DEVELOPMENT OF MALTODEXTRIN BASED PRONIOSOMES DERIVED NIOSOMES OF OFLOXACIN

Nanotechnology is an advancing technology expected to bring revolutionary changes in the field of life sciences including drug delivery. The advance in nanotechnology helps in the preparation of new pharmaceutical formulations with high benefits. One of its approaches is to stabilize the niosomal drug delivery system without affecting its properties have resulted in the development of proniosomes, a drug carrier. Proniosomes are solid colloidal particles which may be hydrated immediately before use to yield aqueous noisome dispersions similar to those produced by conventional methods. These proniosomes minimize the problems related to conventional niosomes such as aggregation, fusion, leaking and provide additional convenience in transportation, distribution, storage and dosing with enhanced stability. Ofloxacin loaded maltodextrin based proniosomes were prepared by a slurry method with a different surfactant to cholesterol ratio. The formulated proniosomes possessed good flow property and smooth surface confirmed by SEM study. FTIR spectra’s confirmed no interactions between drug and carrier. The niosomal dispersions were formulated and further evaluated for particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, TEM, entrapment efficiency, in-vitro drug release, and kinetic studies. F4 formulation showed highest entrapment efficiency of 87.16% and sustained release of drug with diffusion mechanism.