The aim of the study is to formulate a modified release chitosan nanoparticles for the oral delivery of atorvastatin and to study the in vitro release of atorvastatin from chitosan nanoparticles. Atorvastatin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were prepared with different concentration of cross-linking agent (glutaraldehyde) by emulsion interfacial reaction method. The formed nanoparticles were characterized in terms of size and morphological characteristics by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Spherical and regular nanoparticles with the size range of 100-250nm were formed. Atorvastatin encapsulation efficiency of nanoparticles was found to be highest in ANP3, followed by ANP2 and ANP1. The in vitro release of atorvastatin was studied by membrane diffusion technique. The resulted cumulative percentage of drug released for ANP1, ANP2 and ANP3 were 60.08%, 34.81% and 20.39% respectively. Through this study, the nanoparticles preparation technique has shown to be a promising approach for enhancing the dissolution of hydrophobic drugs like atorvastatin calcium. The application of this novel delivery system offers good therapeutic potential in the management of hypercholesterolemia and dyslipidemia.