Development and evaluation of Exenatide loaded PLGA nanoparticles for intranasal delivery in treatment of Obesity

Obesity, considered a complex condition, is the fastest-growing public health concern worldwide. Its treatment is limited due to the side effects of pharmacological options available, outweighing their benefits. The present study aims to formulate a novel biodegradable formulation of Exenatide for direct brain delivery through the nasal route. To formulate Exenatide loaded Poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles, a double emulsion (w/o/w) solvent evaporation method was employed. A full factorial (33) design of the experiment was used to optimize the formulation. The entrapment efficiency and particle size of the optimized formulation were found to be 68% and 110 nm, respectively. The in-vitro drug release study indicated the sustained release of 48% drug in 5 days. The safety of drug-loaded PLGA nanoparticles for intranasal delivery was indicated by the sheep nasal toxicity study. The efficacy of the developed nanoparticles was demonstrated by an in-vivo pharmacodynamics study on Albino wistar rats, showing a 6.2% weight reduction after 30 days of treatment. Thus, Exenatide is a novel peptide having significant weight loss benefits and no severe side effects. Long-term studies in at least two or more animal models followed by extensive clinical evaluation can safely result in a product for clinical use.