FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF TRANSDERMAL GEL OF LORNOXICAM AND ITS DELIVERY BY PASSIVE AND INOTOPHORESIS METHOD: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

The objective of present study was to develop Lornoxicam transdermal gel and its iontophoretic delivery to enhance its permeation for systemic effect and to avoid its side effects. Lornoxicam is a COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitor used in the treatment of inflammation, pain, edema and rheumatoid arthritis. Transdermal gel of Lornoxicam was formulated using triethanolamine as solvent, carbopol 934P as gel base and enhancement in its permeation by iontophoresis was investigated. Formulated gel was evaluated for pH, viscosity, spreadability, drug content and gel strength. Permeation study was carried out using cellophane membrane for 6 hours. Anti- inflammatory activity of Lornoxicam gel was studied in albino rats by carrageenan induced paw edema method in which Lornoxicam was delivered through rat’s skin by passive delivery and iontophoretic delivery. Iontophoretic delivery of formulation F1 showed edema inhibition up to 62% whereas passive delivery of F1 showed 22% of edema inhibition in 1 to 6 hours. Edema inhibited by iontophoretic delivery was around 2.5 fold than compared to that of passive delivery; hence iontophoretic delivery was superior over passive delivery. In present study physiochemically stable Lornoxicam gel was formulated which could deliver significant amount of drug across the skin and elicit the anti-inflammatory activity