Title:Quality by Design Approach for Preparation, Characterization, and Statistical
Optimization of Naproxen Sodium-loaded Ethosomes via Transdermal
Route
Volume: 19
Issue: 10
Author(s): Ananda Kumar Chettupalli*, Srivani Ajmera, Padmanabha Rao Amarachinta, Ram Mohan Manda and Rajendra Kumar Jadi
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Center for Nanomedicine, School of Pharmacy, Anurag University, Venkatapur, Ghatkesar,
Medchal-Malkajgiri, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500088, India
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, School of
Pharmacy, Anurag University, Venkatapur, Ghatkesar, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500088, India
Keywords:
Naproxen sodium, Ethosomes Box-Behnken design, in vivo studies, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, entrapment efficiency, transdermal medication.
Abstract:
Aim: The primary goal of this study is to create a novel naproxen sodium-loaded
ethosome drug delivery system for improving bioavailability, solubility and optimize using a statistical
approach.
Background: Naproxen sodium (i.e., a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) is chosen as the first
line of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. However, naproxen has side
effects, such as bronchospasm, an irregular heart rhythm, etc. Therefore, adopting new drug delivery
strategies when developing the dosage form is necessary and the need of the hour to prevent its
side effects. The available commercial products are administered through the oral and parenteral
routes, which lack bioavailability and permeability respectively.
Objective: Novel ethosomal carriers were designed using Box Behnken Design (BBD) and formulation
was prepared for enhanced topical delivery of naproxen sodium ethosomal gel.
Methods: In order to analyze the data statistically and graphically with response surface plots, the
Box-Behnken design was used to optimize the formulation variables. The independent factors were
phosphatidylcholine (X1), cholesterol (X2), and ethanol (X3), while the dependent variables were
entrapment efficiency (Y2), vesicle size (Y1), and PDI (Y3). The Carbopol® 940 gel was then made
using the improved ethosomes. Its rheological properties, in-vitro release, ex-vivo skin penetration,
and deposition were studied.
Results: The best ethosomes were made by mixing phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol in a phosphate
buffer at pH 7.4 with 2–5% v/v ethanol. The optimized ethosomes showed a zeta potential of
-32.06 ± 0.16 mV, EE of 84.59 ± 2.38%, and a vesicular size of 105 ± 6.97 nm. Compared to the
commercial products and the ethanolic solution of naproxen, these ethosomes considerably increased
the amount of naproxen permeated through the skin over 24 hours. The stability of the optimized
formulation was assessed for three months at room temperature, and it was found that the
efficiency of the prepared novel ethosomal formulation remained intact.
Conclusion: In summary, it was discovered that the ethosomal vesicles were potential carriers,
showing the improved topical distribution of naproxen sodium. These findings demonstrated that
using ethosomes as a transdermal medication carrier for naproxen was feasible. Compared to drug
solutions, the ex-vivo permeation and skin deposition experiments produced better results.
