Synthesis of Polymeric Nanoparticles Encapsulating Extract of Datura Stramonium and Study of Its Various in Vitro Activities

In the present work, the extract from Datura stramonium is commonly used for its various pharmacological properties and was used for nanoparticles synthesis by ionic gelation method using complex of tragacanth and chitosan as polymers. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using techniques like PSA, FTIR, SEM, and TEM. The particle size of nanoparticles thus obtained ranged from 100 to 300 nm. SEM micrograph of nanoparticles showed the roughly spherical structures which appear to be encapsulated in the polymer. TEM images showed somewhat sphere-shaped nanoparticles that might be due to the encapsulation in tragacanth-chitosan complex. Synthesized nanoparticles showed considerable antibacterial action against various bacteria such Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. Both Datura and chitosan-tragacanth NPs showed clear zone of inhibition showing that both possess antibacterial activity but the zone of inhibition formed by extract-loaded chitosan-tragacanth NPs is better than extract alone which shows they are more promising agents for antimicrobial activity. Before going to further studies the hemocompatibility of the synthesized nanoparticles was also investigated, and after it, the DPPH radical scavenging assay was used to measure the antioxidant activity and HRBC method was used to test the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. It was found that the synthetic nanoparticles exhibit adequate amount of antioxidant activity, and it was observed by the results that the synthesized nanoparticles provided more protection than the individual plant extract and blank nanoparticles.