Formulation, characterization, and in vitro/ex vivo evaluation of quercetin-loaded microemulsion for topical application

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop a new microemulsion formulation for topical application of poorly soluble drug named quercetin. In order to design suitable microemulsion system, the pseudo-ternary phase diagrams of microemulsion systems were constructed at different surfactant/co-surfactant ratios using tween 80 as surfactant, transcutol P as a co-surfactant and oleic acid as an oil phase. Some physicochemical properties such as droplet size, density, refractive index, electrical conductivity, pH, surface tension, and viscosity of the microemulsion systems were measured at 298.15 K. The average hydrodynamic droplet size of the optimized microemulsions was obtained by dynamic light scattering method. Morphology assessment of the optimized quercetin-loaded microemulsion by transmission electron microscopy analysis indicated that the particles have the size of about 25 nm and spherical with narrow size distribution. Equilibrium solubility, in vitro drug release at a 24 h time period, release kinetic evaluation as well as ex vivo permeation and retention of quercetin-loaded microemulsions through rat skin has been investigated. The obtained results showed a slow release behavior without any transdermal delivery. Most of the formulations fitted best with zero-order kinetic model with a non-Fickian mechanisms. This study illustrated that the proposed QU-microemulsion has a good potential for use in sunscreen formulations. [Formula: see text].

<i>In Vitro</i> Skin Permeation and Antifungal Activity of Naftifine Microemulsions

“…19,20 Transcutol P is a well-known penetration enhancer in skin delivery and by its amphiphilic nature it has been known to reduce interfacial tension, resulting in balanced microemulsion systems. 21 Although both of the microemulsions contained oleic acid and Transcutol P, the highest permeation was obtained by ME1, demonstrating a possible synergistic effect of the added surfactant Kolliphor ® RH40. The content of the surfactant mixture in ME1 influenced the permeation rate of naftifine.…”

Transdermal Delivery of Ketorolac Tromethamine Using Microemulsion Vehicles

“…The permeability coefficient and flux from the rat skin increased significantly in all ME formulations with different features and compositions. In addition, several studies have confirmed the advantages of ME vehicles as promoters of dermal delivery (23,25), which can increase skin permeation by changing drug diffusion or partitioning coefficient (22).…”

Nanoemulsions as novel nanocarrieres for drug delivery across the skin: In-vitro, in-vivo evaluation of miconazole nanoemulsions for treatment of Candidiasis albicans

“…The possible reason is the increase in thermodynamic activity of the drug on increasing surfactant level. As thermodynamic activity is a driving force for the penetration of drug into the skin [ 34 ].

Figure 22.

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