PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF LIPOSOME ENTRAPPED HYDROGEL COMPLEX SYSTEMS OF ITRACONAZOLE FOR ENHANCED TRANSDERMAL PERMEATION

Abstract

In this study, liposomal hydrogel complex drug delivery system to enhance transdermal permeation of itraconazole as a model d rug was developed. T he complex systems were prepared by incorporating drug liposome consisting of biocompatible lipid, into carbopol to form hydroge l. The systems were evaluated for encapsulation efficiency, particle size, zeta potential and ex vivo release behavior for skin permeability. FT - IR studies were done to find for any drug excipient interactions. The particle size was ranging from 94.2 nm to 104.8 nm with low PdI indicating the formation of monodisperse system. The % of drug released from the formulation was ranging from 48.04 % to 99.92 % in 24 h. In terms of skin permeability, complex liposomal hydrogel has proved to have greater skin permeation compared to simple liposomal system, simple hydrogel system and the plain drug suspension (485.49, 36 2.06, 226.03 and 172. 25 μg/cm 2 /h 1 ). From the release kinetics we can conclude the drug is releasing by diffusion mechanism and also due to erosion of the gelling agent. It was found that liposome in hydrogel complex systems improved skin permeability of the drug when compared to control with high flux and high permeability coefficient. These results indicate that liposome in hydrogel systems can function as probable drug delivery systems to enhance transderma l permeation of the water insoluble itraconazole for treating the topi cal infections.