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Spanlastic is a modern drug delivery that combines vesicular and nanoparticulate characteristics with numerous advantages over topical applied conventional vesicular systems in terms of stablility, penetration flexibility, and targeting. Meloxicam (MX) is a potent non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug that is frequently utilized for the short- and long-term treatment of chronic pain and inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis. However, the oral administration of MX often includes several adverse effects, including gastrointestinal disturbances and ulceration. Thus, the aim is a preparation of proper formula for MX-loaded spanlastics via studying the formulation variables that may affect their properties using the ethanol injection method. Variables include; span®60: edge activator ratio, the type of edge activators, the amount of MX, and the type of organic phase solvent were studied for their impact on particle size, polydispersity index, and entrapment efficiency. The formula that was selected showed sustained release for six hours, entrapment efficiency of 70.66±1.15%, zeta potential (-4.51), and particles that were 495±9.9 nm in size. Overall, the results indicated that spanlastics had the potential carrier for medicine delivery systems.

Clobetasol propionate (CP) is a super potent corticosteroid widely used to treat various skin disorders such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. However, its utility for topical application is hampered due to its common side effects, such as skin atrophy, steroidal acne, hypopigmentation, and allergic contact dermatitis. Microsponge is a unique three-dimensional microstructure particle with micro and nano-meters-wide cavities, which can encapsulate both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs providing increased efficacy and safety. The aim of the current study is to prepare and optimize clobetasol-loaded microsponges. The emulsion solvent diffusion method is used for the preparation of ethylcellulose (EC)-based microsponges. The impact of various formulation variables on microsponge's properties includes; drug: polymer ratio, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) quantities, the volume of external phase, and stirring rates investigated. The microsponges were characterized in terms of particle size, product yield, CP entrapment %, and in-vitro drug release behavior. The results report that increasing EC concentration led to a significant increase in particle size, with a decrease in product yield and drug entrapment %. Increasing stirring speed or external aqueous volume or PVA w/v % caused a non-significant decrease in production yield and CP entrapment % but showed a significant decrease, and increase in particle size, respectively. Finally, it was concluded that the ability to use ethylcellous as a Msg polymer matrix to prepare uniform, highly porous particles was confirmed by microscope observation and compatibility with CP.