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Objectives: The current work presents a formulation of curcumin-loaded transethosome (CRM-TE) in the form of a gel and its characterization.Methods: Thirteen formulations were prepared by varying the concentration of Phospholipon 90G as lipid, ethanol, and ratio of lipid: Span using Box- Behnken Design. The optimized formulation was characterized by vesicle size, entrapment efficiency, drug retention, drug permeation through skin, and morphology. Parameters of CRM-TE were compared to other vesicular systems that include liposomes, ethosomes, and transfersomes. Optimized CRM-TE was incorporated into gels, and comparative evaluation was performed. CRM-TE gel was kept at 5±3°C, 25±3°C, and 40±3°C for 180 days, further evaluated for entrapment efficacy and vesicle size.Results: CRM-TE showed 286.4 nm vesicle size, 61.2% entrapment efficiency, 19.8% drug retention, and 71.3% drug permeation at 24 h in the skin. It was found superior in terms of all the parameters as compared to other vesicular formulations. CRM-TE gel also exhibited best characteristics in terms of entrapment efficiency, drug retention, and drug permeation. CRM-TE gel exhibited better stability at 5±3°C in terms of vesicle size and entrapment efficiency as compared to other storage conditions.Conclusion: CRM-TE gel could offer efficient delivery of curcumin through topical route.

Objective: The objective of this research work is to explore the use of liquisolid technique in enhancement of acyclovir dissolution rate. This current study was planned to assess the impact of different formulation variables, such as non-volatile liquid type and concentrations of acyclovir on its dissolution rates profile. Method: Acyclovir liquisolid tablets were prepared with Tween 60 (liquid vehicle), Microcrystalline cellulose PH 102 (acted as a carrier to turn liquid medication into free-flowing powder) and Syloid XDP (coating material). In vitro, drug dissolution rate of liquisolid formulations of acyclovir was performed and compared with pure acyclovir drug using USP dissolution apparatus (Type II) for 60 min at a paddle speed of 50 rpm and filled with 900 mL of distilled water. Results: The dissolution study showed that 94.1% of the drug was released in 60 min of ratio 10 while only 66% of the pure drug acyclovir was released in 60 min. Hence, present work concluded that the acyclovir dissolution rate profile has been improved with the formation of liquisolid formulations. Conclusion: From the present study, it may be ratified that the drug dissolution rate of acyclovir has been improved with the utilization of liquisolid formulations approach.

Objective: Present research work aims toward codelivery of two hydrophobic drugs, curcumin (CRM) and duloxetine hydrochloride (DXH) through self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS).Methods: Initially, binary mixture in the ratio of 1:1 was prepared and then loaded into SNEDDS. Box-Behnken design (BBD) was adopted to develop SNEDDS. As per the optimal design, 13 SNEDDS prototypes were prepared. Castor oil, tween-80 and Transcutol P® were used as oil, surfactant, and cosurfactant, respectively. To 1 mL of SNEDDS, 30 mg each of CRM and DXH was loaded (CRM-DXH- SNEDDS).Results: The design revealed that for mean droplet size, polydispersity index (PDI), as well as percentage drug loading, all the three factors, i.e. ratio of oil (a), surfactant (b), and cosurfactant (c) were found to give significant effect. Factor B showed the most significant effect on mean droplet size (y1). In case of PDI (y2), factors B and C exerted maximum influence, whereas, Factor A has shown non-significant effect. For percentage drug loading of drugs (y3 and y4), all the three factors were found to have the most significant effect. The optimized batch of CRM-DXH- SNEDDS having composition castor oil, tween-80, and Transcutol P® in the ratio: 2.17:5.22:2.61, revealed that the mean drug loading (%) of CRM and DXH in an optimized batch of SNEDDS was found to be 87.22±1.87 and 92.32±0.19%, respectively. The mean droplet size, PDI, and zeta potential of formed SNEDDS were observed as 113.14±1.14 nm, 0.20±0.026, and −13.2 mV, respectively.Conclusion: BBD provided optimal formula composition for SNEDDS for obtaining desirable drug loading, emulsion droplet size, and zeta potential.

Objectives: The present study describes a disposable static diffusion cell for in vitro diffusion studies to achieve better results as compared to well existing Franz diffusion cell (FDC) in terms of the absence of bubbles, variable receptor compartment, ease of handling, and faster results.Materials and Methods: The cell consists of a cup-shaped donor compartment made of semi permeable that could be either cellophane membrane or, animal skin fitted to a rigid frame, which is supported on a plastic plate that contains a hole for the sample withdrawal. The receptor compartment is a separate unit, and it could be any container up to 500ml volume capacity. The most preferred receptor compartment is glass beaker. In the present study, goatskin was used as semi-permeable membrane and verification of its performance was carried out through diffusion studies using gel formulations of one each of the four-selected biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS) class drugs. Metronidazole, diclofenac sodium, fluconazole, and sulfadiazine were used as model drugs for BCS Class I, II, III, and IV, respectively.Results: The newly developed diffusion cell (NDDC) was found to provide faster and more reproducible results as compared to FDC. At the time interval of 24 h, the cell was found to exhibit a higher diffusion of metronidazole, diclofenac sodium, fluconazole, and sulfadiazine by 0.65, 0.65, 0.32, and 0.81 folds, respectively. The faster release obtained with NDDC was attributed to a larger surface area of skin as compared to that in FDC.Conclusion: It was concluded that better reproducibility of results could be achieved with NDDC.

Objective: The objective of this study was to formulate curcumin nanosuspension (NS) using Box-Behnken design (BBD) and solvent-antisolvent technique to overcome the challenges related to its poor dissolution rate.Methods: Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and poly vinyl pyrrolidone K-60 (PVPK-60) have been used as a surfactant and polymer, respectively, to stabilize the NS. Ethanol was used as solvent to dissolve curcumin and water was used as antisolvent. The study revealed that SLS to curcumin ratio, PVPK-60 to curcumin ratio, solvent to antisolvent ratio and speed of mixing were the critical parameters that affected particle size and zeta potential of the formulation. Hence, based on Box- BBD, 25 formulations were prepared by varying these critical parameters. The optimized batch of CRM NS was further solidified using spray drying as well as rotary evaporation techniques to have a better insight for selection of solidification process in terms of retention of particle size, charge, flow, dissolution, and stability.Results: About 39.47 folds decrease in particle size of raw CRM was observed after conversion into NS. Further, about 53.57 and 45.45 folds decrease in particle size was observed after spray drying and rotary evaporation. Both the dried nanoparticles have shown comparatively higher solubility, powder flow, and dissolution rate as that of raw CRM. Powder X-ray diffraction study revealed the formation of amorphous nanoparticles. Accelerated stability study revealed that nanoparticles dried by spray drying were able to retain the properties such as particle size, flow, and dissolution rate as compared to rotary evaporated powders.Conclusion: It can be concluded that spray drying technique could offer many advantages while loading CRM nanoparticles into tablets for their oral administration.