Aceclofenac delivery through polymeric nanoparticles loaded with transdermal hydrogel against rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Hydrogels have gained attention in drug delivery systems for their ability to encapsulate nanoparticles, providing sustained and targeted release. In this study, polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) of aceclofenac (ACE) were loaded into a carbopol-based hydrogel to overcome problems associated with the conventional treatment concerning rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Polymeric NPs of ACE were fabricated via the nanoprecipitation method and incorporated into a Carbopol 934-based hydrogel with a permeation enhancer (PE). Furthermore, ACE-NPs was characterized and subjected to in vitro and ex vivo analyses, which revealed a sustained release (20 % drug release at pH 5.5 and 40 % release at pH 7.4) and the desired permeation flux (1200 μg/cm2) of the ACE-NP-loaded hydrogel with PE after 24 h. The optimized nanoparticles had a particle size of 141.1 nm and an entrapment efficiency (EE) of 87 %. XRD and FTIR further supported the structural and compositional analysis of the ACE-NPs. The physicochemical properties of the ACE-NPs loaded hydrogel with PE were also characterized. An in vivo study was carried out on a CFA-induced RA mice model. The behavioral parameters were investigated, and supportive histopathological and radiological data were recorded. These findings suggest that ACE-NPs loaded hydrogel is a promising treatment for RA.