Development of copper based spinel ferrite nanocarrier system for effective delivery of cyclosporine A

Cyclosporine A (CsA), a potent immunosuppressant for psoriasis management, suffers from poor aqueous solubility, low oral bioavailability, and dose-dependent systemic toxicities that limit its therapeutic efficacy. This study reports the development and comprehensive physicochemical characterization of a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-coated copper ferrite (CuFe₂O₄) nanocarrier for effective CsA delivery. Copper spinel ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized via the auto-combustion method and surface-modified with hydrophilic PVA to enhance aqueous dispersibility and colloidal stability. CsA was successfully loaded onto the PVA-coated nanocarrier through non-covalent interactions, including hydrogen bonding between the drug's amide groups and PVA's hydroxyl moieties. The formulation was extensively characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDAX), dynamic light scattering, zeta potential measurements, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis. The nanocarrier exhibited nano-scale particle size (76.4 ± 8.2 nm), excellent colloidal stability with strongly negative zeta potential (-48.7 ± 5.3 mV), and mesoporous architecture with a high specific surface area (78.5 ± 4.2 m²/g). Drug loading studies revealed an entrapment efficiency of 68.3 ± 4.2% and drug loading of 4.8 ± 0.3% w/w. In vitro release studies demonstrated a sustained biphasic release profile with 62.5% cumulative release over 48 h, following Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetics with anomalous transport mechanism. DSC analysis confirmed partial amorphization of CsA within the PVA matrix, while FTIR and SEM-EDAX validated successful drug loading and homogeneous distribution. The developed PVA-coated CuFe₂O₄ nanocarrier system demonstrates promising physicochemical properties for improved CsA delivery, potentially offering enhanced therapeutic efficacy and reduced systemic toxicity in psoriasis management, though further in vivo studies are warranted.