Galangin encapsulation in chitosan-based dry powder inhalation formulation prepared using ionotropic-gelation and freeze-drying methods for asthma treatment

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract characterized by recurrent wheezing, coughing, and a feeling of tightness in the chest due to airway obstruction. Current treatments are considered ineffective and have long-lasting side effects. Therefore, an inhalation drug delivery system was developed so that the drug can reach the target in the lungs, minimize side effects, and increase its efficacy. The most common asthma treatment today is inhaled corticosteroid therapy, however, long-term therapy has the potential to cause side effects. Galangal root extract contains a bioactive compound galangin that has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. Due to its low water solubility and low bioavailability, galangin was encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles. This study aims to obtain galangin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles as a dry powder inhalation formulation prepared using ionotropic-gelation and freeze-drying methods. Sodium tripolyphosphate and mannitol were used as the crosslinking agent and cryoprotectant agent, respectively. The characteristics of the galangal rhizome extract and galangin-loaded nanoparticles was obtained, followed by the determination of the in-vitro release profile of the extracts as galangin in simulated body fluid media. The results obtained indicate that the galangal extract loaded-chitosan nanoparticles can be an alternative formula for the treatment of asthma.