ULTRASOUND-ASSISTED NANO-ENCAPSULATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF 14-DEOXY-11,12- DIDEHYDROANDROGRAPHOLIDE FROM ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA USING CHITOSAN MATRIX FOR TARGETED ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUG DELIVERY: A SONOGRAPHIC AND SPECTROSCOPIC APPROACH

S. I. Okonkwo*, J. A. Ezugwu, I. P. Oragwu, C. K. Okonkwo, P. O. Okwuego, A. T. Kene-Okonkwo, V. S. Okonkwo, S. C. Okonkwo

This study presents the ultrasound-assisted nano-encapsulation of 14-Deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide, a labdane diterpenoid from Andrographis paniculata, using a chitosan matrix for targeted anti-inflammatory drug delivery. The encapsulation process employed ethanol extraction, column chromatography, and thin-layer chromatography for compound isolation, followed by chitosan-based nanoparticle formation and stabilization using sodium sulfate. Characterization was conducted via Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and UV-Visible spectroscopy. TEM revealed spherical nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 6.9 to 22.1 nm, supporting mesoporosity favorable for drug delivery. SEM confirmed porous morphology and consistent particle dispersion, while EDX confirmed elemental composition indicative of structural stability. The in vitro time-release study demonstrated a sustained release profile of encapsulated isolates, and encapsulation efficiency was notably high (82.5%). Sonographic analysis using B-mode and Doppler imaging on inflamed Wistar rats showed enhanced tissue retention, reduced edema, and increased echogenicity in the encapsulated group compared to controls. These findings validate chitosan-based nano-encapsulation as an effective delivery vehicle for 14-Deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide, improving its bioavailability, targeted delivery, and anti-inflammatory performance.