International Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation, 2016, 6, 1, 56-62.
DOI: 10.4103/2230-973X.176488
Published: February 2016
Type: Original Article
Authors:
Dinesh Kumar Pandurangan
Department of Pharmaceutics, Hindu College of Pharmacy, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Prathima Bodagala
Department of Pharmaceutics, Hindu College of Pharmacy, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Vijayaraj Kumar Palanirajan
Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University College Sadaya International University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Saravanan Govindaraj
Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Bapatla College of Pharmacy, Bapatla, Andhra Pradesh, India.
ABSTRACT
In the present investigation, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs)-loaded in situ gel with voriconazole drug was formulated. Further, the formulation was characterized for pH, gelling capacity, entrapment efficiency, in vitro drug release, drug content, and viscosity. Voriconazole is an antifungal drug used to treat various infections caused by yeast or other types of fungi. Film hydration technique was used to prepared SLNs from lecithin and cholesterol. Based on the entrapment efficiency 67.2-97.3% and drug release, the optimized formulation NF1 of SLNs was incorporated into in situ gels. The in situ gels were prepared using viscosity-enhancing polymers such as Carbopol and (hydroxypropyl) methyl cellulose (HPMC). Formulated SLN in situ gel formulations were characterized, which showed pH 4.9-7.1, drug content 65.69-96.3%, and viscosity (100 rpm) 120-620 cps. From the characterizations given above, F6 was optimized and evaluated for microbial assay and ocular irritation studies. Microbial assay was conducted by the cup-plate method using Candida albicans as the test organism. An ocular irritation study was conducted on albino rabbits. The results revealed that there was no ocular damage to the cornea, conjunctiva, or iris. Stability studies were carried out on the F6 formulation for 3 months, which showed that the formulation had good stability. These results indicate that the studied SLNs-loaded in situ gel is a promising vehicle for ocular delivery.
Keywords: In situ gel, Ophthalmic, Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), Voriconazole.