EFFECT OF INCORPORATING CERAMIDE IN NIOSOMES FOR TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY OF LIDOCAINE AND FLURBIPROFEN
Hadir F. Marei*, Mona F. Arafa, Ebtessam A. Essa and Gamal M. El Maghraby
ABSTRACT
The permeation abilities and physical characters of niosomes can be altered by modulating the composition of vesicular membrane. Ceramides can be incorporated into the niosomal membrane altering the transdermal delivery of the entrapped drug. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of incorporation of ceramides in niosomes on transdermal delivery of two model drugs (flurbiprofen and lidocaine). Niosomal formulation comprising Span 60 with cholesterol (4:1, w/w) were used with ceramide being incorporated in the vesicles (4:1:1, w/w) and saturated aqueous solution of drug serving as a control. The drug entrapment efficiency of all the tested formulation was monitored and skin permeation studies were conducted before and after incorporation of ceramides. The entrapment efficiency of flurbiprofen and lidocaine after 8 hours was 98.25% and 85.67% respectively. Niosomal formulation enhanced skin permeation of flurbiprofen but hindered permeation of lidocaine. Incorporation of ceramides into niosomes did not have any significant effect on entrapment efficiency nor skin permeation at the tested concentration.
Keywords: Ceramide; Niosomes; Transdermal delivery; Lidocaine; Flurbiprofen; Entrapment efficiency.
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