FORMULATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NANOSPONGE-LOADED GEL OF EXTRACTED FUCOIDAN FROM DICTYOTA BARTAYRESIANA FOR ANTI-ARTHRITIC ACTIVITY

The study aimed to develop a novel gel loaded with nanosponges containing fucoidan extracted from Dictyota bartayresiana for arthritis treatment. Brown algae are rich in fucan, a group of sulfated polysaccharides with superior healing properties. Among the numerous fucoidan sources, a species, Dictyota bartayresiana, was selected from the family Dictyotaceae for arthritis screening. Many types of arthritis are characterized by inflammation, stiffness, redness, and pain. The protein denaturation method was used for the in vitro anti-arthritic study of ethanolic extract of Dictyota bartayresiana. Percentage inhibition of five series of concentrations ranging from 100 – 1000 µg/ml of test solution showed values of 51.86% w/w, 55.56% w/w, 59.26% w/w, 65.19% w/w, and 85.49% w/w concerning with the standard, respectively. A concentration of 1000 g/ml induced an effective percentage inhibition. Fucoidan’s beneficial properties guide the development of effective formulations. Fucoidan isolated from algae is formulated in the form of nanosponges using an emulsion solvent diffusion method and developed in gel-loaded nanosponges with the help of carbopol 940 polymer. Because of the nanosize of the particles, topical gel formulations embedded with nanosponges are non-toxic, flexible and useful methods of controlling drug release pattern and penetration through the skin. In-vitro release kinetics data were analyzed to determine possible release kinetics order and mechanism. A nanosponge-loaded gel of extracted fucoidan exhibits a zero-order profile and provides sustained release of the compound.