Abstract

FORMULATION AND IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF TRANSDERMAL PATCHES OF NEVIRAPINE CUBOSOMES

N. Bhagyalakshmi*, Dr. M. Sunitha Reddy and S. Muhammad Fazal ul Haq.

ABSTRACT

Objective: Nevirapine is a BCS class-II antiretroviral drug used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, specifically HIV-1 and Half life of Nevirapine is 45 hours. The aim of the present work is to formulate and evaluate a sustained release formulation of Nevirapine in the form of cubosomes and transdermal patches of cubosomes. Methods: Cubosomes are prepared by top-down approach employing glyceryl monooleate (GMO) as lipid phase vehicle, Pluronic F127 as a stabilizer and distilled water as aqueous phase and Nevirapine as an API. The formulation is evaluated for drug release by diffusion studies subjected to Zeta sizing and visualized by transmission electron microscopy. Transdermal patches are prepared in a manner similar to cubosomes dispersion employing polymers like sodium alginate, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carbopol 940 B., HPMC, Gum acacia. Results: Cubosomes formulation NVF11 containing 55% GMO showed a maximum drug release of 91.2% within 8 hours, having average particle size of 33.29nm and Zeta potential –7.03mV and pdi was found to be 0.301. The cube-like structure with round vesicles was observed by TEM. Sustained release up to 8 hours was observed in patch formulated by using polymers. In vitro release kinetics exhibited sustained release and followed nonfickian diffusion and zero order kinetics by the optimized formulations. Satisfactory pH, viscositywere obtained. Conclusion: cubosomes formulated with GMO serves as Transdermal Drug Delivery vehicles. Further sustained release will be attained when they are formulated as Transdermal patches.

Keywords: Cubosomes, Transdermal patches, Sustained drug release, Transdermal drug delivery, Skin penetration, Systemic circulation, Lyotropic Liquid Crystals (LLC).