FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF NABUMETONE LOADED TRANSFERSOMAL GEL

Nabumetone (NBT), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, is rapidly metabolized in the liver and is well known for its side effects along with its sensitivity to light; thus, it limits the formulation of a such drug when considered for skin formulations. Recently introduced a new type of carrier for bioavailability benefits and patient compliance, the “transfersomes”. Due to its elastic nature, which can deform and squeeze themselves because of their flexibility through narrow pores of stratum corneum, the transfersomes were prepared by use of phospholipid and sodium cholate, tween 80 as edge activators. The NBT loaded transfersomes were optimized by the three factors and two levels Box-Behnken design using Design-Expert software (version 12). Independent formulation variables such as concentrations of a phospholipid, concentration of sodium cholate, and tween 80 were evaluated. The prepared TFs were evaluated with respect to particle size, % entrapment efficiency, and % drug release. The optimized batch F1 was formulated by incorporation into a Carbopol-940 gel base. The prepared NBT-loaded TFs had particle sizes ranging from 5.32 to 7.65nm, entrapment efficiency in between 33.94 ±0.17% to 73.08 ±0.12%, and drug release 87.94±0.26 to 95.9±0.18%. Thus, transfer-somes, can be explored as a carrier for drug delivery.