DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL FORMULATION FOR TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY OF AN ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUG

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of permeation of drug into skin by taking three different vesicle size niosomal formulations. The combined influence of 3 independent variables in the preparation of venlafaxine niosomes by the Ether Injection Method and it was to derive a second order polynomial equation and construct contour plots to predict responses. Seventeen batches were prepared by the Ether Injection Method and evaluated for vesicle size and polydispersity index. Contour plots were constructed to show the effects of X_1, X₂ and X₃ on the vesicle size and polydispersity index.  Niosome are acceptable and superior carriers and also have ability to encapsulate hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs and protect them from degradation. Niosomes were characterised for entrapment efficiency, vesicle size and Permeation and drug deposition in the rat skin. Stability of niosomes formulation was studied at two different temperature conditions for 30 days. Niosomes dispersion were found to be stable and preparation of niosomes using factorial design was found to be well suited and sound approach to be stable niosomal formulations. The Box-Behnken design demonstrated the role of the derived equation and contour plots in predicating the values of dependent variables for the preparation and optimisation of venlafaxine niosomal formulations.