Design and development of tofacitinib citrate loaded transferosomal gel for skin cancer by box-Behnken design- doe approach

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the present study is to develop, statistically optimize and evaluate the transfersomal gel formulation of Tofacitinib citrate via transdermal route by DOE Approach. Materials and Methods: Transferosomes are made up of with bilayer forming phospholipids and biocompatible surfactants like sodium deoxycholate. The surfactants also acts as edge activator which stabilizes the phospholipid bilayer and increases the deformability of the vesicle. The formulation were designed by Box-Behnken Design. For usage as a transferosomal gel, drug encapsulation in various transfersomal formulations having 100 mg drug concentrations and Carbopol-934 (0.5,1.2 g) is being studied. Results: Entrapment efficiency (EE percent), drug content, in-vitro skin penetration testing, and stability studies were all found in the produced formulations. Transmission Electron Microscopy confirmed that the vesicles were spherical in shape. According to the findings, Tofacitinib citrate was effectively pinned with a standardised drug concentration in all formulations. The 0.1 g Tofacitinib citrate optimised transferosome formulation TG2 exhibited encouraging results, with maximum drug release (94.32%). Conclusion: Transferosomes are a promising long-term delivery route for Tofacitinib citrate and are relatively stable. This research work reveals that transferosomes containing Tofacitinib citrate could be used to treat squamous cell carcinoma via transdermal drug delivery.