Ultrasonic Processing Technique as a Green Preparation Approach for Diacerein-Loaded Niosomes
In this study, the feasibility of ultrasonic processing (UP) technique as green preparation method for production of poorly soluble model drug substance, diacerein, loaded niosomes was demonstrated. Also, the effects of different surfactant systems on niosomes’ characteristics were analyzed. Niosomes were prepared using both the green UP technique and traditional thin-film hydration (TFH) technique, which requires the use of environmentally hazardous organic solvents. The studied surfactant systems were Span 20, Pluronic L64, and their mixture (Span 20 and Pluronic L64). Both the production techniques produced well-defined spherical vesicles, but the UP technique produced smaller and more monodisperse niosomes than TFH. The entrapment efficiencies with the UP method were lower than with TFH, but still at a feasible level. All the niosomal formulations released diacerein faster than pure drug, and the drug release rates from the niosomes produced by the UP method were higher than those from the TFH-produced niosomes. With UP technique, the optimum process conditions for small niosomal products with low PDI values and high entrapment efficiencies were obtained when 70% amplitude and 45-min sonication time were used. The overall results demonstrated the potency of UP technique as an alternative fast, cost-effective, and green preparation approach for production of niosomes, which can be utilized as drug carrier systems for poorly soluble drug materials.
Preparation of vitamin E loaded nanocapsules by the nanoprecipitation method: from laboratory scale to large scale using a membrane contactor.
Vitamin E or α-tocopherol is widely used as a strong antioxidant in many medical and cosmetic applications, but is rapidly degraded, because of its light, heat and oxygen sensitivity. In this study, we applied the nanoprecipitation method to prepare vitamin E-loaded nanocapsules, at laboratory-scale and pilot-scale. We scaled-up the preparation of nanocapsule with the membrane contactor technique. The effect of several formulation variables on the vitamin E-loaded nanocapsules properties (mean diameter, zeta potential, and drug entrapment efficiency) was investigated. The optimized formulation at laboratory-scale and pilot-scale lead to the preparation of vitamin E-loaded nanocapsules with mean diameter of 165 and 172 nm, respectively, and a high encapsulation efficiency (98% and 97%, respectively).
NIOSOME DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM: ADVANCES AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS - AN OVERVIEW
Summary Niosomes, vesicular systems made of nonionic surfactants, have several advantages over conventional non-vesicle formulations. In recent years, Niosomes have become the vesicles of choice in drug delivery. Niosome vesicles are found to be of value in immunology, membrane biology and diagnostic techniques. The focus of this review is to bring out different aspects related to Niosome preparation, characterization, entrapment efficiency, in vitro drug release, applications and merits.