SONOPHORETIC TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY OF LOSARTAN POTASSIUM PRONIOSOMAL GEL

Proniosomes based drug delivery systems have potential as a significant drug carrier in a variety of therapeutic applications. The objective of the present study was to investigate in vitro sonophoretic transdermal delivery of Losartan Potassium (LP) across albino rat skin using proniosomal gel and its comparison with aquasonic gel. Proniosomes of LP were fabricated with L-a-lecithin (egg yolk), cholesterol and a non-ionic surfactant and confirmed using optical microscopy. Permeation experiments were performed using modified Franz Diffusion Cell along with ultrasound treatment (Frequency-1MHz; Intensity- 2.5 W/cm²; Duration of application- 30 min; Mode of application – Continuous and Pulsed). An in vitro skin permeation of LP with aquasonic gel was found superior than proniosomal gel using sonophoretic delivery. Using proniosomal gel, when ultrasound was applied in pulsed mode, LP transdermal flux and enhancement factor were 60.88 ± 6.2 μg/cm²/h and 5.31, respectively, 115.41 ± 5.01 μg/cm²/h and 10.07 those achieved using aquasonic ultrasound gel, respectively. Similar results were observed (better flux with aquasonic gel than proniosomal gel) using continuous mode of ultrasound application. These findings suggested that aquasonic gel could act better means of delivery for LP instead of proniosomal gel, when used in combination with ultrasound treatment.