Abstract
The present study was conducted to investigate the microemulsion based topical drug delivery system of anti-inflammatory drug triamcinolone acetonide for psoriasis in order to bypass its gastrointestinal adverse effects and to improve patient compliance. The pseudo ternary phase diagrams were developed for combinations of Capmul MCM EP oil phase, Cremophor EL as surfactant and Transcutol P as cosurfactant using water titration method. The developed microemulsion was characterized for globule size and polydispersibility index. The average globule size of the microemulsion was found be less than 100nm. Centrifugation studies were carried out to confirm the stability of the developed formulation. The formulation was thickened with a gelling agent carbopol 940, to yield a gel with desirable properties facilitating the topical application. The developed microemulsion based gel was characterized for pH, spreadability, refractive index and viscosity. Optimized formulation was then subjected to In vitro drug release. Optimized microemulsion based gel formulation was found to exhibit significant prolonged release as compared to drug suspension. Optimized gel obtained was analysed for transdermal permeability by using franz diffusion cell diffusion cell through an excised rat skin. Thus the present study indicates that microemulsion can be a promising vehicle for the topical delivery of triamcinolone acetonide as it increases the solubility of the drug thus in turn loading capacity of the drug as well.
