Title:Preparation, Optimization, In vitro Evaluation and Ex vivo Permeation Studies of Finasteride loaded gel Formulations Prepared by using Response Surface Methodology
Volume: 15
Issue: 9
Author(s): Muhammad Zia Ullah Khan, Petre Makreski and Ghulam Murtaza*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS University Islamabad (Abbottabad Campus), Abbottabad,Pakistan
Keywords:
Finasteride, topical gel, optimization, response surface methodology, central composite design, synergistic.
Abstract: Objectives: The aim of the present explorative study was to prepare and optimize finasteride
loaded topical gel formulations by using three factor [propylene glycol (PG), Tween® 80, and sodium
lauryl sulphate (SLS)], five level central composite design.
Results: Optimized finasteride topical gel formulation (F4), containing PG, Tween® 80, and SLS in a
concentration of 0.8 mg, 0.4 mg and 0.2 mg, respectively, showed 6-fold higher values of cumulative
drug release, flux, partition coefficient, input rate, lag time, and diffusion coefficient, when compared to
control formulation without permeation enhancer.
Conclusion: Finally, it can be concluded that finasteride permeation was enhanced by PG, tween® 80
and SLS individually, while in combination only PG along with tween® 80 had synergistic and more
pronounced effect on flux, permeability coefficient and input rate while antagonistic effect on lag time
and diffusion coefficient was observed.