Transferosomal gel for transdermal delivery of insulin: Formulation development and ex vivo permeation study

Abstract

The study was to develop a transdermal formulation of insulin, determine its pharmaceutical characteristics, and finally test its efficacy. In the current study - Transfersomes were selected as the carrier system for insulin. The transfersomes were produced by the hand-shaking method using soy lecithin phospholipid and sodium deoxycholate as the objective of the surfactant. The prepared transfersomes were subjected to characterization with optical microscopy and scanning electron microscope to estimate the shape and size of transfersomes respectively. In addition, the physical and drug-excipient interaction studies were carried out and the transfersomes were also studied for the insulin entrapment efficiency.Results of the study showed the shape of the transfersomes was well defined and spherical. The mean size of transfersomes was estimated to be 130 ​nm The transfersomes were found to be stable over a period of four weeks. The insulin entrapment efficiency of the transfersomes was estimated to be 87.3%. The ex-vivo skin permeation study employing goat ear skin with the transfersomes hydrogel revealed that there was a slow and sustained release of insulin till 180 ​min. From the above study, it may be concluded that transfersomes are suitable carriers of insulin across biological membranes.