology, and zeta potential of the pectin-based emulsions were also examined. Nanoemulsions were achieved when chloroform was used as an internal phase while using caprylic/capric triglyceride can produce only micron-sized emulsions. Pectin with high degree of esterification offered good emulsion properties because of its high amount of hydrophobic molecules. The droplet size of emulsions decreased with the increased pectin concentration. The addition of ITZ to the emulsion formulation was essential to obtain the nano-sized emulsions, resulting from the molecular association between ITZ and pectin. It appears that 3% (w/w) pectin provided the most stable emulsion with the highest percent creaming. The obtained nanoemulsions may be subsequently developed as a self-emulsifying drug delivery system.