Span 60

Atorvastatin calcium is a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor used in the treatment of hyperlipidaemia. It has oral bioavailability of less than 12%. It also undergoes high first pass metabolism. The objective of the present work was to formulate, optimize and in vivo evaluation of the potential novel proniosomal gel containing atorvastatin for transdermal delivery. On the basis of the preliminary trials a 3-factor, 3-level Box–Behnken design was employed to study the effect of Cholesterol, soya lecithin and Span 60 independent variable on dependent variables (particle size and % entrapment efficiency). Atorvastatin optimized proniosomal formulation F2 shown better particle size and % entrapment efficiency and also the drug release was 99.72% within 24h in slow and controlled manner when compared with control. The particle size and Zeta potential of the optimized atorvastatin proniosomal gel was found to be 65.72 and -10.5 respectively. Optimized batch of Proniosomes was used for the preparation of Atorvastatin - based proniosomal hydrogel by incorporating hydrated Proniosomes to Carbopol matrix to enhance the stability and viscosity of the system. The enhanced skin permeation for prolonged period of time, may lead to improved efficacy and better patient compliance. From in vivo studies the maximal concentrations (Cmax) of drug was significantly reduced while the areas under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) and t1/2 were evidently increased and extended. This study suggests that proniosomal gel of atorvastatin would be a promising alternative to improve the bioavailability problems of atorvastatin.

This investigation deals with the formulation of sustained release niosome based system of silver sulfadiazine for the treatment of burn and thereby decreasing the dosing frequency which is really important for severe burn patient as every reapplication is very painful to them. In this investigation, the effect of different processing variables on entrapment efficiency of drug was evaluated. The vesicle size, photomicroscopy, in vitro release, scanning electron microscopy, stability and in vitro antimicrobial activity of niosomal vesicles formed were also characterized. Niosomes were developed from span 60 and cholesterol in different molar ratio by ether injection, thin film hydration and non solvent methods. Results indicated that the niosomes manufactured with span 60 and cholesterol in 50:50 molar ratio using 100mg of drug by thin film hydration method gives highest entrapment of 92.11%. The method of preparation and contents of cholesterol as well as drug were found to affect the entrapment. The optimized niosomal formulation exhibited significantly retarded in vitro release of 98.04% over 28 hours by a higuchi controlled mechanism. The in vitro antimicrobial study using Staphylococcus aureus revealed that niosomal formulation of silver sulfadiazine shows better zone of inhibition (18mm) in comparison to conventional dosage form (17mm). In conclusion this study showed that the niosomal formulation can be used as promising sustained release approach for the topical delivery of silver sulfadiazine in the treatment of burn.

There is a vast interest in the scientific community and drug industry to exploit various mucosal routes of delivering drugs, which are poorly absorbed after oral administration. Human rectum remains to be a relatively unexplored route of drug delivery despite its potential as a non- invasive route of drug administration. The presence of dense network of blood vessels has made the rectum an excellent route of drug delivery for both systemic and local effect. The present investigation was aimed to evaluating the possibility of using different surfactant i.e. Span 60 and 80, Tween 60 and 80 on the release rate of formulation for the development of rectal drug delivery system of paracetamol, an NSAIDs, to minimize the gastric irritation of the drug upon oral administration. Suppositories were formulated by fusion method & evaluated for their physicochemical characterization followed by in vitro evaluation through spectrophotometrically. Suppositories containing PEG 4000 with Tween 80 showed a better permeation of drug with faster dissolution rate in vitro than other formulations. The formulations were designed to overcome the risk of upper gastrointestinal complications such as stomach bleeding, and may cause kidney or liver damage. Suppositories are dosage forms for use in the unavoidable circumstances such as comatose, nauseous or vomiting.